Fighting Sleeping Troubles during Pregnancy

You may be finding it difficult to sleep while you are pregnant because of various mental and physical causes. Whatever the reasons may be, it is important to understand insomnia and its effect on your baby and health. Insomnia, which is ability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the night, is a common phenomenon that affects approximately around 78 percent of women.  

This condition is often characterized by the following factors:

Difficulty getting to sleep

Trouble staying asleep

Difficulty returning to sleep

Not feeling refreshed or feeling drowsy

What Actually Causes Insomnia during Pregnancy Time?

With physical, mental, emotional and hormonal changes taking place in this period, it is no surprise that 8 out of 10 women find it difficult to sleep at night. While physical discomfort and hormonal changes are the bigger causes for insomnia, every trimester of pregnancy brings its own challenges for sleep. Here are the common sleep changes:

• Frequent awakenings due to multiple bathroom visits

• Physical and emotional stress linked with pregnancy

• Increased daytime sleepiness and body weight

• Discomfort due to the growing belly

• Heartburn, leg cramps and vomiting

• Back pain and abdominal aches

• Hormonal changes 

How to cope up with Sleep Problems in Pregnancy

Not all people take the right approach to treat insomnia during this period. Some people try even sleeping tablets such as ambien pills, which are not recommended for pregnant ladies. It is simply because these drugs can harm your health as well as the health of your baby. Make sure you don't use ambien tablets to sleep during pregnancy.

It is not just ambien sleeping tablets; avoid all medications for sleep in the pregnancy time. Medication is not a better option while you are pregnant. So, try some safer and more effective ways to cure your sleep troubles:

• Avoid watching television, reading books and doing office work till late night

• Once you are in bed, try relaxation techniques to calm you down for sleep

• Use quality mattresses, pillows and beddings for better night's sleep

• Keep your room cool, dark and quiet enough to sleep well

• If heartburn keeps you awake, eat snacks of bland foods

• Try better sleep positions as your belly grows

• Try daily exercises of 30 minutes

If you cannot sleep despite trying all above options, then you should talk to your healthcare provider. Discuss the problems you face during the nighttime and ask for the good and safe solution to deal with your sleep problems.