Insomnia During Pregnancy

Most adults require at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. However, some people have a sleeping disorder, known as insomnia, that does not allow them to reach these recommended values. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff (2016), Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard for individuals to fall asleep, stay asleep, or causes people to wake up too early. Insomnia can result in mood swings and can also negatively impact health.

Pregnancy can lead to insomnia, due to a host of reasons, making insomnia a common occurrence during pregnancy (Hasmi et al, 2016). Pregnant patients can experience backaches, leg cramping, nausea/vomiting, and a number of other complications that affect sleep quality. Not only that but hormonal changes in the body also impact sleep. For example, pregnant patients experience large changes in hormonal secretions of estrogen and progesterone that can affect sleepiness. While these level out during the third trimester of pregnancy, increased pressure on the bladder causes an increased frequency of urination that disturbs sleep (Chen, 2017).

Management of pregnancy-induced insomnia is considered a little difficult because many drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. However, changing an individual's daily routine can be a safe way of getting a better night’s sleep. Drinking lots of water during the day and limiting the intake right before bed can prevent urinary frequency throughout the night. Limiting caffeinated beverages is also helpful because caffeine is a stimulant that can keep people awake. During the physical act of sleeping, laying on the side with a pillow between the knees can help prevent back pain, heartburn, and hemorrhoids (Watson, 2020).

Citations:

Chen, J. (2017, July 10). Women, are your hormones keeping you up at night? Yale Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/women-are-your-hormones-keeping-you-up-at-night

Hashmi, A. M., Bhatia, S. K., Bhatia, S. K., & Khawaja, I. S. (2016). Insomnia during pregnancy: diagnosis and rational interventions. Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 32(4), 1030.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016, October 15). Insomnia. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167

Watson, S. (2020, December 16). Pregnancy Insomnia. WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/baby/insomnia-during-pregnancy