Pregnancy and sleep

Posted by hfgh

Introduction 

Sleep is one of basic and inevitable daily activities with physiological, psychological and social dimensions which affects life quality and health of individuals  . Actual definition of sleep is "the state of the organism, in which its environmental interaction is reversible, partially and periodically lost and can be revoked by various external stimuli. Requirement for sleep varies between individuals depending on age, gender, diet, physical activity, health status and other personal factors. Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy cause serious alterations on sleep and its quality. Abdominal disturbances caused by diaphragmatic pressure due to fetal development, nocturia, back pain, leg cramps, increased progesterone and estrogen levels related hormonal changes and diseases such as restless leg syndrome disarranges sleep habits and sleep quality of pregnant women. Although the real incidence of sleep disorders in pregnant women is unknown, it was reported to start with first trimester and reaching at its maximum level by third trimester. 97% of women in third trimester of their pregnancy have sleep disorders. Minimizing sleep problems and increasing sleep quality have important role in providing a healthy pregnancy period. 

Important Things to Know About Pregnancy and Sleep

•  Having enough good sleep when you're pregnant is important for both you and your baby.
• If you’re pregnant, you don’t sleep as deeply and may wake up during the night. This means that you need to spend more time in bed.
•  This is especially so in the last three months of pregnancy.
•   If you start snoring while you’re pregnant, or stop breathing during sleep, you should speak with a doctor about it. It may be a sign of other medical problems that may affect your health and also that of your growing baby.

Is sleep important when you are pregnant?

Pregnancy is a time when you need to pay particular attention to your health. During pregnancy, the mother’s body changes rapidly. Any health issues may impact on the development and growth of the baby. Most people know that you need a balanced diet and enough exercise, but having enough sleep is vital as well. Many pregnant women feel tired. This is most common in the first few months of pregnancy and again towards the end of pregnancy. This means that women will often need to spend more time resting or sleeping.

How does sleep change during pregnancy?

Along with the changes to the body that occur during pregnancy, there are also changes in sleep patterns. These are quite normal. As the pregnancy progresses, women have less deep sleep and wake up more often during the night. Sleep is less refreshing, which is why expectant mothers should spend more time in bed asleep. Sometimes an afternoon nap of an hour or two will help.

Is snoring linked with pregnancy?

You may start to snore during pregnancy. You don't need to worry about this if it only occurs occasionally. But if it occurs often, is very loud or interrupts sleep, you should speak to your doctor or midwife. Snoring during pregnancy may indicate breathing problems during the night. Sometimes mothers who start snoring have also developed high blood pressure. For the health of both you and your baby, you need to look into this.

Are breathing pauses during sleep normal in pregnancy?

It is normal to have very occasional breathing pauses during the night, whether or not you are pregnant. However they may become more frequent and noticeable during pregnancy. Sometimes these breathing pauses end with a snore or gasping. The sleep disruption may cause excessive sleepiness during the day. If you or your partner have noticed breathing pauses, you should mention it to your doctor.

Are leg movements linked with pregnancy?

As pregnancy proceeds, some women (or their partners) notice that they move their legs a lot just at the time that they go to sleep. There may be small jerks and kicks, or there may be quite large movements that keep going all through the night. If this gets in the way of sleep, you should see a doctor to treat it. The symptoms usually get Important Things to Know About Pregnancy and Sleep

• • Having enough good sleep when you're pregnant is important for both you and your baby.
• • If you’re pregnant, you don’t sleep as deeply and may wake up during the night. This means that you need to spend more time in bed.
• • This is especially so in the last three months of pregnancy.
• • If you start snoring while you’re pregnant, or stop breathing during sleep, you should speak with a doctor about it. It may be a sign of other medical problems that may affect your health and also that of your growing baby. 

How may sleep disorders affect the health of the mother?

Breathing pauses, snoring and other sleep disorders can increase the health risks of pregnancy to the mother. This may include high blood pressure, diabetes or even preeclampsia. Mothers who don’t have enough sleep may feel anxious and depressed. This may persist after the baby is born. Acting on these problems early helps simplify treatmen

How may sleep disorders affect the health of the developing baby?

The baby might not grow normally if the mother has health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. If the mother has breathing pauses and variable oxygen levels during the night, the baby might be smaller and not be as healthy at the time of birth.

How can I improve my sleep during pregnancy?

Most expectant mothers need more sleep than usual and should try to optimise the quality of their sleep while they are pregnant