Why Are Pregnant Women Difficult to Sleep? These 6 Possible Causes

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Medical Video: Pregnancy and Sleep Problems | Important Symptoms

During pregnancy, the body experiences various changes, one of which is insomnia. Basically this condition does not harm your baby, but still pregnant women need adequate rest for the health of the mother and fetus. Quoted from American Pregnancy, insomnia during pregnancy is a normal condition and affects 78 percent of pregnant women. How did it happen? Find out the cause here.

Causes of insomnia during pregnancy

Insomnia is a condition when a person has poor sleep quality caused by things such as difficulty starting to sleep, waking up more often at night, difficult to go back to sleep after waking up, and not sleeping soundly. The following are some of the reasons why insomnia during pregnancy often occurs.

1. Stomach feels sore

Sometimes pregnant women experience indigestion due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, giving rise to heartburn and making it difficult to sleep.

To avoid this, try not to eat within two hours of going to bed and especially avoid consuming spicy foods. Usually antacid drugs such as Tums, Rolaids, or Zantac are safe during pregnancy, but you should ask your obstetrician first.

Another way is that you can use a higher pillow and sleep on your side to the left to prevent stomach acid from going up the esophagus and prevent feeling sore in the chest.

2. Movement of the baby in the womb

Movement of the baby in the womb can wake you up from sleep. Because the baby often moves from kicking to twisting. If the baby kicks in the direction of the rib cage, it is usually enough to make the mother wake up and feel discomfort. There is nothing you can do to stop this movement.

The only way is to enjoy every contraction that occurs and try to stay relaxed. You can take a deep breath and slowly exhale so the body relaxes.

3. More frequent urination

It's not unusual for pregnant women to urinate more often throughout the day, including when night falls. The capacity of the bladder will usually shrink significantly as the uterus continues to grow.

One way to deal with this is to drink as little water as possible in one or two hours before bed to limit the intensity of your urination in the middle of sleep.

Also, try to keep the room and bathroom lights dim so you can easily go back to sleep when you have to wake up because you have to go to the bathroom. Because the bright lights can stimulate your body to stay awake all night.

4. Not comfortable because the stomach continues to grow

The condition of the stomach that continues to grow can be very uncomfortable. You can try various sleeping positions that are comfortable and use the help of a special sleeping pillow for pregnant women to increase sleep comfort. In addition, according to the National Sleep Foundation, about one in four pregnant women usually experience restless leg syndrome (restless leg syndrome) This condition is a nervous system disorder that causes a large and irresistible urge to move the foot. This can also cause a tingling sensation in the legs, calves, and thighs. Sensations often get worse in the afternoon and evening.

This sensation can not only be felt on the legs, but also on the arms. Restless leg syndrome is also associated with a forced pounding of the legs and arms, known as periodic limb movements in sleep. If you experience this, it can be a sign that you are deficient in iron and folate. Try to add to the intake of these two substances to get rid of restless leg syndrome.

5. Leg cramps and back pain

Cramped legs and back pain are very common in pregnant women. This often makes it difficult for you to sleep or wake up when you are feeling well. To deal with back pain you can sleep sideways by placing a pillow between your legs to reduce pressure.

To avoid leg cramps, you can also stretch by taking a leisurely stroll around the room and asking your partner to give a gentle massage before going to bed. In addition, you can try to raise your feet while sitting during the day and also when you sleep.

6. Anxiety

The last possibility of insomnia during pregnancy is anxiety. When pregnant, women often experience excessive anxiety. From starting to think about changes in body shape to imagine the labor process that often causes its own fears. For that, you need to pamper and calm yourself before going to sleep, one of them by taking a warm bath before going to bed.

Try to stay active during the day, but don't overdo it. Doing low-risk sports such as swimming, walking, and yoga pregnancy can help improve your sleep patterns at night so that insomnia during pregnancy can be overcome properly.

Why Are Pregnant Women Difficult to Sleep? These 6 Possible Causes
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