Pregnancy is an exciting and physically demanding time. There are so many changes happening in your body all at once. But while many mothers-to-be anticipate the sleepless nights that will come once the baby is born, many are unprepared for the sleeplessness they experience during the pregnancy itself. The truth is, several conditions unique to women, like the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause , can all affect your ability to sleep. One reason for this is that changing levels of hormones (primarily estrogen and progesterone) can affect your sleep patterns.
But hormonal swings during pregnancy aren’t the only culprits. Physical symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, leg cramps, fetus movements, and heartburn , as well as emotional changes, like depression , anxiety , and worry can interfere with sleep. And unfortunately, these sleep related problems may become more prevalent as your pregnancy progresses.
During the first trimester, your body is working hard to protect and nurture your developing baby. The placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus until birth) is forming; your body is making more blood; and your heart is beating faster. High levels of progesterone are also produced, increasing feelings of sleepiness. Indeed, many women sleep more than usual during their first trimester of pregnancy. Unfortunately, more doesn’t necessarily mean well. There are three common sleep stealers during your first trimester:
During your second trimester, progesterone levels continue to rise, but more slowly. This allows for better sleep than during your first trimester. Your growing baby moves above the bladder and decreases the pressure on it, thereby decreasing your need for frequent visits to the bathroom. You still may not be sleeping as well as you did before you became pregnant, but you’re less exhausted and many women report having a general sense of well being during their second trimester. Enjoy it!
The third trimester is when you will be most likely to experience sleep disturbances. As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll likely find that lying on your left side with your knees bent will be the most comfortable sleeping position. Indeed, many doctors recommend you begin learning to sleep on your left side early in your pregnancy, so that by the time you are in your third trimester, the position feels more normal for you. Other common causes of sleep disturbance in the third trimester include:
Because you’re pregnant, over-the-counter sleep aids, including herbal remedies are not recommended. However, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep:
If you still can’t sleep, try reading, or catching up on correspondence. Eventually, you should feel drowsy enough to fall back to sleep.
RESOURCES:
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp103.cfm
The National Sleep Foundation
http://www.sleepfoundation.org
The National Women’s Health Information Center
http://www.4women.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadain Sleep Society
http://www.css.to/
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
References:
Healthy pregnancy. The National Women’s Health Information Center website. Available at: http://www.4women.gov/. Accessed September 8, 2003.
Sleeping and pregnancy. Saint Joseph’s Hospital website. Available at: http://www.stjosephs-marshfield.org/. Accessed September 8, 2003.
Sleep during pregnancy. KidsHealth for Parents website. Available at: http://www.kidshealth.org/. Accessed September 8, 2003.
Women and sleep. The National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/. Accessed on September 8, 2003.
Last reviewed March 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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