Fatigue and sleep during pregnancy: why?

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How to manage fatigue during your pregnancy?

Fatigue and sleep disorders are common issues encountered during pregnancy. Indeed, all these changes have real consequences on the body and you may feel more tired than usual, but also have difficulty finding sleep. Fortunately, there are concrete solutions to implement and these discomforts will only be temporary. So what causes fatigue during pregnancy? How is a pregnant woman's sleep? What can be done to feel better?

femme enceinte en train de se reposer

Fatigue during pregnancy

While pregnancy is marked by many symptoms, fatigue is one of the most common. Indeed, it is not unusual for pregnant women to complain of fatigue during the 9 months of pregnancy. This can be explained by several factors including nausea which can be very tiring, hormonal changes, sleep disorders, or anemia. This state of fatigue can be superficial, but also have real consequences on daily life. It is therefore important to find concrete solutions to get rest.

How is a pregnant woman's sleep?

Sleep can also be disrupted during pregnancy. During each trimester, changes can be felt and new sleep disorders may appear.

Pregnant women's sleep during each trimester

Each trimester can be a different experience regarding pregnant women's sleep.

The first trimester can already impact sleep. Indeed, hormonal changes can affect it with particularly restless nights. Moreover, baby grows and will start pressing on the bladder, which can lead to a more frequent need to urinate during the night and therefore cause nocturnal awakenings. It should be noted that 52% of pregnant women take at least one nap during the week. It is therefore important to listen to your needs from the first trimester of pregnancy and thus take naps or go to bed earlier for example.

The second trimester allows for less disturbed sleep as hormones decrease. However, the expanding uterus will press on the stomach and can cause heartburn. It is also possible to have more dreams and nightmares during this period of pregnancy.

Finally, the third trimester will also greatly impact sleep. You may experience back pain, discomfort, heartburn and reflux, leg cramps, and restless leg syndrome. These discomforts are not systematic but can have a very concrete impact on pregnant women's sleep.

What to do to feel better?

There are several ways to feel better when experiencing fatigue and sleep disorders during pregnancy. A few changes will generally help relieve these discomforts.

femme enceinte dans sa chambre

Create a comfortable and pleasant environment

It is important to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant environment for a pregnant woman. While we spend a lot of time taking care of the baby's room (more advice on purchases here), the adult bedroom also needs special attention. Indeed, a well-designed and comfortable adult bedroom will allow you to truly relax and find sleep more easily. Most often, it consists of a double bed, a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe.

To personalize your environment, you can opt for adult bedroom dresser decor to create the desired atmosphere with a frame, candles, a pretty jewelry box, etc. A wooden adult bedroom decor will for example be perfect to create a soothing environment. To opt for a designer adult bedroom that is modern and warm, you can notably choose a wooden storage bed. This will allow you to create a cozy adult bedroom, but also gain storage space to free up room in the space.

A well-thought-out bedroom can therefore make all the difference in finding sleep!

Ask for help from friends and family

Pregnancy can be a difficult time for pregnant women. Preparing for baby's arrival, work, and other daily tasks can quickly take up space and impact well-being. During this period, you should not hesitate to ask friends and family for help with certain tasks that can be tiring. The co-parent, of course, also has a key role to play in relieving the mother-to-be and allowing her to find moments of rest as often as possible.

Choose relaxation exercises

When fatigue sets in or when you have trouble finding sleep, opting for relaxation exercises can be a very good solution. There are many videos and applications that offer breathing exercises, guided meditations, or prenatal yoga practice. You can also simply opt for restful activities for body and mind such as listening to music, reading a book, taking a bath, getting a massage, etc. Everyone will find the solution that allows them to relax to limit fatigue and find sleep more easily.

Consult a healthcare professional

Finally, if fatigue or sleep problems become too prevalent in daily life, don't hesitate to seek help from a healthcare professional such as your general practitioner, gynecologist, or midwife. Indeed, additional examinations may sometimes be suggested as well as concrete solutions to make fatigue less significant and facilitate sleep.