Sleeping
during Pregnancy
Insomnia
Many women experience some form of
trouble sleeping during pregnancy, with insomnia being a common problem
for many. Almost 78 per cent of women suffer from some form of insomnia
during pregnancy, due to increased physical and emotional factors. It
is important to try and get a good amount of sleep, even during the
day if you cannot sleep at night as the baby will inevitably disturb
your sleeping patterns once it arrives.
There are certain things you can do
to help you sleep better and ensure that you have a good night’s sleep
before your baby arrives, as described in this guide. There are also
many factors during pregnancy that can deter women from sleeping, such
as frequent trips to the toilet and many more, as described below:
Reasons for
deprived sleep during pregnancy
- Feeling uncomfortable when
you are heavily pregnant may leave you with sleep deprivation; however,
extra pillows may help to make you more comfortable.
- Frequent trips to the loo
can disturb your sleeping patterns, due to the increased need to urinate
during pregnancy
- Many pregnant women have
strange dreams and these can often be disturbing; however, this is normal
during pregnancy and will subside.
- Backache can often be a
pregnancy symptom which disturbs your sleep. Sleeping sideways may ease
the pressure off your back.
- Leg cramps –Many
women experience leg cramps and pains which can be a cause of discomfort
when trying to sleep
- Hunger Pangs –Many
pregnant women experience hunger pangs due to cravings and lack of appetite
at certain points of the day. Pregnant women often feel hungry in the
middle of the night.
- Worries and stress are one
of the main causes why pregnant women cannot sleep as they worry about
the baby and financial circumstances, amongst many other things.
- Nausea and vomiting –
Some pregnant women experience vomiting during the night, which can
disturb sleep
- Heartburn and indigestion
can be a cause of waking up in the middle of the nigh,t or not being
able to get any sleep