Getting a good night’s sleep during pregnancy can be difficult as your body works to shape your baby and prepares for delivery. Getting enough rest is an essential part of pregnancy, however,
it seems strange that when your body needs it most, sleep does not appear. In addition, trying to find an ideal sleeping position and adjusting to changes each quarter can be challenging.
Changes in your sleep pattern
During the first trimester of your pregnancy, you may find that you are sleeping more than usual, this is how your body works to nourish your baby. However, this does not imply that you have a good night’s sleep, because the pressure in your bladder, derived from a growing uterus, causes you to make numerous trips to the bathroom at night.
The second trimester is a good time to establish a sleep routine, as nausea and fatigue may have subsided, so try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, this will help you to set a pattern and preparing for the third quarter.
Most pregnant women find that they have more trouble getting uninterrupted sleep during the later stages of pregnancy. As the fetus increases in size, it is often more difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
Many pregnant women report daydreaming, especially in the last trimester. This can be attributed to hormonal changes, which are completely normal and can reflect your concerns about how to deal with your new life.
While it is common for pregnant women to have sleep disrupted at night, there are several ways to minimize their usual sleep.
Most comfortable sleeping positions during pregnancy
Try to get into the habit of sleeping on your left side with your knees bent. There are some medical professionals who believe that it is better to avoid lying on the right side during pregnancy because, on this side of the body, there is a very important vein called the vena cava, responsible for the return of blood to the heart and the pressure on it can reduce blood flow and cause dizziness.
Use pillows to find comfortable sleeping positions. Try using a pillow to support your upper leg and a rolled-up blanket to support your abdomen and relieve pressure on your lower back.
When you wake up, remember to roll over to your side of the bed and push with your arms to avoid additional pressure on your already dilated abdominal muscles.
Ways to get a better night
Generally, knowing what most affects your dream allows you to work to reduce it. Performing a gradual process, instead of changing all the elements of your pregnancy at the same time, can allow your body to adapt to a different sleep pattern, taking into account that it changes every quarter.
Your baby can be particularly active at night when you are settling into rest. This is related to the decrease in your day’s activities and when you are lying down, your baby can stretch and move more. Massage your belly gently and enjoy the movement. Breathe deeply and let your mind rest.
You can start to suffer from “night sweating”. Keep a damp, cool cloth next to your bed and wipe off any sweat when this happens.
Try to establish a relaxation routine after a busy day. Introduce yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to your lifestyle to help you rest.
Avoid strenuous exercise near bedtime. Instead, try to relax with a hot bath or a book.
Your insomnia may be related to your overtime mind, planning everything you need to do before your baby is born. Keep a notebook and pencil by your bed, write down your thoughts, lie down, and rest.
Do not take any sleeping pills, natural or medicinal, as they may have an adverse effect on your baby.
Before taking herbs you should consult a doctor. The following teas are considered safe to take during pregnancy: citrus peels, ginger, lemon balm, orange peel, and rose bushes, however, all teas and infusions should be taken with some care and moderation. An ideal way to relax is to have a cup of hot milk with honey before bed.
Reduce your consumption of caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea and limit your intake in the morning or afternoon. For more information, see the pregnancy diet.
If you have heartburn problems, try not to eat in abundance before going to bed, on the other hand, eat small amounts several times a day.
If you were unable to sleep at night, try taking naps during the day to regain lost sleep.
Week 41
This week you will probably feel that everything irritates you, even your own shadow, and is looking forward to “D” day. Although the time of birth has come and gone, don’t feel like you’re going through humanity’s longest pregnancy, less than 5% of women have their baby on time.
This is because there are often doubts as to the exact date when the baby was conceived. Some babies simply take a little longer than others to “get ready”. Even if you don’t feel it right now, your pregnancy will end in the next week or so.
When will it end?
You may have discussed with your doctor about the possibility of inducing labor this week, but there should normally be a number of things to be considered for this to be done, including your own and your baby’s well-being. Some women are so overwhelmed with the excitement of being in week 41 that it is necessary to induce labor, they are so anxious that the stress of waiting for delivery is not considered good for their mental health and therefore it is better to start the procedure. Other women have a peaceful “wait and see” state. In short, each woman has her way of dealing with pregnancy delays.
This week’s physical changes
At week 41, your prenatal exams include proposing specific dates or validating previously proposed dates. It is possible that the doctor will ask you to do some CTG (Cardiotocographies) or perhaps an ultrasound. They can measure the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby, as well as its size and placement in the placenta.
It is possible that the doctor will ask you to keep a record of your baby’s movement and activity during this week, if there is a significant change or your movements slow down, you should go to the hospital.
This week, you may feel pressure on your cervix, it will be difficult to describe, similar to the pain of a Pap test, and it can come and go, depending on how much pressure the baby’s head exerts. In addition, your cervix is maturing now, which means it is getting thinner and preparing to dilate. During labor, your cervix should expand 10 centimeters to allow the baby’s head and body to come out.
