Insomnia in pregnancy

 Pregnancy comes with a lot of discomforts; recent research done indicates that over 78 percent of pregnant women suffer from insomnia. The condition is experienced more by first time mothers. This is largely attributable to anxiety which is a common feeling with many pregnant women. The condition is not in any way life threatening but it can cause a lot of discomfort.

Insomnia in pregnancy

There are very many causes associated with insomnia. Pregnancy strains a woman’s body; the added weight can cause discomfort and fatigue. It becomes very hard for pregnant women to fall asleep due to the uneasiness. Most women turn and toss in bed before they fall asleep. Pregnancy exerts pressure on the bladder which results to frequent visits to the bathroom leading to interrupted sleep and in turn causes insomnia. The lower back also experiences strain due to the added weight and can create a lot of restlessness when sleeping.

Can stress cause insomnia? 

The answer to that is yes. Anxiety and too much worrying can lead to stress and this can aggregate insomnia. It’s natural to worry about hospital bills, the health of the unborn child and all other uncertainties that pregnancy brings, however, mothers should try to relax and minimize stress as worrying will only make the situation worse. Even in cases when the pregnancy was not planned for its best to stay calm and work out a way forward instead of being anxious and depressed.  

How to minimize insomnia 

A pregnant mother needs to get enough sleep, taking a warm bath just before sleeping will help the mother to relax and she will be able to sleep soundly. It’s also important for pregnant women to ensure that the room temperature is ideal to induce sleep. The room should also be dark with no disturbances in form of noise.  A comfortable mattress will go a long way in ensuring that the mother gets quality rest. It’s advisable for pregnant women to place a pillow just beneath the knees as this cuts pressure.

Coping with insomnia 

There are measures that one can take to cope with insomnia. The first thing is to ensure that you sleep comfortably. The fact that your belly enlarges creates a lot of discomfort and it’s important to ensure that you sleep in a comfortable position to avoid backaches and straining your muscles. Putting a soft pillow under your belly will help reduce discomfort. Research shows that cardamom milk helps to induce sleep and pregnant mothers should take a glass of warm milk just before sleeping. Playing slow and soothing music will help your mind to relax and make you feel asleep easily and its waybetter than counting sheep till you doze off.