Insomnia during pregnancy: causes and treatment

Many girls, preparing for future motherhood, represent the period of pregnancy in a rainbow color - you can be capricious and ask for strawberries in December at night, you can write off tearfulness for hormones and eat as much as you like. But only pregnant women know that these are all flowers. Pregnancy is a serious period for a woman’s body. She constantly feels discomfort and nausea, she is tormented by swelling of the legs and weakness, a huge belly does not allow to walk normally. But most often women suffer from insomnia. During pregnancy, there are many provocative factors that interfere with a healthy and full sleep. In this article, you will learn about the causes of insomnia, and also get acquainted with the main ways to eliminate it.

Why a pregnant woman suffers from insomnia

Sometimes a pregnant woman cannot fall asleep for any specific reason. But often her condition is not explained by anything concrete - she is simply uncomfortable and does not want to sleep. Consider some factors that prevent a pregnant woman from sleeping normally.

1. In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman cannot sleep due to constant going to the toilet. The fact is that the uterus grows and presses on the bladder. Even a small accumulation of urine makes you feel like urinating. When you have to get up to the toilet 3-5 times a night, you take off your whole dream.
2. Hormones and nausea are another good reason for insomnia during pregnancy. Most often, toxicosis occurs in the morning, but it happens that nausea prevents sleep at night.
3. In the third trimester, the woman’s stomach takes on impressive dimensions. Therefore, it is very difficult for a woman to find a comfortable sleeping position. It is impossible to sleep on the stomach, on the back, too - the stomach compresses the vital artery, I immediately want to roll over. And the sides for many months already lay down so that there is no strength. The longer the term, the more difficult it is for the expectant mother to fall asleep.
4. Often a woman cannot sleep because of heartburn - the uterus presses on the stomach, causing the gastric juice to be thrown into the esophagus.
5. Very often, a woman cannot fall asleep due to psychological experiences - she worries about a figure, work, housing, finances and relationships with her husband. Hormones add fuel to the fire and present everything in gloomy colors.
6. Often a pregnant woman cannot sleep because she does not have enough air. So the lack of oxygen in the body is manifested. She wants to get up, open the window, inhale the air with her full chest.
7. The life of a pregnant woman is not sugar. Cramps in the extremities from a lack of calcium can also torment her.
8. Insomnia at night can be from excess sleep in the daytime.
9. In the later stages, the expectant mother can not sleep due to the fact that the baby kicks a lot. Since the baby becomes impressive after 35 weeks of gestation, even a small push can be very sensitive.
10. Women are emotionally quite impressionable, and during pregnancy this feeling is amplified several times. A pitiful kitten on the street, news from hot spots, a colorful story about childbirth, a conflict with a neighbor - all this can permanently unsettle a pregnant woman, what a dream there is.
11. Stretching the skin causes the abdomen and hips to itch. And you can not scratch the skin so that there are no stretch marks. Therefore, the poor woman has to lie, endure and stroke a restless tummy.

This is not a complete list of the reasons that prevent a pregnant woman from getting enough sleep. Each organism is individual and each expectant mother has some diseases, features and difficulties.What to do if sleep does not occur? How to be a pregnant woman, because often expectant mothers have to fully go to work? Here are some tips to help you fall asleep and sleep peacefully until morning.

We eliminate the provoking factors

If a woman suffers from heartburn - stop doing it! There are many modern and absolutely safe drugs that will help you get rid of this symptom. Consult your doctor about the possibility of taking such medications. If you suffer from cramps, you need to eat more protein - drink a glass of milk before bedtime. Be sure to lubricate the skin of the abdomen with moisturizers after an evening shower so that it does not itch. These simple tips will help you get rid of triggers and fall asleep in a healthy and long sleep.

How to calm down before going to bed

A lot of women cannot fall asleep precisely because of their thoughts, fears, experiences. Let's try to figure them out. Ask yourself - why am I worried? What is bothering me?

