Do you miss those days when you would just close your eyes and drift off into a nice comfy sleep? If you’re pregnant, you might be staring at the ceiling wondering why you can’t seem to fall asleep. Early pregnancy sleep can be elusive for some women, but there are a few things you can do to help yourself get some shut-eye. Here are some common sleep disturbances during early pregnancy and some solutions to help you get some rest.
It all has to do with hormones – during the early stages of pregnancy, your body is producing a hormone called progesterone which can make you feel drowsy or cause disruptions to your sleep cycle at night. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to combat this other than trying to grab a quick nap during the day when you start feeling tired.
If you’re finding yourself making more trips to the washroom at night, you can blame your growing uterus for this problem. As the uterus expands during pregnancy, it puts pressure on the bladder, resulting in more frequent trips to the bathroom. Although it’s important to stay hydrated, try to drink most of your fluids during the first half of the day and cut back in the afternoon and evening.
If you’re a stomach sleeper, you may find it difficult to get comfortable in early pregnancy as your breasts can become tender. Try to get used to sleeping on your left side, which will help early on but will also be very helpful later on in pregnancy when this is the doctor-recommended position to sleep in.
There are a few reasons why you may have difficulty sleeping when newly pregnant, but most of them can only be managed and not completely fixed. However, one thing you can control is your sleeping position.
As your pregnancy progresses, it’s more important to sleep on your left side. This will not only lead to a more comfortable and better night’s sleep, but it is the best position for your health. Sleeping on your left side keeps the weight of your growing baby off of your liver (which is on the right side of your body) and helps blood circulation to your placenta and uterus.
If you’re having difficulty maintaining the side sleeping position during pregnancy, a great suggestion is to get a maternity pillow. These pillows are specifically designed to help pregnant women maintain the side sleeping position, and they can also alleviate early pregnancy sleep problems by providing support for your growing tummy.
