Sara Sachxe asked:


Every pregnant woman complains of this – not getting enough sleep. Most moms have no clue why they can’t sleep, let alone what to do about it. While you may eventually become so tired that you’ll fall asleep, this isn’t a good way to live.

Why Can’t I Sleep?

The biggest reason why you aren’t able to sleep well is because your body is undergoing major changes. Other factors that could disrupt your sleep patterns are lack of exercise, too much exercise, and bad eating habits. Another thing that could affect your sleep is the position in which you sleep on your bed.

What Can I Do to Help Myself?

If you are sedentary, try getting more exercise. Walking is super easy to do. Find a walking partner and walk at least 3 days a week, 30 minutes at a time. Not only is exercise good for your muscles, but it will help prevent excess weight gain and improve your energy levels. It will also prepare you for a healthier labor.

Pay attention to the position you assume when you go to bed at night. Do you sleep on your back? You should always sleep on either side, preferably your left side. If this doesn’t help, try tucking a pillow under your tummy, leg or side.

Calm your mind and body before going to bed. Try a bedtime routine of a warm bath, adding a little lavender oil will make it smell wonderful and aid relaxation. Once you finish your relaxing bath have your spouse give you a back or foot massage if possible and then have a nice cup of warm herbal tea. Camomile or Sleepy Time are great sleep inducing and calming teas.

Another thing you could do is try to read a good relaxing book. I often find this is the easiest way to fall asleep as your mind doesn’t have time to wander.

I Still Can’t Sleep!

Unfortunately, many pregnant women lose lots of sleep, especially during their last trimester. If you are able, take cat naps during the day. When you feel sleepy, take a nap; don’t fight it. Do your best to sleep as often as possible even if you’re having trouble sleeping through the whole night.

sleeplessness news

Milos Pesic asked:


Pregnancy insomnia is one of the most difficult types of this sleeping plague to tackle. The fact is the actual cause will soon be born into a bouncing bundle of joy, but that doesn’t make dealing with the sleepless nights of pregnancy insomnia any easier to take. There are some things that can help.

Ideas for tackling pregnancy insomnia hinge greatly on the most likely cause. This type of insomnia can be caused by the position of the baby itself or by other factors such as stress, anxiety and even eating habits. The cures for pregnancy insomnia relate to the causes.

The best ways to handle pregnancy insomnia include:

· Adjusting sleep position: If the baby is the reason for pregnancy insomnia, this can help greatly. Try using pillows, sleeping upright if necessary and even taking walks to adjust the position of the little one.

· Go to the bathroom before bed: Especially in the later stages of pregnancy, having to go to the bathroom a lot can be the blame for pregnancy insomnia. Emptying the bladder before bedtime and cutting fluid intake can help prevent this cause of pregnancy insomnia from cropping up (too much) during the course of a night.

· Aromatherapy: Lavender can help people go to sleep. Make sure this idea is okay with a doctor before trying it, however. If it is, lavender aromatherapy candles or oils diffused in a room might assist.

· Deep breathing: If pregnancy insomnia is caused by stress, this can help greatly. Learning how to let go and relax will help. The baby will come, you will be able to feed it and everything will work out in the end. Knowing this and actually convincing yourself of it can help a whole lot.

· Relaxation techniques: These can help greatly with pregnancy insomnia, as well. Coupled with deep breathing, gentle stretching and other similar movements can assist in relieving tension.

· Talking it out: If pregnancy insomnia is caused by stress, talking out the issues can sometimes help. Make plans for the baby and let your spouse or significant other know what is on your mind.

· Change eating habits: Many cases of pregnancy insomnia are caused by improper eating habits. When food intake is causing heartburn or acid reflux, eating less at night can help a whole lot. Also, if you haven’t already, cut out caffeine and other similar products. These can add to pregnancy insomnia a whole lot and they are not good for the baby.

Dealing with pregnancy insomnia isn’t easy, but it can be done. Do not take medications, however, or try forms of therapy that might harm the child. If concerns are high, make sure to bring them up with a doctor. Do remember that pregnancy insomnia goes away. Of course it is replaced by 2 a.m. feedings, but that is another story.

types of insomnia

Milos Pesic asked:


Are you pregnant and have been snoring lately? You could already be suffering from sleep apnea.

Pregnancy takes a woman to scores of emotional and physical changes, which is primarily caused by hormonal changes – with estrogen being the dominant hormone during pregnancy. Increase in estrogen reportedly makes the neck muscles to relax and compounded with the accumulated fats around the neck area cause snoring. Snoring during pregnancy usually occurs in the last four weeks of gestation (this accounts to 30% of pregnant women). This is normal and a preferred sleeping position like sleeping on the sides usually alters this. Most pregnant women feel more relaxed when sleeping on their sides to avoid the weight of their bellies especially during the third trimester.

For excessive or chronic snoring, it may be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by a pause in breathing for about 10 seconds resulting to oxygen-deprivation and further complicates to preemclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that only happens during pregnancy and is associated with high blood pressure, proteinuria (protein present in urine), and swelling. Patients with preemclampsia may have any or all of the following symptoms: sleepiness during daytime, headaches, blurred vision, abnormalities in liver function and vomiting. If only one of these symptoms occur, it is not a sign of preeclampsia.

