Pregnancy should be a time of joy, but for most women, it is a time of discomfort and can also bring sleep disturbances. Insomnia during pregnancy is the result of hormonal changes and physical and emotional pain. These sleep disturbances must be well managed since they may affect maternal health and fetal growth and development. Therefore, this read answers on managing insomnia during pregnancy.
Understanding Insomnia During Pregnancy
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person faces difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up before time, and not being able to go back to sleep again. Insomnia during pregnancy may occur due to the following reasons:
- Hormonal Fluctuations: Progesterone is a hormone that plays an important role in pregnancy. However, increased levels of progesterone can disturb the sleep cycle, resulting in sleep during the day and wakefulness at night.
- Physical Discomfort: Pregnant women suffer from back aches and leg cramps. Also, there is an increase in the frequency of washroom visits due to the pressure on organs like the bladder. Such physical discomforts result in sleeping disorders.
- Anxiety and Stress: Pregnancy as such brings substantial emotional changes. There are concerns regarding birth, the upbringing of a child, and the health of the newborn. These may worry your mind at night, not letting you rest.
- Mood changes: Pregnancy also brings a massive shift in hormones. Estrogen and progesterone rise at this stage. They control the mood of human beings. Anxiety or depression can also affect sleep, which causes insomnia.
- Dietary Changes: Women have to make changes in their diet to meet the nutritional needs of the developing baby, which may disturb sleep. Also, adequate water intake keeps the body hydrated but results in more movement at night to the washrooms.
- Sleep Environment and Routine Change: As pregnancy progresses, one needs to find the correct and comfortable sleeping posture and the right pillows and bedding to manage sleep disorders.
Effects of Insomnia on Pregnancy
Lack of sleep or disrupted sleep patterns are burdens or strains on the human body. Unfortunately, it is worse in pregnant mothers. The repercussions are not only physical but much more than simply fatigue.
Impact on Maternal Health
- Increased Risk of Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: Women with such a form of sleep disorder are likely to develop gestational hypertension and preeclampsia due to higher blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Gestational Diabetes: Insomnia during the early stages of pregnancy can make women vulnerable to developing gestational diabetes.
- Mental Health Issues: Insomnia causes anxiety and depression in pregnant women. Cortisol, which is known to affect mood, is already altered during pregnancy, and a lack of sleep further compounds this.
Impact on Fetal Health
- Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight: It has been found that insomnia during pregnancy can potentially contribute to preterm birth, that is, birth before 37 weeks, and low birth weight. Preterm babies and babies born with low birth weight may have problems with breathing, delayed motor skill development, and temperature regulation.
- Long-term Developmental Concerns: As per the research, insomnia during pregnancy may have developmental effects on children, which cause behavioral problems as well as some levels of learning disability as they grow.
Managing Insomnia During Pregnancy
Here is how managing insomnia during pregnancy can be slightly easy:
Lifestyle Modifications
- Sleep Hygiene: Ensuring that there are changes that can facilitate the process of sleeping is mandatory. These are just some tips on making sure your bedroom is calm, dark, and quiet. Covering the bed with dark drapes or even installing blackout curtains may be advisable. Avoid watching blue-eyed TV or using mobile phones for hours before going to bed to help avoid its effects on sleep.
- Bedtime Routine: It is recommended that we practice daily rituals that indicate our desire to sleep to our bodies, including setting regular bedtimes.
- Dietary Adjustments: It is advisable to note what you are eating and when you are eating it. Also, have a light meal at night.
Physical Interventions
- Exercise: Moderate exercise performed on a routine basis may improve sleeping patterns. Exercise every day for 30 minutes.
- Comfort Measures: The most uncomfortable thing during pregnancy is finding a comfortable position to sleep in as the body changes. You may find relief by sleeping on your left side with a pillow between your knees to support your abdomen and reduce back strain.
Mental and Emotional Support
- Stress Management: Use deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation to build stress-busting habits.
- Counseling and Therapy: If anxiety, depression, or chronic insomnia is affecting your health, seek help from a professional counselor.
Medical Interventions
- Medications: Medications should not be taken during pregnancy, but in some cases, severe insomnia can be treated under a doctor’s prescription.
- Alternative Therapies: In particular, some women take help from alternative forms of medicine, like acupuncture or chiropractic adjustments, to treat insomnia. Talking to your doctor before turning to any form of therapy is recommended.
When Do You Need Professional Assistance?
A woman needs to know when it is suitable to seek the help of a physician, as both the mother and the fetus may be at risk.
- Persistent Insomnia: If you’ve attempted several practices to enhance your sleep and you still suffer from overwhelming insomnia for over weeks, seek professional help.
- Severe Daytime Fatigue: Feeling very sleepy during the daytime to the extent that it interferes with your daily activities is another sign.
- Mood Disturbances: Consider seeking help if you simultaneously have considerable receptive changes in your mood, including irritability, anxiety, or symptoms depicting depression that may result in sleep deprivation.
Conclusion
By understanding the causes of insomnia, implementing effective management strategies, and seeking professional help when needed, expectant mothers can improve sleep quality and more comfortably navigate this transformative journey. It is crucial to remember that every pregnancy is exceptional, and the best approach to coping with insomnia may require trials and errors to identify the right one.