Most of the women face difficulties with sleeping during pregnancy. Here is what pregnant women can do to prevent sleep discomforts during pregnancy.Anu is coping with disturbed sleep. She is restless and lost in serious thoughts, always anxious to go for washroom. Every ten minutes, Anu has to visit her wash room. During pregnancy as the bladder gets full frequently, very often one feels like visiting the wash room. These are most common symptoms during pregnancy and are not just an imagination. As the kidneys filter 50% more blood than normal times, visits to wash room also increases. By and large, women experience
sleep discomfort during pregnancy.
Any problem during pregnancy cannot be looked at in isolation. Even discomfort in sleep during pregnancy has to be attributed to wrong life styles or life style disorders. Of late, we find women developing wrong habits like smoking, drugs and also alcohol consumption. The after effects of these intakes will have a long term impact on the women. So before getting pregnant, women need to adopt healthy life styles and lead a life devoid of stress.
Sleeping Difficulties during Pregnancy
Like Anu most pregnant women complain of similar symptoms. While sleep relaxes one’s body and mind, it also triggers unwanted thoughts and fears in a pregnant woman. To avoid all these stressful moments, pregnant women should take good care of health, maintain proper diet and sleep timings. Family support in various ways is equally important. Family members should welcome the newborn without putting pressure on the young mother. These are few such delicate issues which a pregnant woman takes to bed and starts worrying in her sleep sub consciously.
The sleep patterns during pregnancy, stressful days and restless and anxious nights can really make a young would-be-mother worried for small and big things equally. Psychological fears also have an impact on sleep positions during pregnancy. Sleep positions always differ from person to person. Pregnant women generally cannot decide their cozy sleep position. Sleeping sideways is always the best, preferably on the left side.
Also, using a pregnancy pillow after consulting a doctor to provide support to the body can also prove beneficial.
It is not right to sleep flat on your back as this will weaken the back muscles. We cannot conclude any right posture for sleep during pregnancy, but sound sleep without major disturbance is all that one has to aim for.
Sleep disturbance can be due to snoring and also apnoea. Apnoea is a breathing discomfort due to which, breathing stops for a while during sleep.
Reasons for Discomfort while Sleeping During Pregnancy
Let us take a look at the common causes of disturbed sleep during pregnancy.
- Haemoglobin deficiency
- Iron deficiency
- Psychological fears
- Consumption of more coffee or tea
- Anaemia, weakness and fatigue
- Heartburn, sub conscious worries
- Sore breasts and increased estrogens level in late pregnancy
- Sleep disturbance can also be due to nasal blocks, leading to difficulty in breathing
- Restless legs
Foods to Consume
Here are healthy foods that can be included in diet during pregnancy
- Lentils
- All leafy vegetables
- Food rich in iron, calcium, vitamins and minerals
How to Reduce Sleep Disturbance
Sleep stealers can be many, but to get proper sleep there are various solutions.
- Drink plenty of water during the day time but less during the evening and nights
- Reduce sweet consumption
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Exercise regularly after consulting your doctor
- It is wiser to have small snack just before sleep
- Drink warm milk before going to bed
- Warm bath is a best method before bed time
- It is nice to talk few good things with the partner before sleep
- Listen to soothing music
- Practising normal yoga, meditation, small breathing exercises under the supervision of a certified expert are always good for a pregnant women
- Stretch legs and relax leg muscles as guided by your doctor as many times as possible
Small and simple measures like, healthy life styles, good family relations, caring bond between wife and husband, soothing music can go a long way to help a pregnant women. Pregnancy is a blissful time, a time to pamper oneself and end up to live a cozy life, where both the mother and the baby can enjoy their term during pregnancy.
Why do pregnant women cope with sleep problems? What are the ways to prevent sleep problems during pregnancy? Why is it good to sleep on the left side during pregnancy? Discuss here.