mattress advice Archives - Mother 2 Mother Blog

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Today, I’m sharing tips on how to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is supposed to come as soon as your head hits the pillow, right? Not really. The average person spends between 10 and 20 minutes falling asleep after slipping into bed. If you find yourself wide awake for much longer than this, there’s probably a reason behind it.

Popping a pill to fall asleep is the easy solution. However, that doesn’t do anything to get to the bottom of why you’re having trouble falling asleep. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to encourage healthy sleep habits.

Here a few tips on how to get a good night’s sleep:

Make Sure You Have the Right Mattress

Your mattress matters more than you might think. And, no two styles are alike nor are they right for each sleeping style. If you tend to roll over onto your back or stomach or switch between the two, a firm surface is usually most comfortable. According to My Slumber Yard, a dense hybrid like the Dream Cloud is ideal. But, a firm mattress may not solve your sleep struggles if you are most at ease on your side. You might want to try a plush or pillowtop. Satvaa is an affordable option if your budget is a concern. Furthermore, both the Satvaa and the DreamCloud (along with most other mattress makers) offer a trial period.

Track Your Sleep Patterns

If changing your mattress doesn’t help, you may benefit from understanding how you sleep during the night. There are several apps that can help you do this without having to invest in a dedicated sleep tracking device. A few of these are:

Sleep Time – This is a hands-off app that, once downloaded via the Google Play or Apple Store, can give you insight into how you sleep. It tracks your movements and gives you suggestions on the best time to go to bed and wake up.
If you snore, you aren’t getting the most restful sleep possible. Use Snore Lab to determine if you snore and for easy-to-understand suggestions for relief based on your night time noise patterns.
Headspace and Calm. Both of these apps are for meditation and work to put you in a better mental state before going to sleep. Headspace offers hundreds of different guided meditations while Calm offers you the option of listening to calming stories read by the most soothing voices of our generation (including Matthew McConaughey).

You can also use your phone to play soft music or white noise. You can purchase a white noise machine to help you get to sleep if outside noise keeps you distracted. However, keep in mind that many older phones won’t have the memory or battery life to keep up with your downloads. If your device loses power or freezes up overnight, look for more capable options.

There are dozens of factors that might inhibit you from getting the rest you need. However, your mattress is a likely culprit. Tracking your patterns can help you narrow it down even further. Both of these suggestions are easy to implement and are a healthy alternative to medication-induced sleep. Remember that insomnia is a serious problem, and if you can’t find relief, visit your doctor. They can help rule out any potential medical issue that needs attention, and give you additional tips on how to get a good night’s sleep.

Choosing the Right Medical Mattress: Managing Pressure Injuries

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A good medical mattress is indispensable in the prevention and management of pressure injuries. A medical mattress is particularly important for bed-bound patients. Especially, overweight and limited mobility patients. Additionally, people with multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and those suffering from burns can benefit from a good medical mattress too. Each of these patients are at high risk for developing pressure injuries or ulcers also known as bed sores.

There are various types of medical mattresses. As a result, before buying one consider the needs of the user. For example, what is the current state of the patient’s skin integrity. Patients with more severe skin issues will usually require a mattress with extensive therapy options.

A patient with intact skin, a small blister, or shallow open bed sore is likely to only need a gel overlay or entry level foam mattress to manage the pressure injury. More advanced pressure wounds may require a specialized mattress to facilitate healing.

Various Types of Medical Mattresses

The most common medical mattresses include the alternating pressure mattress, low air-loss mattress, therapeutic foam mattress, and innerspring mattress. Each has a different set of features that provide support, ease, and relief to patients at risk.

An alternating pressure mattress has individual air cells that inflate and deflate. This type of mattress helps to effectively manage pressure and skin moisture. Additionally, it is good for relieving various pressure points. It also improves blood circulation at the same time. This mattress can effectively prevent the formation of pressure injuries. Also, they promote the healing of existing ulcers.

Similar to an alternating pressure mattress is the low air-loss mattress. It also contains individual air cells that alternate pressure to stop wounds from forming. Additionally, it has a cooling function. Each cell has a tiny hole that releases small amounts of air that targets hot spots on the body. It also regulates skin moisture and provides adequate support.

Meanwhile, a therapeutic foam mattress relieves pressure in specific areas of the body. It features soft foam in areas where pressure injuries are most likely to start. This includes the head, elbow, and back of the legs. The surrounding parts of the mattress have a more rigid foam.

Lastly, there is the innerspring mattress. This is similar to a traditional mattress and offers no protection against pressure sores. In fact, it can even cause the development of pressure injuries by adding pressure and increasing the temperature of the skin surface. Most importantly, while it is cheap, an innerspring mattress is NOT recommended for a patient who spends more than 10 hours a day in bed.

Important Considerations

Purchasing the right mattress can help in the prevention, maintenance, and healing of pressure injuries. However, that’s not all it takes. While a good mattress will lessen the manual work needed to control a pressure injury, a caregiver must still take responsibility for ensuring the health and daily care of the patient.

Just as important, special care must be given to patients who are incontinent. The added moisture can aggravate pressure sores. Restless patients should use perimeter guards. These accessories can prevent falls. Plus they help keep the mattress cover smooth to prevent shearing.

Finally, pressure prevention doesn’t stop with the mattress. If the patient spends a long time in a wheelchair, ensure that the seat is also adequately equipped to discourage the formation of pressure sores.