Fatigue and sleep during pregnancy

Fatigue and sleep during pregnancy
Pregnancy has an impact on sleeping patterns. Pregnant women also tend to get fewer hours of sleep.



First trimester (weeks 0 to 14)

Many physiological changes that occur in the first trimester can influence your sleep.

  • Your body goes through hormonal changes at the onset of pregnancy. High progesterone levels make you tired during the day, but can also keep you up at night, while an increase in estrogen may destabilize your sleep cycle.
  • Hypersensitive breasts and other pregnancy aches and pains can make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. To alleviate discomfort, try to sleep on your side.
  • During pregnancy, your baby puts increasing pressure on your bladder, which will make you have to urinate more often. The urge to urinate may even wake you up several times a night.
  • If you experience severe morning sickness, it may cause you to get up earlier in the morning. Vomiting can also decrease your nutritional intake. If you’ve cut back on your usual morning coffee, the lack of caffeine may increase your fatigue.
  • Anxiety and stress related to your pregnancy can lead to insomnia.
Fitful sleep
Sleep studies have revealed the following:
  • About 72 percent of pregnant women have nightmares during their second trimester.
  • Near the end of their pregnancy, close to 97 percent of women wake up an average of three times a night.
  • About 52 percent of pregnant women nap at least once a week, and nearly 60 percent nap at least once on the weekend.

Second trimester (weeks 15 to 28)

In general, sleep disturbances are less common in the second trimester. As hormone levels stabilize, feelings of fatigue and nausea decrease.

What’s more, as your uterus and baby rise up into your abdomen, they take pressure off your bladder and decrease the need for frequent urination.

However, some physical discomforts may still disturb your sleep.

  • Your growing uterus begins to press on your stomach and intestines. This can cause heartburn.
  • Your REM periods are more frequent, so you may have more dreams and nightmares. Some of these may seem extremely vivid, as the more often you wake up, the easier it is to remember your dreams.
Fatigue
During pregnancy, certain factors can cause fatigue. For example, some women feel tired because they’re dehydrated or have low iron levels. Others need time to adapt to their decreased coffee intake.
Here are some ways to manage your fatigue:
  • Get more sleep at night or take naps during the day
  • Change your diet to mitigate nausea
  • Make sure you’re getting enough iron
  • Drink more water

Third trimester (week 29 to birth)

Your sleep may be affected for numerous reasons during the last trimester of pregnancy.

  • Your growing baby and increasingly heavy stomach may cause back pain, muscle aches, and a general sense of discomfort.
  • Heartburn and acid reflux may also disturb your sleep.
  • In preparation for childbirth, your body releases hormones that relax your ligaments and joints. These changes may make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
  • Nasal congestion and pressure from the uterus on the diaphragm sometimes cause pregnant women to snore. Some women even suffer from sleep apnea during pregnancy. However, in some cases, sleep apnea and snoring signal other pregnancy issues. If you experience sleep problems during pregnancy, speak to your doctor or midwife.
  • Pregnant women may also have leg cramps. These may be caused by increased blood flow in the legs affecting your muscles and nerves. Cramps may also be due to higher iron, folic acid (vitamin B9), or calcium levels.

Sleeping for longer stretches (8 to 10 hours), taking naps, eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly can improve your sleep quality. If in doubt, speak with your health care provider.

Restless leg syndrome
During the third trimester, your sleep may be disrupted by restless leg syndrome.
Here are a few ways to manage the condition and improve your comfort:
  • Move, bend, or stretch your legs whenever you feel the urge.
  • Do yoga stretches.
  • Take a hot bath and massage your legs before bed to relax and make it easier to fall asleep.
  • Elevate your legs when sitting so they feel less heavy.
  • Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet that provides enough iron, folic acid (vitamin B9), and calcium during pregnancy.

The best sleeping positions

The best sleeping position during pregnancy is on your side.

Sleep is very important during pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who sleep less than six hours a night during the last month of pregnancy are at greater risk of experiencing complications during childbirth.
  • Lie on the side that feels most comfortable. Some experts recommend the left side because this decreases blood pressure and improves blood flow to your vital organs and the baby.
  • Bend your knees and place a pillow between them.
  • Consider using a pregnancy pillow.
  • When lying on your side, place a pillow beneath your abdomen to support the weight of your stomach.
  • If heartburn is disrupting your sleep, try elevating your upper body.
  • You can also change your position during the night.

However, as of the 24th week, you should avoid sleeping on your back. In this position, your uterus presses on certain blood vessels, which can decrease the amount of nutrients and oxygen carried to your baby. Sleeping on your back can also cause back pain and digestive discomfort. However, don’t worry if you wake up like this. Simply change positions.

As pregnancy progresses, some women have trouble sleeping on their stomach. However, there is no harm in sleeping in this position if you’re comfortable.

Things to keep in mind

  • Physiological changes during pregnancy can impact your sleep patterns.
  • The best sleeping position during pregnancy is on your side.
  • Avoid sleeping on your back as of the 24th week.

 

Naître et grandir

Scientific review: Dr. Jean-Philippe Blais, family physician at a perinatal clinic
Research and copywriting: The Naître et grandir team
Updated: October 2019

 

Sources

Note: Hyperlinks to other websites are not updated regularly, and some may have changed since publication. If a link is no longer valid, use search engines to find the information you’re looking for.

  • Doré, Nicole, and Danielle Le Hénaff. From Tiny Tot to Toddler: A practical guide for parents from pregnancy to age two. Quebec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 2019, 776 pages. www.inspq.qc.ca
  • Grondin, Christiane, and Chantal Lemay. Bientôt parents [Guide for soon-to-be parents]. CHU Sainte-Justine, 2009. www.chusj.org
  • Ladewig, Patricia, et al. Maternal & Child Nursing Care. 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall, 2011.
  • “Le syndrome des jambes sans repos” [Restless leg syndrome]. PasseportSanté. www.passeportsante.net
  • Santiago, Jennifer R., et al. “Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Pregnancy,” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 134, 2001, pp. 396–408.
  • “Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy.” University of Rochester Medical Center.www.urmc.rochester.edu
  • Won, Christine H.J. “Sleeping for Two: The Great Paradox of Sleep in Pregnancy”, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 11, no. 6, 2015, pp. 593–594.