Sleep patterns during the third trimester of pregnancy: a woman goes through multipe changes in her body during pregnancy that create a lot of discomfort one of the kind of which is disturbance in sleep.
Most women, who have been through pregnancy, find it troublesome to sleep during some stage of their pregnancy term. A good night’s sleep gradually becomes a distant memory as the mother moves closer to the date of delivery. Here is a guide on what to expect in terms of sleep during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Trouble being Comfortable
As you move closer to the end of your pregnancy term, getting sleep becomes a hazy memory. The baby bump just gets bigger and by the third trimester it’s big enough to not let you lie on the bed comfortably. Try sleeping on your left side with pillow fit between your knees and behind your back. If this doesn’t help, settle in a comfortable chair. When you are due by four to six weeks, you will realise that the best sleep that you get is when you sit up.
Pressure on the Bladder
Do you remember having spent more time in the bathroom than outside during the first trimester? Well, that phase will be back by the time you are approaching or are already in your last trimester. This time, however, it is the baby that is putting pressure on your bladder. To cut the number of trips you make to the loo, you may reduce the number of fluids you take, especially in the late afternoon so you can have a peaceful sleep at night.
You may also like to read: Urinary Frequency during Pregnancy.
Heartburn
When you are in the third trimester of pregnancy, you are likely to experience heartburn, leg cramps, snoring, restless leg syndrome and the baby’s kicking and squirming at night. Several studies have shown that pregnant women in their last trimester experience only few periods of deep sleep and are more likely to wake up in the middle of the night than they did before. It is during the third trimester that a pregnant woman’s sleep pattern takes a nose dive.
Tips
- Once you have crossed the 28th week, it is advisable that you sleep on either side.
- Avoid lying flat on your back when you are beyond 28 weeks or in labour as the pressure of the womb that is carrying the baby, the amniotic acid and placenta may add strain on blood veins and block blood circulation to your brain and heart. This may also lead to a decline in the blood pressure and thereby cause you to be dizzy apart from causing other negative impact on the baby and its heart pulse.
Read more articles on During Pregnancy.
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