Pregnancy brings joy and excitement, but it can also bring physical discomfort that affects how well you sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 78 percent of women experience more sleep disturbances while pregnant than at any other time during their lives. Part of the blame falls on the surging hormones that circulate during pregnancy, while the ever-changing shape of your body can also affect the quality of your sleep.
First Trimester
The first trimester of pregnancy brings plenty of changes, and alterations in sleep patterns are frequently among those changes. Newly surging pregnancy hormones can make you tired during the day, but can bring on nausea and sore breasts that make it hard to get comfortable at night. You might also start noticing a strong desire to get up and pee multiple times throughout the night, including just after you’ve finally found a sleep position comfortable enough for you to drift off. Sleep problems can also be psychological, as excitement or nervousness about your pregnancy and impending motherhood keep your brain active well past your usual bedtime.
Second Trimester
As far as sleep goes, the second trimester is smooth sailing for most moms-to-be. By the fourth month of pregnancy, the placenta has taken over many of the hormonal functions so your body isn’t producing as many hormones anymore. In practical terms, this means you’ll feel much more comfortable, with less morning sickness and overall discomfort. Some women begin to experience heartburn that keeps them awake at night toward the middle or end of the second trimester as the fetus grows larger and puts more pressure on the internal organs, while other moms-to-be may develop sleep apnea that causes frequent night awakening.
Third Trimester
During the third trimester, your sleep may suffer as your belly grows bigger. In a 2010 study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, over 31 percent of women experienced restless leg syndrome during the third trimester, compared to about 17 percent before pregnancy. Pregnant women also experienced more frequent snoring and a decrease in overall sleep quantity and quality during the last three months of gestation. Finding a good sleep position is essential to achieving good sleep during this time. Daytime naps may also help keep you from becoming overly fatigued.
As your pregnancy progresses and the effects on sleep change, keep in mind that the problems are all temporary. Most women experience a decrease in physical sleep problems, including apnea, leg cramping, restless leg syndrome, heartburn and insomnia after the baby is born. Of course, once the sleep problems of pregnancy are behind you, the sleep deprivation of new motherhood begins.
Resources:
Baby Center: Pregnancy Sleep by Trimester
National Sleep Foundation: Pregnancy and Sleep
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Bridget Coila - I'm a cell and molecular biologist, freelance writer and photographer currently living in Beijing, China. I'm fascinated by science, ...
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