Dealing with Sleep Deprivation during Pregnancy
Everybody knows that you’re very unlikely to get a solid nights sleep once your newborn baby has arrived. However, nobody really talks about how sleep deprivation can occur in pregnancy too! Many women struggle to sleep when pregnant, most commonly in the third trimester, for several reasons from heartburn to an active baby.
One factor that may be keeping you up is insomnia! A very active brain at night can be worse than an active baby, and can keep you awake for ages! Try to reduce screen time before bed and avoid caffeine in the evenings. I like to keep post-it notes by my bed, so if I think about something I need to do, I can just write it down and forget about it, instead of worrying I’ll forget. White noise is also great for calming unwanted thoughts.
During your third trimester in particular, your baby is likely to be active a lot of the time. And unlike mum, baby doesn’t know to sleep at night! Unfortunately, there isn’t much advice that can be given for this one but take comfort in knowing you’re not alone and try to enjoy the movement of your baby (I know it’s not always that easy)!
Heartburn or acid reflux is very common during pregnancy and can be caused by hormonal changes or the baby pressing against your stomach. However common, it is very uncomfortable and is difficult to sleep with. There are multiple things you can try to ease heartburn such as medication, increasing the number of pillows you sleep with and avoiding citrus fruits. For more information on dealing with heartburn, read our blog post ‘Heartburn Remedies During Pregnancy’.
As your bump gets bigger, it can become increasingly hard to get comfy and fall asleep at night. The answer to this one is easy- invest in a pregnancy pillow, these are affordable and are a perfect way to get extra support in bed.
Not being able to sleep during pregnancy is a problem most pregnant women face at some point. It’s important to know you’re not alone and there are methods you can try to help. However, if you feel you are really struggling and need some extra help, it’s important you speak to your doctor or midwifery team.