There can be many answers to this question. Most often, the woman cares about the material side of the question - is there enough money in the decree? Will the husband be able to provide for the whole family? There are many situations and each family tries to cope with their problems in different ways. However, many mothers can confirm that, by a fortunate coincidence, after the birth of a child, an additional source of income is most often found. The husband finds a second job or is promoted, something is being rented, financial assistance comes from his parents. You yourself can start earning money at home a few months after giving birth. It is not for nothing that people say: “God gives a child, and gives a child.”

Often, women think about the housing issue - how to fit in a small apartment if the number of family members grows? You should not worry about this during pregnancy - the baby will be with you in the room for several more years. No need to worry about the relationship of the future baby with the eldest child (s). You will not love him less, because your heart will increase, and the amount of love in it will multiply. No need to worry about relationships with your husband - a man will be immensely grateful to you, because you carry his child under the heart. Do not worry about the figure - it's a matter of gain, after childbirth and breastfeeding you will certainly come to your senses.

Do not care about your career - children will be small only once - allow yourself to retire and enjoy the sweet age of your baby. Throw away all doubts and worries. Everything that could have happened has already happened. You need to relax and accept the circumstances as they are. What can be calmer and more pleasant than the realization that a small life is growing and developing inside - a piece of two loving people? Having gained peace and harmony, you will certainly be able to fall asleep in a healthy and calm sleep.

How to prepare for bed

Here are some more tips to help you get ready for bed so that you feel cheerful and rested in the morning.

1. The first condition is that you should be tired by night. Do not sleep during the day if you can’t fall asleep later in your usual time. Be sure to take an evening walk - this is very useful for both you and your child.If possible, do exercises for pregnant women, go swimming. Any permitted physical activity is suitable.
2. Be sure to take a shower or a warm bath. In no case do not draw hot water into the bath - it is dangerous for pregnant women. Add some essential oils of needles or lavender to the water - they have a calming effect on the nervous system.
3. Be sure to ventilate the room before going to bed - a sufficient amount of oxygen is the key to a healthy sleep. If it is warm outside, leave the window slightly ajar so that there is access to fresh air. It is best to sleep in a cool room - the temperature should be no more than 22 degrees. Better to put on warm pajamas and climb under the covers than turn on the heater.
4. Be sure to pay attention to the quality of the bed. It is better to choose an orthopedic mattress - it supports the body in the right places and provides quality rest. The pillow should be low and soft. The bedding material must be natural.
5. In the later stages, use a special pillow for pregnant women. It perfectly supports the stomach and allows you to relax. Subsequently, such a pillow can be used to support while feeding the baby. If there is no such pillow yet, simply place soft cushions under the stomach and between the knees.
6. Many pregnant women have pain in their sides because sleeping on their stomach and back is very difficult. This can be avoided if you do not track your sides during the day. Try not to read or watch TV while lying down, this will give you a feeling of relief and relaxation when you go to bed.
7. Try not to be emotionally stressed at night. Do not watch war films, horrors and melodramas, do not swear at home, avoid everything that can upset you.
8. No need to have a tight dinner before bedtime - this will lead to severe heartburn.
9. Relaxing yourself and calm the baby in the tummy will help calm classical music. It will help you turn off all thoughts and worries, fall asleep with a sound and healthy sleep. From the good music, the baby will also calm down, will not push his legs until the morning.
10. If lower back pain keeps you awake, do a light massage.
11. If the child moves and cannot calm down at all, you need to roll over on the other side, walk, breathe air. Very often, the fetus in the womb is actively moving due to hypoxia. If the child’s behavior does not change, be sure to tell your gynecologist about it.

It is necessary to treat with great concern various sedatives, teas and tablets. In no case do not take sleeping pills without the advice of a doctor. It is better to drink milk with honey, sweet tea with lemon or ginger, warm fruit juice. Even simple herbal decoctions can be dangerous - you should not drink them without a doctor’s prescription.

Pregnancy is a fertile time that nature gives the expectant mother before a difficult period for her. Within a few months or days, your baby will be born, and you will be able to sleep anywhere and under any conditions. Yes, just do not work. The baby will take the maximum of your attention. Therefore, while the baby is still in the womb, you need to try to sleep. Our tips will help you get rid of insomnia and get a healthy and quality rest.

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