Why pregnant women want to sleep. Sleepiness during pregnancy: why you want to sleep during pregnancy. Do pregnant women need a nap?

The body of every woman reacts to pregnancy in a special way: someone is drawn to salty, someone suddenly wants strawberries in winter, and some simply cannot tear themselves away from the pillow. Sleepiness during pregnancy, like other similar signs, is a variant of the norm, although it brings a lot of inconvenience, especially to those women who are actively working.

Causes of drowsiness at different times

Sleepiness can be caused by different reasons at different stages of pregnancy.

I trimester (1-14 weeks)

Many women on early dates pregnancy complain of feeling tired and sleepy during the day.

information According to the visceral theory, sleep allows the central nervous system to analyze and regulate its work. internal organs... Perhaps this is why pregnancy, as a new condition, requires more sleep from the body.

Another, more explainable reason for the appearance of drowsiness is an increase in the level in the blood of the expectant mother. Progesterone is called a pregnancy-preserving hormone and relaxes smooth muscles throughout the body. Due to this, a woman can (hypotonia), she begins to feel general weakness and fatigue, she has a desire to lie down, rest.

II trimester (15-28 weeks)

As a rule, by this time the body adapts and drowsiness disappears.

III trimester (29-42 weeks)

The occurrence of drowsiness in pregnancy is explained by the development of such a pathological condition as anemia.

A fairly common phenomenon, which is accompanied by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, which is responsible for the transfer of oxygen throughout the body. With oxygen starvation, hypoxia occurs, which leads to increased fatigue and, as a rule, drowsiness.

additionally As a rule, by the end of the period of bearing a baby, a woman is disturbed due to the inability to find a comfortable position, etc., and, therefore, often during the day there is a desire to sleep.

How to deal with sleepiness

Drowsiness, weakness and fatigue during pregnancy cause particular discomfort during the period when a woman is still actively working. Most likely, there is no opportunity to lie down to rest at the workplace, but to use tonic

During pregnancy, women often complain that they really want to sleep, and all the time, even if the night has passed quite calmly. Especially often these complaints are voiced in early and later dates.

Some women - not the first time experiencing this condition - guess about pregnancy because they begin to fall asleep on the go. Why do you really want to sleep during pregnancy and how is this explained?

Why is it sleepy in early pregnancy?

At this time, hormonal changes occur in the body, which affect absolutely all organs and systems.

1. Decreases immunity- otherwise the body will simply reject "Foreign body"... This leads to the fact that weakness appears and blood pressure decreases.
2. Vitamin deficiency begins- vitamins and microelements are consumed from the reserve of nutrients for the formation of a new organism. Many are exhausted by toxicosis - during it, useful substances are also washed out with vomit, anemia may appear.
3. There is no longer enough time for the necessary rest during pregnancy- the established regime is designed for an ordinary existence, and it is impossible to rebuild immediately. Even the calmest women expecting a pregnancy are stressed at first.
4. Annoying factors affecting general state nervous system, is the very news of a new stage in life, the need to adapt to circumstances, the desire to find out more information about your situation, thinking about how to convey the news to those around you - home and work colleagues. It is difficult to cope with the latter task - the psychological state largely depends on the attitude of colleagues.
5. Some women seek to hide their changed state from others, so as not to "jinx it" - this in turn adds experiences.
6. Endocrine shifts knock out of the work rhythm, and the usual stimulants - coffee and strong tea - at this time are unsafe for health. Acceptable methods that help during pregnancy, overcome drowsiness in the early stages - good nutrition, a reasonable balance of work and rest, healthy sleep for at least 8-9 hours a day.

It is advisable to find a compromise with colleagues so that they allow short breaks in work in order to change positions, do a few exercises. It should be unpleasant for them themselves if there is a half-asleep creature nearby.

The stomach is already visible, but the eyes are still closing ...

Why do you want to sleep during pregnancy, when the stomach is already visible?

• After all, already the body has adapted to their condition, a regime has been developed in which a working day and a visit to consultations are planned, those around them rejoiced and resigned themselves.
• The body still has to work for two- it weakens. Even in the presence of good nutrition, there are enough nutrients "end-to-end", while thoughts come that "You can't be so eaten up as I will look after pregnancy".
• And not everyone has a smooth pregnancy.... Edema may appear, the doctor scolds for every extra pound gained, it seems that the beloved is repulsed by the change in appearance ... At this stage, depression often occurs, sleep disorder appears.

If the usual measures are:

1. walks in the open air;
2. good nutrition;
3. relaxing remedies before bed - tea or warm milk with honey - do not help, the doctor prescribes mild sedatives and sometimes antidepressants.

Expectant mothers should know that if they are advised to drink soothing herbs, they should consult a doctor. During pregnancy, herbal medicine should be used with extreme caution.

The list of soothing herbs for pregnant women is limited:

• motherwort;
• mint;
• valerian.

The dose of the decoction and the course of treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.

Third trimester - don't get out of bed at least ...

