Fluctuating hormones, changing body systems, and stress levels fuel a host of physiological shifts that can compromise sleep during pregnancy in unique ways. Research indicates that virtually all pregnant women experience frequent nighttime awakenings, with significant numbers reporting insomnia, poor sleep quality, and excessive daytime fatigue during all three trimesters.

The Importance of Sleep During Pregnancy

Getting quality sleep during pregnancy is important for both mother and baby. For the mother, sleepless nights end up leading to fatigue and daytime sleepiness. Sleep also plays a major role in memory, learning, appetite, mood, and decision-making – all important when preparing to welcome a newborn baby into your home. Chronic sleep deprivation takes its toll on the immune system. Some researchers believe this may be part of the reason why a lack of sleep has such a significant impact on maternal and foetal health.

• Research shows that pregnant women who get too much or not enough sleep in early pregnancy are prone to developing high blood pressure in the third trimester.

• Since sleep helps regulate blood sugar, it’s not surprising that poor sleep during pregnancy appears to be linked to gestational diabetes mellitus.

• Sleep deprivation during gestation has been associated with longer, more painful labours, higher cesarean rates, and increased levels of inflammation.

• Severe sleep deprivation in early pregnancy may raise the risk of preeclampsia, a condition that can lead to preterm delivery and lasting complications for the mother’s heart, kidney, and other organs.

• Inadequate sleep may increase the risk of preterm birth and postpartum depression, excess pregnancy weight gain, and contribute to elevated body mass index and high blood pressure in the newborn.

• Though more research is needed to control for other variables, poor sleep appears to be a risk factor for preterm birth, low birth weight, painful labor, cesarean delivery, and depression. 

• Emerging evidence suggests that poor sleep quality during pregnancy may predict sleep problems and crying in babies once they are born.

Why Sleep Changes During Pregnancy

Beginning in the first trimester, fluctuating hormone levels cause generalised discomfort and other problems that can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. These may include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, higher body temperature, frequent nighttime urination and leg cramps. As pregnancy progresses, expectant mothers may also experience back pain and difficulty with accommodating their growing baby bump, especially when the baby starts to kick at night. In the third trimester, many pregnant women experience vivid, disturbing dreams that can further impair sleep quality.

While it’s common for most pregnant women to experience at least a few of the above symptoms, sometimes the symptoms may be related to a sleep disorder, which can cause future difficulties. The most common sleep disorders that occur during pregnancy are obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

Sources: The Sleep Foundation | Wikipedia | National Library of Medicine