And there were other observations that women who were sleeping less than 5 hours a night in the last month of pregnancy had longer labors and were more likely to have C-sections. For instance one report observed a higher rate of preterm birth for pregnant women that were sleeping less than 5 hours a night in the latter part of pregnancy. While no association with insomnia and adverse pregnancy effects have been made, researchers have started to take a closer look at the effects of insomnia due to some results.
These higher levels of cytokines are also seen in women who have experienced preterm birth, postpartum depression and other pregnancy complications. Another concern is that people who suffer from insomnia have higher levels of substances that increase inflammation in the body (proinflammatory cytokines). The concern with persistent insomnia is that it could increase the chance of hypertension and diabetes, which is just as concerning in people who aren’t pregnant too.
Having a good night’s rest is important for the well-being of the mother and child. Many pregnant women do not view insomnia as a disorder or a problem in their pregnancy, but when it starts to impact how you function during the day especially when it is accompanied with sleepiness, lack of energy, increased irritability, agitation and stress, it should be considered more carefully especially if insomnia starts to occur more regularly and last longer. Insomnia includes difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up very early in the morning, waking up not feeling rested or a combination of these symptoms. Insomnia is one of 3 common sleep disorders during pregnancy. While many women and clinicians have come to accept this as just a part of pregnancy, the data is starting to show that we need to pay more attention to how pregnant women are sleeping during pregnancy. When I asked, she stated, she was up and couldn’t sleep and decided to make the most of her time. I was so surprised when she responded to my email and I knew it was way too early for her to be at the office.
#INSOMNIA EARLY PREGNANCY CRACK#
I do recall how surprised I was when I sent an email to one of my colleagues at MothertoBaby in her third trimester of pregnancy, at the crack of dawn her time (I was on the East Coast, she was on the West). They are waking up and staying awake for longer periods of time. In the middle of pregnancy, women are uncomfortable in bed because the baby is moving and kicking, and then there is heartburn, cramps or tingling in the legs.īy the latter part of pregnancy, it is reported that over 97% of pregnant women cannot get a decent night’s sleep. In the early part of pregnancy, sleep is interrupted by nausea, vomiting, back pain and an increased need to urinate/pee. Many women have come to accept a lack of sleep or quality of sleep in pregnancy. It can be so frustrating, especially if you look over at your partner in a state of blissful slumber as you toss back and forth on the bed. We slowly see the time ticking by 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2hrs. Even though I am not pregnant, I am sure all of us can relate to a night where we wake up and cannot fall back to sleep. For some who have been on medications like Ambien before they were pregnant, they now wonder if they can use it because they are having a hard time catching those Zzzz’s. By Patricia Markland Cole, MPH, MotherToBaby Massachusettsĭuring my work at MotherToBaby, I have received calls from pregnant woman who want to know what can they safely take to sleep? Usually they are looking at natural remedies like melatonin for information.