Tips for Getting Better Sleep During Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, you’re tired all day—and up all night. Your baby doesn’t yet understand the concept of bedtime and might feel like kickboxing into the wee hours. Try these tips for getting better sleep during pregnancy so you’ll be rested and ready when Junior finally makes an appearance.
Exercise Regularly
Is it the last thing you feel like doing? Undoubtedly. But moving will make you feel better and wear out your body for sleep. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, get your blood pumping for both your physical and mental health. Even in the third trimester, you can do yoga, walk, and work out in a pool, so choose exercise instead of a nap.
Add More Pillows
As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll find fewer and fewer positions comfortable enough for sleep. But you’ll have better luck with pillows that can relieve pressure and stop you from tossing and turning. If you’re a side sleeper, you need a pillow between your knees to support your back. Experiment with wedge and body pillows until you’re content enough to drift off.
See a Chiropractor
It can be hard to get comfortable in bed even when you’re in top physical shape, and you probably don’t feel that way right now. Your muscles can’t adapt that quickly to the demands on them and your ever-changing center of gravity. If pain is keeping you up, you deserve as many massages as you can get. And try seeing a chiropractor—many new moms swear that seeing one can help with back pain, nausea, and even pelvic alignment.
Have a Snack
If your issues don’t include acid reflux, a snack might calm your body enough for real rest. The cliché about warm milk still holds true, and it can’t hurt to try a glass. Get some carbs with a late-night cracker break, and you might fall asleep while your digestive system gets to work. Include protein, too, which can ward off hot flashes, headaches, and even bad dreams.
Stop Stressing
Some tips for getting better sleep during pregnancy are more achievable than others, and this one is easier said than done. You’re not the only one running worst-case scenarios through your mind. But for a couple of hundred thousand years now, mothers have successfully raised children with less knowledge and fewer resources than you. What if something goes wrong? Well, what if it does? You can tackle challenges as they arrive—not by worrying about them in the middle of the night.