The fact that you want to sleep at 32-38 weeks of pregnancy is explained by all the previous reasons, and another one is added - it is very difficult to sleep in this position.

1. The stomach gets in the way, until you find a comfortable position - it's already morning. And often you have to get up to the toilet - the pregnant uterus presses on bladder teaching urination.
2. It's good if the baby is the first - and if there are already children and they need attention, you won't get enough sleep during the day?
3. The ability to sleep on your side should be developed from the 2nd trimester... To do this, first put a roll of a rolled blanket under the back or stomach - who is used to falling asleep - then gradually increase the height of the "roll".
4. It is impossible for pregnant women to fall asleep on their stomach., but sleeping on your back is also undesirable. If the large vessels supplying the uterus and lower extremities with oxygen are systematically squeezed, and the reverse outflow of blood is disturbed, then the fetus develops hypoxia, and the woman herself may feel serious deterioration in health.
5. It is very difficult to get enough sleep at 38 weeks.- the body is already preparing for childbirth, and during a night's rest, in a relaxed state, herald contractions appear. One or two minutes and they subside, the tone of the uterus weakens, but then it is impossible to fall asleep.

Other causes of drowsiness

Fatigue and lethargy in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy can be companions adverse changes in the body:

• vitamin deficiency;
• anemia;
• gestosis.

These conditions negatively affect the formation of the fetus.

Additional signs of adverse changes:

1. nausea;
2. pallor of the skin;
3. brittle hair;
4. swelling of the limbs.

The deterioration of the condition is reflected in the indicators of blood and urine tests, therefore it is very important that the woman regularly visits the gynecologist and follows all the recommendations.

Correction of anemia and beriberi is possible by prescribing vitamin and glandular preparations, which are injected - so it is easier for the body to assimilate them.

With gestosis - this is how toxicosis is called in the later stages - inpatient treatment may be required. Hospitalization should not be refused if offered. If there is an intoxication of the body, then a frozen pregnancy may occur.

- these are serious changes in the body of the expectant mother. Physiology and psychology are changing, changes are taking place in the work of organs and habits. Due to such a total restructuring, strange symptoms appear that were previously not characteristic of a woman, but for a future mother such signs are the norm. These conditions include drowsiness.

What Causes Drowsiness During Pregnancy

Sleepiness, light and- it's from . It is these signs, even before the pregnancy test, that make you "suspect" the onset of an "interesting situation." Drowsiness in the early stages is explained by an increased level of the pregnancy hormone - progesterone - in the blood. In addition to its direct effect on the reproductive system, this hormone acts on the entire body as a whole and on nervous system in particular. As a result, the woman becomes calm, even apathetic. Increased fatigue and drowsiness appear, and this is normal. This is how nature creates additional mechanism protection for the unborn baby, "forcing" mommy to rest more and avoid heavy loads. Usually, these symptoms disappear by pregnancy., as the body adapts to its new state. The expectant mother is experiencing an emotional uplift, a surge of strength and energy..

The second physiological peak of increased sleepiness occurs at about - pregnancy... This is due to a significant load on my mother's body and intensive preparation for childbirth.

Pathological sleepiness during pregnancy - what is it

It is not surprising that during the entire pregnancy, a woman will periodically experience drowsiness... But if such apathy, loss of strength, drowsiness and increased fatigue become constant companions, then you should look for the reason.

In some cases, the reason lies in the irrational distribution of the workload, lack of sleep and rest, and stressful situations... But such symptoms, which appear constantly, may indicate any health problems. Most often these are:

— ;
- and ;
- the change .

Also, diseases are accompanied by sleepiness and fatigue.

How to deal with sleepiness during pregnancy

Physiological sleepiness is not a disease... This is one of the mechanisms of adaptation of a pregnant woman's body to its new state. Therefore, there is no need to "treat" such drowsiness. On the contrary, you need to listen to your well-being and desires and adjust your daily routine, diet and load in accordance with the new "requirements".

The expectant mother needs sleep at least 10 hours a day, including 2 hours should be "allocated" for 2-3 days of rest... You need to go to bed in the evening no later than 10 pm - this way the natural biological rhythms will not be disturbed, and the rest will be complete.

A pregnant woman who is working should contact her supervisor with a request to be transferred to "light work". Moreover, the legislation provides for such benefits.

If drowsiness manifests itself as a symptom of one of the diseases, then treatment should be selected taking into account the underlying disease. This can only be done by a doctor, so a specialist consultation is necessary.

Increased sleepiness in the early stages of a recent pregnancy is a common physiological phenomenon. In this case, first of all, sleep can be considered as a kind of protective reaction of the body, i.e. the body, as it were, protects the woman's nervous system from unnecessary stimuli and excessive stress.

Drowsiness is the first sign of an onset pregnancy

Weakness and drowsiness during pregnancy, especially in its 1st trimester, is observed in 80-90% of expectant mothers. However, few women know why they often want to sleep during pregnancy?

