Battling Pregnancy Insomnia

Pregnancy may be one of the happiest moments in aTips
woman's life. Some pregnant women however mayThere are numerous ways to help reduce pregnancy
also come to experience physical pains andinsomnia. The following may be helpful tips:
discomforts as their tummies expand. One such· Experiment with sleeping positions like sleeping
common complaint is pregnancy insomnia.on your side. Avoid sleeping on your back to avoid
The Figurespressure on your diaphragm and bladder.
It is believed that at least 78% of women experience· Drink a lot of water in the morning but reduce
insomnia during pregnancy. Although some may notfluid intake before bed time to curb frequent urination.
experience this sleeping problem throughout· Perform pregnancy exercises to reduce painful
pregnancy, at least 97% of pregnant womennight leg cramps.
experience temporary pregnancy insomnia near the· Add comfortable pillows on your bed. You can
end of pregnancy or at the last trimester. Aside fromhug a long body pillow or use special pregnancy pillows
common pregnancy insomnia, 30% of pregnantfor your head and back.
women also develop snoring habits that could be a· Take a warm bath and have a soft massage
sign of sleep apnea.before sleeping.
Pregnancy Insomnia· Drink warm milk or water with honey before
Pregnant women may experience pregnancy insomniasleeping.
because of pregnancy induced pains and discomforts.· Make sure that you are comfortable with your
A woman may have trouble sleeping simply becauseroom's temperature and that the room is well
a big tummy makes nearly all sleeping positionsventilated
uncomfortable. Pregnancy insomnia is more commonly· Play relaxing music or turn on the TV to a boring
experienced during the last trimester because theshow.
swollen uterus presses against body parts and organs· Read a boring book.
and creates pressure in some parts. This results in· Avoid spicy or acidic foods to avoid heartburn.
common pregnancy complaints like nausea, cramps,· Eat bland crackers to reduce nausea.
heartburn, body aches and the need to frequently· Practice deep relaxation breathing techniques like
urinate. Fetal movement and psychological anxietiesthe method taught in pregnancy classes.
may also contribute to the incidence of pregnancyFind What Works
insomnia.Pregnancy aches and pains are usually unique to an
Other Sleep Problemsindividual. You may therefore need to find your own
Aside from pregnancy insomnia, sleep apnea may alsopersonal solution to pregnancy insomnia by
be a harmful condition that may develop duringexperimenting on which of the above mentioned tips
pregnancy. Nasal passages may increasingly swell inwill work for you. One thing is certain though; you
pregnant women which may block airways. Snoringshould consult your doctor if you plan to take anything
which may accompany this kind of apnea may resultfor your insomnia. What you put in your body could be
in high blood pressure. The lack of oxygen could alsoharmful to your baby. It is generally a bad idea to take
potentially harm the fetus. In some women, this sleepalcohol, sleeping pills, sedatives and other sleep
apnea may also be the cause of pregnancy insomniamedication while you are pregnant. Ask you doctor for
since a pregnant woman may wake up suddenlya safe sleep supplement.
because of gasping which may follow snoring.