Pregnancy Sleep: Common Problems and How to Deal
One thing you might not have expected during the joy of pregnancy is the exhaustion and chronic yawning that goes along with it. In early pregnancy, you may feel tired all the time and suddenly develop the magical ability to doze off into a power nap anywhere—even at your desk. Then, if you are lucky, you may have a few good months when your energy returns, the constant nausea abates, and you are able to sleep through the night. However, before long you may realize that deep sleep is becoming more and more difficult to achieve as you grow larger, more awkward, and increasingly uncomfortable. While using the best pregnancy pillow that all your mom-friends recommended may be hugely helpful, there’s still the question—what is going on in our bodies that makes deep sleep so difficult to achieve during pregnancy, and what can we do to help?
Raging Round Ligament Pain
If you didn’t experience this phenomenon during pregnancy you are very lucky. More than anything else, the unpleasant surprise of round ligament pain in the second trimester sends panicking pregnant women hurrying to their doctor in fear. Fortunately, as the doctor will assure you, round ligament pain is normal, common during pregnancy, and harmless for the baby, if not for your sleep.
The round ligaments are the two tough bands of muscle tissue in the abdomen which support the uterus. As the uterus enlarges, these bands stretch, pulling on nearby nerves and causing pain, most often in the groin area and in the lower abdomen. These stretching ligaments can even spasm, causing sudden sharp pain, and this unfortunately often happens when rolling onto your side during sleep.
Round ligament pain can be lessened by wearing a supportive belly band during the day, and by sleeping with one of the best pregnancy pillow options at night to support the abdomen. Using a pillow tucked between the thighs can also help to alleviate round ligament pain.
GERD Guard
Sleeping with one of the best pregnancy pillow choices can also help to relieve GERD. (Gastroesophageal Reflux) or heartburn. Because the expanding uterus presses other organs, including the stomach, upward, it’s very common to experience increased heartburn during pregnancy, especially at night, making sleep elusive. Avoiding foods that cause heartburn can help, and so can doctor-approved medication for heartburn. Sleeping on an incline may become necessary later in pregnancy if heartburn worsens. Some of the best pregnancy pillows are designed to accommodate this option.
The Need to Pee
Frequent urination is another common problem during pregnancy that can make it difficult to sleep. The pressure of the growing abdomen leaves little room for other organs, including the bladder. Sometimes the position of the unborn baby presses on the bladder, causing spasms and the sudden urge to pee. Your bladder may also be on the receiving end of an occasional kick. Added to all of that, is the fact that your kidneys are filtering up to 50 percent more blood than usual, resulting in much more frequent urination.
While there isn’t a whole lot that can be done to help, some good tips are to drink plenty of fluids during the day but cut back about two hours before bedtime. Also, try leaving a dim nightlight burning in the bathroom so you don’t have to turn on a bright overhead light. This may help you to more quickly go back to sleep.
Leg Cramp Craziness
There is nothing worse than being jerked out of deep sleep by the burning pain of a leg cramp. This is a common problem during the last trimester of pregnancy. Changes in circulation and pressure on leg muscles, as well as a change in calcium processing may cause these nocturnal nightmares. Being sure to get extra calcium and potassium may help to minimize the occurrence of nighttime leg cramps during pregnancy.
This is another way that sleeping with one of the best pregnancy pillow options can help. These pillows are often designed in a comma shape to support the weight of the abdomen when lying on the side. The other end can be tucked between the legs to support spinal alignment and promote improved circulation.
Those critical last weeks before your baby is born is the time to rest up for the big event and the sleep disruption that occurs after birth. While nothing will completely alleviate symptoms, sleeping with one of the best pregnancy pillows designed to support the growing and changing body in the third trimester can help you prepare for the big event.
Resources— What to Expect.com, WebMD, MedicalNewsToday
About The Author
