Many, many people struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, and pregnancy sleep complaints are no joke. Mayo clinic notes that 75% of pregnant people have challenges sleeping at some point in pregnancy, so if you aren’t sleeping well, you’re not alone. Keep scrolling for tips to more comfort for better sleep.
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There are many reasons you may be waking up at night. In addition to waking frequently for bathroom breaks, you’ll soon be woken by a kicking, wiggling baby. If you are already a parent who is still in the throws of nighttime parenting, you may be up with little ones. Add to that waking for a midnight snack, leg cramps, vivid dreams, flipping and turning from side to side, and quenching your thirst. Sometimes you’ll wake for one of the aforementioned reasons and easily settle back to sleep. Other times you may struggle with terrible insomnia. You get the picture. Sleep is medicine, and if you’re not sleeping, everything else in your life may feel hard.
We introduced “Rest Smart℠” back in Week 9. Now it’s time to put it to use every night. Find the right pregnancy pillows for your comfort; don’t be shy. Some pregnant people have a collection of pillows of all sizes and configurations. The most important props in bed are pillows that support the upper leg, knee, and ankle when you are lying on your side. Many people also like a pillow tucked into the space near their lower back and a small wedge pillow under their growing belly. The belly pillow will become more important as your belly grows. Additionally, a pillow that you can hug will give you a comfortable resting place for your arms and hands. Here is an option for a full-body pillow.
Need more? Go to our Techniques section and try Side-lying Release with a capable helper.
Baby now weighs around 10 ounces and measures about 6-7 inches long. Your baby is finally big enough for your midwife to hear their tiny heartbeat with a fetoscope. You may have been hearing it since about 11 or 12 weeks with the use of a doppler, but hearing that tiny tapping with your ears through a fetoscope is pretty magical.
If you haven’t felt the first kicks and nudges of your baby, you soon will. Your baby is growing rapidly and so are you. You may start to notice toning surges or Braxton-Hicks contractions, but don’t worry if you don’t. Not all pregnant people feel them or feel them yet. Other changes you may notice are the Linea Nigra — a darkening of the skin between the pubis and the navel. It’s caused by hormones and will lighten after the birth.
Affirmations are short, powerful statements that can affect your conscious thoughts. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly, and repeat the following to yourself throughout the next week:
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Activities for pregnancy comfort and easier birth.