Consequently, a study found out that snoring during pregnancy is more common in women who have put on more of the ideal weight. 14% of the women who snored had pregnancy-induced hypertension. 52% of the pregnant women who habitually snored experienced edema (swelling) of the face, hands, legs, and feet compared to 30% who didn’t snore.

Meanwhile, oxygen deprivation in patients with sleep apnea has been correlated with growth retardation of the fetus and sometimes, death. If excessive snoring during pregnancy occurs, a physician’s advice needs to be sought because the condition could be devastating to the mother and unborn child. Infants born to mothers who were snoring during pregnancy frequently had lower birth weight and Apgar scores (a test taken immediately after a baby is born regarding heart rate, breathing, reflex, muscle tone, and skin color). From this study, although the causes of preemclampsia are unknown, there seems to be a correlation between snoring, preeclampsia, and to babies with lower birth weights.

An expectant woman’s condition is crucial to the development of the unborn child in same manner that a pregnant woman also needs to take care of her well-being. Snoring during pregnancy is a sign of or could lead to poor physical health which could be harmful to the mother and baby. It is important that a pregnant woman undergoes regular pre-natal checkups and reports any physical complaints to a physician.

insomnia news

Lewis Waller asked:


Insomnia and early pregnancy are certainly not the best combination. It’s quite common for women to experience insomnia and sleeplessness during early pregnancy, which is often brought on by things such as anxieties and worries about the impending childbirth, body aches and cramps, frequent trips to the bathroom, or attempting the seemingly impossible in trying to find a comfortable sleeping position with the many changes going on in the body.

Finding a way to relax while in early pregnancy is very much needed, but it’s no simple task. Being stressed-out, it will be nearly impossible to try to get any sleep. Being pregnant, sleeping pills are most certainly not to be even thought of. Some try meditation, maybe doing so while taking a warm, relaxing bath, maybe even lighting some soothing scented candles as well. You will need to calm your mind and clear it of all chatter, focusing on relaxing thoughts, maybe winding down with some soft music before heading off to bed.

Dealing with insomnia and early pregnancy at the same time can be quite a troublesome endeavor because quite a lot of it is usually due to the inability to get comfortable, which is something that can be as changing as the body is throughout the entire pregnancy. This factor can be fixed with the use of full body pillows which are specifically designed for changing pregnant women’s bodies.

But once you can finally get comfortable, there are still the thoughts and anxieties that zip around the minds of pregnant, and for the unborn child’s safety’s sake, medication is a huge impossibility. This is precisely why certain kinds of sonic therapies work best, such as using isochronic pulses, which is the latest breakthrough in audio sleep therapies. This would be the safest way to cure sleeplessness when dealing with insomnia and early pregnancy.

sleep disorder

Ryan English asked:


Health is a big issue when someone is pregnant. When a woman is carrying a child, she does not only take care of her own wellbeing but also the child’s. Besides a change of diet, schedule, work and chores, a well rested body is a must for pregnant women. Yet, insomnia while pregnant is actually very common. It has been estimated that 75 to 78 percent of all pregnant woman acquire insomnia: ranging from mild cases to very severe ones. Once a pregnant woman suffers from difficulty in falling asleep or going back to sleep, constantly waking up during the night, and not getting enough sleep at all, she may be suffering from insomnia. And insomnia while pregnant can cause even greater disorientation, tiredness when awake.

One major reason why pregnant women are prone to insomnia at this crucial time of their lives is hormonal imbalance. Though hormonal imbalance does have a hand on insomnia while pregnant, it is not the only cause. Psychological factors can also make a pregnant woman insomniac. For example: fear, anxiety, and even panic of bearing a child, or having the responsibility of rearing a child, can take hold, and this could lead to lack of sleep. There are also physical factors on why pregnant women suffer from insomnia. Their body shape can affect their sleeping habits. The positioning of their body might take time getting used to, or perhaps their new body shape can make finding a comfortable position to fall asleep in difficult. Aches and pains can also be another reason why insomnia while pregnant is rampant. Heartburns and back pains are common, and some women find it unbearable to fall asleep with these constant aches and pains.

If a woman is suffering from insomnia, it is still advisable to consult a doctor. No matter what happens, pregnant women should never ever self-medicate their insomnia. Taking pills or even herbal supplements without consulting a doctor can be dangerous both to the pregnant woman and her child. Most doctors, in fact, are very hesitant to prescribe any medicines to treat insomnia while the woman is pregnant.

Usually, the doctor will advise them to make some changes in the person’s lifestyle. The doctor might also prefer to give natural, pregnancy-safe remedies for them. However, even if there are natural remedies being offered out there, pregnant women should still consult a doctor. Certain herbs can be safe for women if they are not carrying a child, but when pregnant, it may be a different matter.

For the meantime, a pregnant woman can ask experts for other sleeping positions. She can also try a nice warm bath or massage before going to sleep. Also, she could improve her room’s environment, playing soothing sounds or music, or lighting lavender candles. Doing some relaxation techniques for pregnant women can also help, or use the age old ways to make people fall asleep: watch television, have a snack, drink some warm milk, or simply read a book. Exercising during the day could also help.

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