How to Get a Better Night's Sleep While Pregnant

Sleep Snag: Tummy Troubles

In the first trimester, many moms-to-be experience queasiness. This generally will subside by the second trimester, but then acid reflux (and the resulting feeling of heartburn) often kicks in. What's behind this symptom? Your growing baby presses against your stomach, which can force some acid up into your throat. In addition, surging hormones loosen the muscles between your stomach and your esophagus, making it easier for acid to leak through.

The Fix
If you're battling nausea, stash plain crackers on your nightstand and nibble when the queasies hit. To sidestep heartburn, try to have dinner about four hours before bedtime to give the food a chance to work its way through your digestive system, says Regan Jones, a registered dietitian in Augusta, Georgia. If spicy foods tend to give you heartburn, pass on those. Because lying down aggravates reflux, consider using a pillow wedge, says Michael Abrahams, M.D., an ob-gyn at Patients Medical, in New York City. "Tuck it under your shoulders at a 45-degree angle, which raises the upper body and can offer some relief." If heartburn still wakes you in the night, sit up for a few minutes to give gravity a chance to correct the problem.

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