Pregnancy And Baby Care Pregnancy Sleep Pregnancy Sleep Problems

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If you are able to sleep in the early stages of your pregnancy, then you may find it difficult to fall asleep in the later stages due to the physical changes that your body undergoes.

Causes of Sleep Problems During Pregnancy

There is not just one factor, but several factors that contribute to sleep problems during pregnancy. While you are pregnant, you are likely to undergo not only physical, but several mental changes as well.

With pregnancy, you are likely to face some common problems like leg cramps, urinary incontinence, you may also experience shortness of breath, and intense backaches. You may also have difficulty in finding the right position to sleep because of the growing belly, a very active baby, and unnecessary worries about the baby and yourself.

Remedies for Sleep Problems During Pregnancy

You can definitely dream about sleeping like a baby if you manage to ease your problems.

• In case you are suffering from leg cramps, press your feet hard against a wall, or stand up on your cramped feet; this will relieve the discomfort. Ensure that you take your calcium supplements on time and regularly, and drink plenty of milk to ease this condition.
• In pregnancy, shortness of breath and a pounding heartbeat indicate that you are anemic. When there is insufficient blood in your body, your heart needs to pump harder and work more in order to ensure that oxygen reaches all parts of your body. In such a scenario, you need to follow an iron-rich diet and try to increase the iron levels in your body.
• The best sleeping position that you can follow in pregnancy is to lie on your side with your knees bent. This position ensures that the weight of your baby does not exert pressure on the large veins that carry blood back to your heart.
  
  This makes your heart's work a little easier.
• If you suffer from back pain, then try placing some extra pillows around you. Experiment using the pillows to see which position is the most comfortable for you.
• Urinary incontinence is a common problem that every pregnant lady goes through. This happens because of the growing pressure that your baby puts on your urinary bladder. To overcome this condition, avoid drinking liquids before going to bed. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine and fizz as these tend to stimulate your kidneys to produce more urine.
• Dreams and nightmares can be dealt with by speaking about them to someone like your spouse or a friend. Once you do that, you will stop thinking about them and as a result, the dreams will stop bothering you.
• If the delivery process in pregnancy scares you, make sure that you speak to your doctor about your fears and get them addressed so that you are able to get a good-night's sleep.

A little effort from your side can help you overcome this condition. However, if you are still unable to catch a few winks, listen to some soothing music or read a book to help soothe your mind.