Pregnancy can be a time of great joy, but it can also be a time of sleepless nights. Many pregnant women experience insomnia, or the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, especially in the third trimester. Insomnia can cause you to wake up too early and unable to return to dreamland, and it can make you feel as if the sleep you managed to achieve wasn't refreshing or restful. Fortunately, there are some simple lifestyle changes and sleep hygiene practices that pregnant women can follow to minimize the risk of sleep disorders and maximize the amount of nighttime sleep. To start, pregnant women should avoid eating large meals before bedtime.
Eating before bed causes the body to work harder during sleep to digest food, distracting you from working on the repairs your body needs for the next day's activities. Additionally, pregnant women should give up television and electronics before going to sleep. This will help reduce stress and create a more calming environment for sleep. Pregnant women should also consider taking magnesium before bed. Magnesium has been touted for its natural powers to relax muscles and can help you sleep.
Additionally, pregnant women should not underestimate the effect of stress on sleep. Stress can cause insomnia and other sleep disorders, so it's important to find ways to reduce stress levels. Finally, pregnant women who are already overweight are more likely to develop sleep apnea as a result of excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the throat due to the additional weight gain experienced during pregnancy. If this is the case, it's important to talk to your doctor about possible treatments. Getting enough sleep is crucial for good health during pregnancy. Insomnia and frequent snoring have been linked to an increased risk of giving birth to a baby who is too big or too small for his age, and problems sleeping in late pregnancy have been linked to longer labor and an increased need for a cesarean section.
Since it's possible to experience insomnia and sleep disorders at any time during pregnancy, it's important to follow these tips now so that you can get enough restful sleep while you can.
