Due to the changes which
are taking place in the body, many pregnant women are unable to get good sleep
at night. Learn about the correct sleeping position during pregnancy and find
tips for getting peaceful sleep at night.
Expecting
mothers have a number of questions and anxieties arising in their mind and one
of the most common one is, what is the correct way to sleep during pregnancy.
As pregnancy proceeds you might find yourself restless in bed and trying to get
comfortable before you fall asleep. There are a number of reasons that create
such discomforts, but there are some sleeping positions that can help get the
rest you need.
Why do doctors recommend that I sleep on
my side? I am not very comfortable that
way
Get used to it now, before your
belly starts expanding. You wouldn't be able to turn on it in any case.
Although, sleeping on your back may be more comfortable to start with, it leads
to backaches and haemorrhoids, and inhibits your digestion, breathing and
circulation and could cause low blood pressure and hypertension. This is
because the entire weight of your uterus, intestines & inferior vena
cava is on your back. Whereas, stretching out on your left side, allows maximum
flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta, enhances the functioning of the
kidneys, which leads to better elimination of waste materials (which in turn
would cause oedema). So this should be, technically, the most comfortable
position.
Causes
of discomfort in normal sleeping positions during
pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body
of the woman goes through a variety of changes. These changes have a tendency
to disrupt usual peaceful sleep. Reasons for disturbed sleep during pregnancy
may include:
Why is it better to sleep on left side during
pregnancy?
It is it better to sleep
on left side because it increases the amount of blood and nutrition to reach
the placenta and hence to your baby. It also helps your body get rid of the
wastes and fluids easily. For more comfort, you can keep your knees and legs
bent and put a pillow between your legs. You can even put a pillow under your
abdomen if you still find some discomfort.
If you are used
to sleeping on your back or stomach, you might not find these positions
completely comfortable immediately, but you can try them out and they may work
for you. However, during pregnancy you may not lie in one position throughout
the night and rotating positions is moreover fine as
well.
Disturbances during early
pregnancy
Have quick look at the
disturbances which make it difficult for pregnant women to sleep peacefully
during pregnancy.
You need to lie-down
often
Early in your pregnancy you
will feel sleepy during the day. You may feel worn out while carrying out
simple day to day work also. You may find getting
good sleep at night not possible. So, take a nap whenever
possible.
Constant need for
pee
The growing size of the uterus
puts pressure on bladder will send you to restroom more than often. If you want
to avoid this parade during night, drink plenty of fluid during the day and
lower down the consumption of fluid from late
afternoon.
Difficulty getting
comfortable
Your bust line increases
and breasts get tender which disrupt comfortable sleep. However, this is the
right time to start training yourself to sleep on your
sides.
Second trimester pregnancy
sleep
This is the best time of your
pregnancy because most of the expecting mothers sleep more peacefully during
this time. Morning
sickness has probably passed by now and you have a better sleep
schedule as well. The sleep problems that are usually seen during
second trimester are
Leg cramps
Restless legs
syndrome
Sleep apnea
Snoring and
congestion
Vivid
dreams
If you find problem in sleep, you can consult
your healthcare provider who will suggest treatment that is safe during
pregnancy.
Third
trimester sleep
Studies show that the
third trimester is the worse period of pregnancy when considering sleep and
comfort for the expecting mothers. The causes of less sleep are similar to that
of the first trimester.
Tips to get better night’s
sleep
Cut down on caffeine
Avoid heavy meals and spicy food
during bedtime
Lower the fluid intake in late
afternoon and evening
Practice relaxation
techniques
Take a walk for some time and a
warm bath before going to bed
Take nap during the
day
Do not work late night
Let go your worries
Make a sleep schedule and stick to
it
Go to your bed only when you have to sleep
Sleep on your left
side
If you wake up at night, do not worry. It is
perfectly natural to get less sleep during pregnancy. Follow a healthy
lifestyle and stay happy and cheerful during your pregnancy period to prevent
all the health issues related to
pregnancy.
Why do pregnant women find it
difficult to get good sleep at night? Which is the best sleeping position
during pregnancy? How to get good sleep at night during pregnancy? Discuss
here.
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- The Indiaparenting Team
i was having vomitting and morning sickness after i missed my periods. the urine test for pregnancy was positive. but after two days no signs of vomitting and morning sickness is there. is it ok or harmful?
i am about 6 weeks pregnant. i don't get morning sickness but i sometimes feel light abdominal pain, i had my ultrasound and the doctors siad everythign was normal. i also get a heaviness/ stretching feeling right near the pelvic area..is it safe? i read that having tea/coffe is bad and leads to miscarriage. i have 1 big cup of tea in morning. is that bad?
hi anu form usa. iam in the same position as you . i do not also have morning sickness but feel slight cramp like pains will soon be meeting my doctor and will ask him in case you come across something please keep me posted
i am 15 weeks pregnant. i have severe gas problem and it causes headache. my diet has improved a bit but i feel very uncomfortable in the morning due to morning sickness i have developed back ache for last one week. is it common??
from what i read, the best position to sleep for a pregnant woman is on her left side with slightly bend legs. the second best is on right side. avoid to sleep on your stomach and back.
