Every woman, or at least most, dream of getting pregnant at some point in their life because there is nothing that beats the joy of motherhood. However, just like everything else it comes with a price and one of them entails immense sleeping difficulties as your tummy grows big. However, it is still very possible to get a good night’s sleep, and you only need to understand what to do and what not to. Here are a few tips to help ensure that you sleep well during your pregnancy.
#1 Workout
Working out during pregnancy is still a very controversial topic because different mothers have varying opinions on this subject. However, most studies in the past conclude that it is safe to exercise when you are pregnant, but you have to choose the right exercises. Exercising is also vital if you want to sleep well because it improves circulation and hence minimizing the probability of getting cramps when sleeping. Apart from this it also ensures optimum health and hence also helping you rest well because healthy people have minimal sleep issues. However, keep the exercise light to avoid causing harm to your unborn baby. And also limit them to early morning because working out late in the afternoon or evening will keep you awake due to the adrenaline.
#2 Keep your Bed Comfortable and Support your Body
Via: Pixabay
One of the first things that you will need to do once you get pregnant is to make your bed comfortable. A bed that is not sturdy that keeps on making some funny noises will make it hard for you to sleep and this is more so during pregnancy because ladies get annoyed with almost everything due to the hormonal changes. And so even a squeaky sound from the bed can just make you too annoyed to sleep. Also, make your mattress comfortable with a topper if you cannot afford to buy a new one. Lastly, you also need a pregnancy pillow to support your body as you are sleeping. There are many kinds of pregnancy pillows available, and you can have numerous of them to support your back and tummy.
#3 Avoid Spices and Heavy Meals
Spicy and acidic foods are not good for any pregnant woman that wants to sleep well. These types of food will cause heartburns and indigestion and hence prevent you from sleeping. Heavy meals also have similar effects, and so you should avoid eating too much during dinner time if you want to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Eating a heavy meal also mean that the body will spend several hours digesting it at night and you cannot fall into a deep sleep during the digestion.
#4 Relax and Stop Worrying Too Much
Via: Pixabay
The hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy can interfere with a woman’s thinking in many ways, and excessive stress and anxiety are one of the most common effects. A small thing such as the fact that you do not have enough clothes for your unborn baby can stress you a lot. But, if you do not find ways to relax and keep the stress and anxiety at bay you will not be able to sleep well. Although there are many things to worry about when pregnant, you should not let them weigh you down. Try things such as meditation, yoga and even praying as they can be useful in getting rid of the stress and anxiety. A warm bath before bed can also be very helpful in relaxing your body and mind.
#5 Avoid Too Much Fluid in the Afternoon
It is important to drink a lot of fluid during pregnancy because your body needs more of it than in ordinary days. However, if you want to sleep well, you should keep your fluid consumption to the early part of the day. Drinking fluids late in the afternoon and at night means that you will have to wake up numerous times to go to the lavatory, and this is bad for sleep. Waking up at night interferes with your sleep cycle and hence leading to segmented and poor quality sleep.
Sleep is essential for the development of your unborn child and also for your health, and so you should not only ensure that you get enough of it but also make sure you sleep well. Although there are many other tips for sleeping well during pregnancy, the five above will come in handy, but this is only so if you follow them consistently.
Guest Author Bio:
Jane Collins is a main editor of g9sleeptight.com a site dedicated to healthy sleep. Follow me on Twitter @g9sleeptight
