Sleeping Tips For Pregnant Women

by: Jason Rickard

The anticipation of giving birth to a child may literally cause expectant mothers sleepless nights.

Most pregnant women may feel more exhausted than usual and would eventually sleep more. During the first trimester of pregnancy, your heart pumps faster and produces more blood to nurture the baby inside you. When the fetus inside you grows, then your tummy eventually would grow bigger. It’s kind of hard to find a comfortable sleeping position and it would be difficult for you to get some good sleep.

It is advised that you try to get used to sleeping on your side during the first few days of your pregnancy. You can do this by lying on your side with your knees bent slightly upward. This position would relieve the pressure of the inferior vena cava, which is caused by the baby’s weight.

In the latter part of your pregnancy, you may find it uncomfortable to change sleeping position during your sleep. Shifting is a natural occurrence that no one can control but when your tummy is bigger than usual, your body adapts to change and shifting at night are minimized since you would eventually wake up if you do so.

If you still find it difficult to sleep, try to use your pillows and experiment with what you can do with them. You can tuck a pillow under your abdomen. If you are sleeping on your side, you can place them in between your legs. To ease away pressure from your back, you can try stuffing in thin pillows or a blanket beneath the space between the surface of the bed and the arch of lower back. There are also pregnancy pillows that can help promote a good sleep.

If you’re still having a hard time sleeping at night and lose a big amount of rest, it is recommended that you take a quick nap (of about an hour) in the morning or in the afternoon. Watch your diet and eat nutritious foods. Steer clear of caffeinated drinks and avoid eating a full meal or lots of liquids a few hours before you head to your bed. If all things fail and you’re still experiencing sleepless nights, it is best to consult your doctor right away.