Pregnant women may find that they need a few more hours of sleep per night than normal, or a few short naps during the day. However, insomnia and sleep disturbances are very common during pregnancy.
As Dr Raja Gangopadhyay says:
During pregnancy, the woman’s body undergoes many changes. Some of the organs, such as the heart, work much harder. Therefore, some extra hours of sleep are beneficial.
The quality of sleep also deteriorates during pregnancy and postpartum period. This worsens as the pregnancy advances and finding a comfortable sleeping position can be challenging for pregnant women, especially during the latter half of the pregnancy.
Research indicates that treatment of sleep disturbances during pregnancy can reduce many pregnancy and birth complications, and also antenatal and postnatal depression. Dr. Gangopadhyay has written an article which outlines the incidence, causes and treatment of insomnia during pregnancy and beyond.
Participation in Pregnancy Yoga or Pregnancy Massage could be helpful in preventing insomnia, and Dr. Gangopadhyay indicates that maintaining good ‘sleep hygiene’, is very important in dealing with insomnia. This can be achieved through various methods such as having a healthy bedtime routine and avoiding caffeine.