By Sue Coughtry, LMT
I have heard from a number of people since I wrote my first blog about this on how hard it is to change from being a stomach sleeper to being comfortable in any other position, even though sleeping on their stomach causes pain. I understand because I was a stomach-sleeper till I was in my teens. Then my neck cramped up big time and I couldn’t do that any more. It was a tough transition but I had no choice and eventually succeeded.
I heard a great idea from a client the other day and wanted to pas it on. This client has been able to remain comfortable sleeping on her stomach her entire life, but she now uses a pillow under her stomach for even greater comfort. I tried that last night and it actually helps. You can have the pillow in whatever position is most comfortable for you – just under your stomach or under your chest and stomach. What it does is let your spine rest in a more natural curve. Your face is always facing to the side and I do feel you need part of another pillow under just the back of your head so that your face is tilting down towards the mattress as opposed to lying flat to the side. That relieves some of the stress off your neck. Like I said – I tried this and it wasn’t bad. I didn’t sleep that way but it was pretty comfortable – lots more so that just lying flat.
For you stomach sleepers in pain out there, give this a try. Sleeping on your stomach is still the most challenging position for comfort but this may help some of you.
