When you find out you’re pregnant, a lot of people will tell you a lot of different things. Some good, some bad, and some a little strange – it can all be quite overwhelming, can’t it?
So instead of just telling you that you can expect some sleepless nights (during and after pregnancy), here are all the little things you can do to make sure you get a good nights sleep.
Take naps
If ever you needed an excuse to take a nap, pregnancy is a great one. You’ll find that naps soon become a requirement to get through the day – don’t worry, it’s completely normal. Your body’s going through a lot of changes, which uses up a lot of your energy. So don’t feel bad if a quick trip to the shops leaves you feeling like you’ve run a marathon!
Watch how much you’re drinking
If anyone’s warned you about the constant need to pee, you’ll probably already know that your nights are about to be disturbed with toilet breaks. It’s all worth it in the end, but that doesn’t make it any more bearable when you’re shattered.
To help with this, it’s worth watching how much you’re drinking in the evening. The more you drink, the more likely it is you’ll wake up throughout the night. Don’t cut drinks out completely, but try and limit them where possible before bed. Also try and make sure you’re emptying your bladder as much as you can, each time you go to the toilet.
Cut down on the spicy food
Unless you’re overdue and trying everything you can to send your baby on their way, try and avoid eating too much spicy food.
It can bring on heartburn which, as well as being incredibly uncomfortable, makes sleeping pretty difficult. If all else fails, ask your GP about heartburn medicines.
Invest in those snoring patches
“But I don’t snore!” we hear you cry. Well, if you don’t snore now, you may find pregnancy will make you start. In some women, this snoring can get so loud they wake themselves up. If you find this happens on a regular basis, invest in some of those nose strips you can find in the chemist – this should ease it.
Restless leg syndrome
This is pretty common in pregnant women and is yet another thing that can make it hard to get to sleep at night. If you’re not sure what it is, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is basically when you need to keep moving your legs in order to get rid of sort of tingly/burning sensation in your legs.
The good news is there’s a way to ease this and we think you’re going to like it… get a massage! You can do this yourself if your partner doesn’t fancy it (although it’s not quite the same then!) or you can try stretching your legs to see if that helps.
Invest in a pregnancy pillow
It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard this because it really does help to make you more comfortable – especially during the later stages of pregnancy. If you don’t want to invest in a specific pillow, just use your existing ones.
Lie on your side and prop your pillows between your legs and behind your back. This will offer the same level of support as a pregnancy pillow but won’t mean you’re left with something you won’t be using for a while, if ever.
Think about your mattress
If your current mattress isn’t in the best condition (maybe you’ve got a few springs digging into you at night) rest assured that during pregnancy you’ll notice them even more. And, at a time when you’re already struggling to sleep, it’ll become more annoying than ever. So if your mattress isn’t great, get a new one.
Granted – this may seem a little strange when you consider you’ve a baby on the way but now’s the perfect time. It’ll mean you sleep better during, and after, the baby’s born. And trust us when we say you’ll be wanting as much sleep as possible!
Calm the nerves
As well as being an incredibly exciting time in your life, it can also be quite a nerve-wracking one. Instead of letting the nerves take over, try and focus on all the exciting things that are about to happen. If you find that you start getting too anxious to sleep, there are a lot of apps available nowadays that help to relax you. Don’t forget to take the time to pamper yourself too!
So there you have it, a few of the ways you can help make sure you get a good nights sleep when you’re pregnant!
Additional content by https://mynextmattress.co.uk
