Returning home after breast surgery can be an incredibly overwhelming process. Life after surgery requires you to take extra considerations and precautions for seemingly everything. Bathing, eating, getting dressed, and sleeping—all these mundane activities instantly become more difficult and uncomfortable.
When you can’t sleep well, it affects your entire recovery. Not only is a lack of sleep mentally draining, but it also deprives your body of the energy it needs to heal your surgical wounds. So how do you get enough rest with so many bandages and tubes to account for? We’re sharing our tips for sleeping comfortably after breast surgery below.
Table of Contents
Elevation Is Key
Before going to sleep, set up your bed to ensure that you can sleep in an elevated position. Sleeping in this position will be instrumental to getting a full night’s rest while recovering.
Since elevated sleep pushes your blood’s circulation downward, swelling and bruising are more likely to decrease as you rest.
An elevated sleeping position will also allow you to get out of bed more easily. Sleeping directly on your back puts more stress on your upper body.
Wear Your Bra To Bed
Typically, wearing a bra to bed would seem like a painful punishment. However, wearing a post-surgical compression bra to bed is essential to getting a full night of comfortable sleep.
Compression garments add a layer of protection between you and your external environment while you rest. They also push your circulation away from your surgical site to reduce painful swelling.
Most bras even have a pocket to hold your surgical drains in place so that you can rest well. Once you find a compression bra that fits correctly, you’ll be one step closer to restful sleep.
Use Your Pillow
If you’re physically unable to sleep in an elevated position, there are other productive and comfortable positions to try. Besides your back, sleeping on your side can be a comfortable and safe alternative.
However, if you sleep on your side, use a pillow to cushion the space between your chest and the bed. That will prevent unnecessary pressure on your surgical area.
Speak With Your Doctor
Don’t be afraid to speak with your doctor about other helpful sleeping methods and tools to alleviate discomfort during your recovery. Your medical care provider can give you expert advice on how to make your recovery more pleasant.
We hope our tips for sleeping comfortably after breast surgery have been helpful to you and your recovery. Remember to always consult with your doctor about your post-surgical concerns so that you can feel more confident and comfortable about your healing process.
