Tina Perridge shares her thoughts on sleeping during pregnancy
SIX STEPS TO A BETTER NIGHT'S SLEEP DURING PREGNANCY
he first 12 weeks of pregnancy
are characterised by a desire to
sleep anywhere and anytime. What
some women are surprised to discover is that
the rest of pregnancy may be plagued by sleep
disturbance. Ironic or what?
Let’s talk about sleep. Did you know that a sleep
study reported in 2016 found 78% of pregnant women
reported some form of sleep disturbance and this was
most common in the second and third trimester. The
reasons for this are many and varied. You will want to pee
more often, you may increasingly find that your changing body shape affects your comfort. Heartburn, leg cramps and nasal congestion can all wake you up. In addition, changes in hormones and possible anxieties may lead to general insomnia. Really makes you want to yawn just to think about it. It can be effective in early labour if you are struggling with extreme tiredness and unable to rest as they may help relax you and allow the uterus to work effectively.
Tina Perridge Director of Neighbourhood Midwives Limited www.neighbourhoodmidwives.org.uk
02088746624
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