If drowsiness is a kind of protective reaction of the body, then weakness appears as a result of an increase in the woman's blood hormone progesterone. It is he who is called upon to preserve the incipient pregnancy. Therefore, women who already have children, in most cases, regard frequent drowsiness as the first sign of pregnancy, although it is not.

With each subsequent day, the signs of a pregnancy that have arisen become more pronounced, and with them fatigue and drowsiness increase. It is especially difficult for pregnant women to transfer them, because expectant mothers continue to go to work, as before. In such cases, gynecologists recommend taking frequent breaks from work and constantly ventilating the room. Constant movement, small gymnastic exercises, breathing exercises are excellent methods of dealing with daytime sleepiness.

Pathological drowsiness

Pregnant women are eagerly awaiting sleepiness. It usually disappears by the middle of the second month. The presence of excessive sleepiness in the 2nd trimester can be a sign of the presence of pathology, for example, - ... Its first manifestations are observed precisely at this time.

In the case when drowsiness is combined with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, recurrent headache, visual impairment, it is necessary to suspect the development of gestosis. Therefore, when they appear, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Sleep disturbances are often observed in last dates pregnancy. This is due to the fact that a woman cannot take a comfortable sleeping position. In addition, all this is accompanied by back pain and high fetal activity.

Thus, drowsiness at the beginning of pregnancy is not a pathological condition that requires any therapy.

"Interesting position", a tiring period for the body and body of a woman. Physical discomfort and emotional stress, as a result of this major life change, causes sleep problems. People may joke that the hardships many pregnant women face are simply preparing them for sleep deprivation when the baby is born. All jokes aside - this is an amazing period for women and sleepiness during early pregnancy is not something serious, the main thing is that the expectant mother finds out about it and does not worry.

Feeling tired is also a common complaint, especially during the first and third trimesters.

Rest for two

An interesting position affects both the amount of rest that mom receives in general, and its quality. It is recommended to stay in "Kingdom of Morpheus"(joke for your smile) At least 8 hours every night to get at least 7 hours of sleep.

Not getting enough rest can lead to emotional exhaustion during the day, irritability, and poor concentration.

The woman really needs to go to bed earlier, in the early stages of pregnancy, she needs additional rest, and cannot continue to follow the schedule that was previously.

Fatigue is hormonal cause... In the early stages, progesterone levels begin to rise. The influence of hormones also affects drowsiness, as well as physiological factors that are caused by an enlarged uterus.

The fetus grows with the increase in weight, the accumulation of fluid in the body. These changes mean that the body is working harder as the placenta forms, blood supply increases, and the heart beats faster.

This exhausts everything, a lot of energy is wasted and drowsiness sets in.

Emotional factors also play a role. Excitement and anticipation of a baby, fears of motherhood and anxiety about childbirth can be stressful and make a woman feel more tired than usual.

First trimester sleepiness

In the early months of pregnancy, elevated progesterone levels not only make you feel lethargic, but also partly need to urinate, which disrupts sleep and makes you drowsy.

Another factor that can rob a woman of the sleep she needs is nausea, known as morning sickness, which occurs any time of the day or night. To relieve nausea, eat crackers or dry cereal before getting out of bed in the morning.

Snoring is common during pregnancy and can start in the first trimester in mums who are already overweight or allergic.

If you want to take a nap, even for 15-20 minutes, then you should not deprive yourself of this, leave all your affairs and lie down, do not exhaust yourself. But avoid using sleeping pills like melatonin.

Sleep in the second trimester

This period is quieter in terms of abrupt changes. Hormonal changes that change dramatically during the first trimester - normalize, and then change again in the third trimester.

At night, many moms-to-be experience leg cramps, especially if there are signs of anemia and low iron levels. This condition is known as restless legs syndrome, which begins in the evening.

The legs feel like they have ants crawling up and down the veins. This causes discomfort and deprives you of proper rest.

Heartburn is another problem that can keep women awake at night. As the period grows and the uterus becomes larger, it presses on the abdomen, causing a burning sensation.

Sleeping on the left side with bent knees is the best position. Try to sleep on more pillows - this will help reduce acid reflux into the stomach and relieve pressure on the pancreas.

Lethargy in the third month

In recent months, mothers suffer from a lack of sleep. Difficulty falling asleep occurs, and the number of nocturnal and early awakenings increases compared to the middle of pregnancy.

When the belly increases in size, and the fetus becomes more and more active, it remains only to dream of comfort and sleep in any comfortable position that you can find for yourself.

Snoring is common in the third trimester as a result of weight gain. Therefore, do not worry, after delivery, the weight will decrease and everything will go away by itself.

If there were problems with being overweight before pregnancy, then sleep apnea is most likely inevitable. It is recommended that you always inform your doctor about this.

In conclusion, we add that women usually feel excessive sleepiness and fatigue in the first trimester, which is considered secondary to an increase in progesterone levels, since progesterone is known to have a hypnotic effect. The level of progesterone increases throughout the entire period of gestation, but it is highest in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Sleepiness during early pregnancy, in most cases, is connected with this fact and you should not worry, everything will be fine.