While pregnant, you’re likely feeling uncomfortable due to the weight around your stomach, among other things. This can put a lot of pressure on your back and make performing everyday tasks a challenge.
Your posture matters no matter what, but even more so when you are watching TV while pregnant. Since watching TV requires you to sit for long periods, you must learn which positions will be the easiest for your pregnant body to handle.
We have made a list of the best positions to watch TV while pregnant:
Position #1: Sit Upright with Good Posture
The best position to watch TV while pregnant is to maintain good posture. When you sit down, make sure to sit with your back straight and your shoulders pushed back. Your buttocks should reach to the back of whichever chair you’re sitting in. Starting by having good posture will further help support you in whichever sitting position you decide to use.
Position #2: Sit in a Dining Room Chair
This may not sound like the comfiest of chair options, but it works. The best way to do this is to turn the chair around so that the part for your back is in front. From there, you can rest your arms on the back of the chair.
If your chair is hard, use a cushion to make it more comfortable. This will also help you sit more upright and make watching TV more comfortable.
For added comfort, make sure that your TV is at a good height. You can achieve this by investing in a good quality flat screen TV stand that is aligned optimally with your eye level. That way, you won’t be further straining your body just to look at the TV.
Position #3: Sit Cross-Legged
When you’re getting ready to watch your favourite show, sit cross-legged on the floor an appropriate distance from your TV and TV stand. Sitting with your legs crossed works well while pregnant since it decreases the amount of space in the front part of the pelvis.
Doing so may result in your baby lying towards the back of your pelvis, which will reduce some of the pressure while sitting.
Position #4: Sit with a Supported Staff Pose
Sitting in a yoga pose can also be a good position when you watch TV while pregnant. For the “supported staff pose”, sit on the floor as close to the edge of your sofa as you can. You want to ensure that your buttocks and spine are right up against it.
From there, you want to find the front of your sitting bones (which are the attachment of the hamstrings and buttocks) and sit up straight and tall, leaning into the sofa behind you (or a wall if you prefer). This sitting position will ensure that your spine is straight and supported.
Position #5: Sit in a Pregnancy Rocker or Birth Ball
To take it one step further, you can purchase custom items like a pregnancy rocker (also known as an ergonomic chair) or a birth ball. When sitting to watch TV, sit on one of these, or alternate between the two. These will provide you with the best comfort while sitting since they work by taking pressure off of essential points.
You can hold onto your pregnancy rocker to use even when you’re not pregnant, making it even more worth the investment!
Position #6: Use Back Support
If you find that you’re still having trouble getting comfortable after trying these sitting positions, you may want to consider purchasing some form of back support. You can purchase a lumbar roll from your pharmacy if they have it, a specialty medical store, or online. You can always just roll up a small towel if you don’t want to spend the extra money.
To use this, place it at the curve of your back when you sit down. This should help alleviate some of the pressure on your back.
If you opt to watch TV in bed, try using a pregnancy pillow. You can get these from most maternity stores or online. They do a fantastic job of supporting your growing belly.
Position #7: Sit with Lumbar Spine and Groin Support
Another popular yoga pose for sitting, this position is great for back and hip tightness. To sit in this position, lie on the sofa on your belly with one leg stretched long and let the other knee hang off the sofa. This will also provide a good stretch while you watch TV! Remember to alternate sides.
No matter which position you decide to sit in, always make sure to keep your belly lower than your spine, as well as your knees lower than your hips.
It’s also important not to stay sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes. If your back pain is particularly bad, cut your sitting time to just 10-15 minutes. Switch up your sitting position or get up and walk around a bit. Doing some stretches can also work wonders while pregnant!