I remember my pregnancy days sometimes and I smile. In the early days, I slept like a baby but my sleep was filled with all sorts of dreams. I had a different dream every night and there dreams were so vivid, I found them entertaining. I enjoyed my bedtime in the first trimester. Sleep and bedtime Fast forward to the second trimester, and sleep became a luxury. I could hardly sleep at night.
Napping during the day was fine on some days, but sleep won’t come at night. I would be wide awake unable to sleep from night to morning, and I would have to get up in the morning for work. It was horrible, I was so exhausted.
What is Pregnancy Insomnia?
Pregnancy Insomnia is when you have difficulty sleeping when you are expecting. I never had issues with sleep until I became pregnant and once I delivered all I wanted to do was sleep, but my tiny newborns won’t let me. Insomnia took a toll on my physical and mental health, and left me drained. I didn’t struggle with any other pregnancy issues. I went the full term with the twins, and worked until I was about 37 weeks pregnant. My Job in Manchester had me commuting over 2 hours each way to get to work.
Causes of Pregnancy Insomnia
There are many causes of pregnancy insomnia. Here are a few common causes –
- Heartburn
- Discomfort
- Frequent urinating
- Vivid dreams
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Backpain
- Shortness of breath
- Leg Cramps
- Hormones
I think my pregnancy insomnia was caused by hormones and heartburn. I had bad heartburn and morning sickness throughout my second and third trimester. Also, I also think my pregnancy hormones played a major role in my insomnia. I was pregnant for the first time, with 2 babies inside me. So I can imagine the shock my body was in.
So how did I deal with my pregnancy insomnia?
How did I deal with my pregnancy insomnia? I didn’t. Throughout my second and especially my third trimester, I hardly got any sleep. It was the same every night. I would toss and turn until morning, and go into work feeling shattered. I could take any sleeping medication to help me sleep, so there was really nothing I could do. During the day, I did manage to nap at times, and those naps helped me stay sane. Having a bedtime routine also helped me relax and get into the mood.
I also remember saying comfortable in bed with a pregnancy pillow and as many pillows as I could lay my hands on. I had a pillow for my neck, head, back, legs, and waist. These pillows helped me stay comfy.
Difficulty sleeping while pregnant is a common thing. Many pregnant women experience some form of disruption in their sleep. Changes in my lifestyle/bedtime routine didn’t really help. It is worth speaking with your doctor if you have having sleep problems. Your doctor would be able to check your situation and advise accordingly.
Did you suffer from pregnancy insomnia? How did you deal with it?
