Sleep
During your pregnancy, you may have more difficulty sleeping than usual. A larger abdomen, heartburn, anxiety, back pain and shortness of breath lead to less sleep.
You can get frustrated about the lack of good sleep. Yet sleep is very necessary during pregnancy. If necessary take a nap at ten o'clock in the morning, sleep when you can.
Why am I so tired?
Besides it being harder to sleep, making and feeding a baby in your womb takes a huge amount of your energy. Your blood pressure and heartrate will increase, because for a while it beats for two. Your kidneys need to work harder to remove the extra waste, and your muscles are bearing a lot more weight.
Sleeping on your back
Although this is a common sleeping position for many pregnant women, it can still cause back pain. Because there is a considerable weight is resting on your intestines and major arteries, this position is also detrimental to the circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, hemorrhoids and blood pressure.
Sleeping on your stomach
You can still sleep on your stomach for the first few months of pregnancy, but this will soon become impossible.
Sleeping on your side
This is the recommended sleeping position during pregnancy. This position is the best for yourself and the baby. If you do this, however, and are not used to it, it can be tricky to get used to. Sleeping on the left side is the best, in this position, the baby gets the maximum amount of blood and nutrition. Keep your legs and knees bent and place a pillow between your legs.
Lying comfortably
Use pillows to support your back. A pillow between the legs causes less strain on your back and helps you sleep comfortably. Ordinary pillows work well but there are pregnancy pillows available. Electric blankets are fine but don't overhead.
If you're tense or worried and it's waking you up, stretching or yoga can help. As can a warm, not too hot, bath.
What you eat and when you eat can also affect your sleep. A glass of hot (pasteurized) milk before bedtime often helps. Eggs, peanut butter or a slice of turkey on bread keep your bloodsuger higher during the night. Don't drink too close to bed or you'll wake up for the toilet.
Medicine
Avoid, if possible, take medication during pregnancy, including alternative medicine. Many medications are not tested on pregnant women, and it is difficult to determine whether it has adverse effects on your baby. If you have serious sleep problems, then your doctor may be able to help. Never use sleeping pills.
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