“What Are Common Sleep Problems During Pregnancy?”

What Are Common Sleep Problems During Pregnancy?

Ask any pregnant woman what her biggest problem is during pregnancy, and probably four times out of five you’ll find sleep problems among the top five complaints.

Sleep problems are common during pregnancy. During early pregnancy many women have trouble sleeping because their minds are racing with activity and excitement about their new discovery. Early hormone fluctuations can also lead to difficulty sleeping. Still other problems including those associated with a frequent need to urinate are common during early pregnancy, and may contribute to sleep problems during pregnancy.

Sleep Problems During The Third Trimester
Sleep problems during pregnancy are most common during the late second and third trimesters during pregnancy. As a woman enters her third trimester, not only do her hormones surge again leading to sleep difficulties, but her growing uterus continues to place increasing pressure on all her internal organs. This can lead to massive discomfort and problems sleeping during pregnancy.

An unborn baby also moves around a lot during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. For some women, movement occurring late at night can keep them up at night. Other times the baby may move around and press on a woman’s bladder, resulting in a frequent need to pee. This will disturb even the most sound sleeper.

Pregnant women are also more prone to unusual dreams. Even if a pregnant woman gets enough sleep hourly, she may wake feeling less refreshed than she might if she dreamed less.

Solving Common Pregnancy Sleep Problems
Even though you may find it difficult to sleep during pregnancy, it is important you do your best to get as much sleep as possible during pregnancy. Here are some tips for improving sleep during pregnancy:

• Go to bed as soon as you are tired. That may mean going to bed some nights as early as seven or eight at night. Don’t feel embarrassed. I often went to bed hours earlier than normal when pregnant. The important thing to remember is listen to your body. Your body knows what is best for you, and usually that involves going to bed much earlier than normal.
• Drink plenty of fluids during the day, but try not to drink the largest quantities an hour before bedtime. This will help reduce the number of times you have to wake up at night to use the bathroom.
• Invest in a high quality maternity pillow or pregnancy body pillow. This will help improve your comfort at night and provide a more stable foundation for you to sleep on. If you don’t have a pregnancy pillow already, I suggest you invest in one sooner than later. This can also help alleviate backaches and other discomforts associated with pregnancy.
• Set up a bedtime routine. This may include taking a warm shower before bedtime. Turn off the television at least ½ hour before bed to help calm your thoughts and spend some time meditating and bonding with your baby. This can help reduce your fears and anxieties and help promote more restful sleep.
• Take a short nap during the day if you can. Try to nap for 10-20 minutes. A short nap will help revive you without interfering with your bedtime later in the day.
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants during the day. These aren’t good for your baby during pregnancy anyway. Anything taken after 2pm, including coke or chocolate containing small amounts of caffeine, may interfere with your sleep at night.

When all else fails, ask your partner or a friend if they will indulge you in a foot massage. Sometimes it helps to simply relax a little bit before bed. I find a good foot massage is better than any other magic potion when it comes to relaxing well enough to fall sound asleep.