Pregnancy can easily take a toll on your body, especially once you hit the third trimester. At this stage, your body is tired, which can cause poor sleeping patterns. Besides that, your stomach is bigger, and it gets tough to get comfortable at night. Not to mention how hot you feel. It’s crucial to get better sleep while pregnant because it is healthy for the baby and you. You must find a solution as you prepare for the baby by buying baby products.
Why is it so? Why must you get sleep while pregnant?
The Importance of Ample Sleep While Pregnant
Picture how you usually feel when you suffer from lack of sleep while not pregnant. Your body is exhausted, and your mind can’t be productive, right? Now picture how your body must feel you can’t get sleep while pregnant.
Your body is no longer just working for you but another human being and requires ample time to rest. It means more than just lying on the bed but shutting off your mind and dreaming. Sleep works wonders for the human body and will help you get through a lot while pregnant.
For example, when you give your brain time to rest, it takes that chance to implant memories. These are integral in combating forgetfulness, which afflicts many pregnant women and is fondly known as the baby brain.
Additionally, you get better blood circulation in your body and that of the baby. Now that the heart and vessels are working for multiple people, they need time to repair. Also, it can help you tackle hypertension and boost your immune system.
When you sleep, your body can respond better to insulin, which helps your immune system. So, no matter how busy your life is, you must make time to get ample sleep while pregnant.
You can use the following tips to get sleep during pregnancy.
Tips to Getting Sleep While Pregnant
Did you know there are specific actions you can take to get sleep while pregnant? They include:
1. Ask for Help
Are you used to doing everything by yourself? Well, that might have worked out before but won’t during pregnancy. Your body requires more time to sleep, and this won’t happen if you’re exhausted. It’s hard to get sleep when you’re too tired.
Therefore, as you progress, start delegating tasks to others, leaving only a few things to do that won’t exhaust your body.
2. Sleep even when not sleepy
Learn how to get sleep even when you are not sleepy. Pick your bedtime and ensure you lie down once it’s time. You can find different methods to soothe yourself to sleep even when you don’t feel like it. For example, playing some music or watching a documentary that gets you sleepy.
When you establish a routine that ensures you get a decent amount of sleep, you’ll enjoy your pregnancy. Also, it gives your body ample time to repair, which reflects in your daily productivity.
3. Get Comfortable
Perhaps the reason you can’t get sleep is that your bed isn’t comfortable. Remember, you’re gaining weight, and your stomach is getting bigger. At this time, it’s tough getting comfortable no matter how much you love your bed.
So you might want to invest in a pregnancy pillow that helps you get comfortable. It supports your legs and bump at night, meaning you can easily fall asleep. Also, get some maternity pillows for the sofas when you want to watch TV.
4. Light Meals at Night
Getting enough sleep is essential, but this rarely happens if you’re too full right before bed. How much do you eat and drink before retiring for the night?
Eating a heavy meal followed by lots of drinks can hinder your ability to get sleep. Therefore, the best action to take is light meals only before bed.
5. No Caffeine Before Bed
When pregnant, it’s best to cut out certain items from your diet, including caffeine. However, if this isn’t possible, ensure you don’t take any before bed. Caffeine isn’t only present in coffee but other foods and drinks.
Examples include medication, chocolate, tea, and fizzy drinks. If you take or eat something with caffeine, chances are you’ll be awake for the better part of the night.
6. Exercise
As much as it’s best to avoid strenuous tasks during your pregnancy’s third trimester, you’ll be doing yourself harm if you don’t move at all. You need an exercising routine if you want to get sleep each night.
The best way to do this is to take a walk each day out in the fresh air. Not only does this clear your brain, but it helps boost your blood circulation. After that, you feel relaxed and calm enough to fall asleep without much fuss.
Need some tips to motivate you to get moving when you’ve got a bun in the oven? Learn our five best tips here on LifeAsMama.com.
7. Meditate
Meditation is a great way to center your thoughts and get sleep often. When your mind is relaxed, your body is less tense. It’s one of the best ways to get sleep during pregnancy. Not only does this benefit your body, but your outlook on life shifts to more positive thoughts.
Final Point
Picture this. You always get sleep each night, then boom! You’re pregnant and awake each night. Lack of ample sleep can affect your health and wellbeing, which means you need to find a solution. By following the tips above, you can start counting sheep once more and enjoying your experience.
Do you have some questions to share? Please leave a comment below.
Author’s bio: Laura Casey is a blogger, mother, and housewife who shares her vast experience in parenting, motherhood, and pregnancy. Her articles have already helped a lot of people who deal with parenting. She draws inspiration from raising kids, Motherhood itself and blogging. One of the most useful blogs in her list is https://top-mom.com/ . Check it out!