Understanding Pregnancy Sleep Problems

Losing Sleep

Why do sleep problems suddenly begin or increase in severity for pregnant women? There are many physical and emotional factors that may contribute to sleep difficulties during pregnancy. Learn why you might not be enjoying the sweet slumber that you need now more than ever.

According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 78 percent of women reported more disturbed sleep during pregnancy than at other times. Physical and emotional changes account for most of the difficulty. These are some of the reasons you might be losing sleep:

• As your body grows and changes, your old sleep positions might not feel so comfortable anymore.
• You might be feeling the aches and pains of a normal pregnancy, such as heartburn, nausea, or hemorrhoids, and these can tend to keep you awake at night.
• Your bladder holds less fluid as your baby grows. You might need to get up several times a night to urinate.
• Emotions and anxiety about birth, becoming a mother, work, and your changing relationship with your partner might also play a part in keeping you tossing and turning between the sheets.