You may experience an increase in discharge as the cells of the cervix produce a white, watery substance, some women also produce mucosa during this week, and although this is not a true sign of childbirth, it does mean that something is happening.
This week’s emotional changes
Every cramp and pain can be a sign that the time has come and the wait is over, going to bed will not allow you to rest and you will wonder if you will wake up in the middle of the night with the pain of contractions. Keeping calm at week 41 is quite difficult and it seems impossible to make plans, you will feel that your whole life depends on a big event.
You have every right to be frustrated, emotional, anxious, exhausted, restless, frightened, uncomfortable, and restless. Try to rest, if you want, and do simple jobs that don’t require a lot of energy.
Try to consume your time with a book or series, look for activities that help the time go faster and clear your mind. Visit your friends, or better yet, ask them to visit you. Do something in the morning and get some rest in the afternoon, separate activities throughout the day.
Try to imagine yourself in childbirth, imagine that you are being strong and that you are doing everything your body needs to allow your baby to be born. Trust your doctors and keep in mind the importance of your health and that of your baby, this should be the most important for everyone.
You may have strange visions or dreams about your baby this week, you can dream that you already had your baby or that your sex is not what you wanted. You can feel more tired than when you went to sleep, your imagination can fly when there is a delay.
Your baby’s changes this week
You may feel that your baby is literally about to leave, especially if you have already had children. I wish it were so simple. Your baby has matured but is not yet ready to leave.
Your baby is already well developed and is more than ready to breathe, eat, digest, cry, and do all his needs if he decides to arrive this week.
19 weeks pregnant
You are almost halfway through your pregnancy. In the 16 weeks since conception, there have been huge changes in your body and your baby, although for some it is not as obvious as it is for you.
Toned abdominal muscles can hide a growing uterus or, alternatively, the excess weight located around the waist can camouflage pregnancy. If you want to keep the news of your pregnancy private, choosing your clothes carefully can hide your belly, especially in cold months.
Comparing ourselves to others is part of human nature, particularly in the case of pregnant women and the size of the belly. Try not to get discouraged if you have a tummy that is obvious just to you.
Each woman carries her pregnancy differently and, therefore, it is not possible to assess the size, well-being or even the sex of a baby or the appearance of the belly, regardless of the neighbor or her mother-in-law.
Where is my wallet?
It’s time to start thinking about the baby’s crib. It is not too early to start thinking about this and how to accommodate your baby in your home. The safest place for babies to sleep is in their own cribs, next to their parents’ bed for the first 12 months.
You may want to buy baby clothes and furniture during this phase, when your energy levels are high and there is still time to do careful research. If money is an issue, you can do research on the internet and consider buying used furniture. If you plan to have more children, you can invest in what you want from the start and enjoy it with all your children.
This week’s physical changes
You can get up and feel out of breath and not have the stamina you normally had. Your circulatory system is working hard to pump enough blood through your body and through the umbilical cord to your baby.
Make sure you have a diet rich in iron and plenty of vitamin C, this means red meat, green leafy vegetables, good quality cereals, and fresh fruits.
You can sweat more easily because your internal temperature is a little higher and you may not want to wear clothes that heavy. Take a shower as many times as you think necessary, avoid wearing synthetic fiber clothing to avoid smothering your skin. You may also need to sleep with a fan or air conditioning on.
Beware of urinary tract infections, the female urethra is relatively short and it is easy for bacteria to reach the bladder. Remember to clean yourself from front to back after using the bathroom and emptying your bladder before and after having sex.
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid putting off going to the bathroom; Be sure to empty your bladder completely when you feel like going to the bathroom.
Acidity may be your new partner this week. The smooth muscle fibers in the stomach and intestine are being affected by the hormones of pregnancy. This means that stomach acid, which must remain in the lower part of the stomach, can easily return to the esophagus (food duct).
You may feel a burning sensation after eating, especially if you have eaten spicy foods. Some mothers feel relief by eating soft foods and avoiding those that are too heavy and difficult to digest. Try to sleep with some pillows and consult your doctor if it is safe to take antacids. Rediscover the calming benefits of drinking a glass of cold milk, this can work wonders.
This week’s emotional changes
You may be very concerned about waiting for your baby to move, and chances are you have already been excited about it. You certainly put your hand on your belly, hoping that these little kicks will remind you that everything is fine. Don’t expect your partner to feel them when you tell them, babies don’t tend to cooperate when we want to.
At this stage, you can be very focused on the baby and not very interested in other people, it is as if nature tells mothers what to do and what to ignore. Avoid feeling that you can never think about anything but your new baby, most things will work on their own.
If you are prone to depression or have a history of mental disorders, this can be a stressful time for you, so it is important that you have a health professional available to support you, speak up if you feel unwell, and ask for help.
Changes in your baby this week
Your baby is just over 14 centimeters long, his skin is so translucent that his veins are clearly visible. However, this week begins to produce a type of special substance known as brown fat. This is unique in babies and helps to keep their vital organs protected from extreme temperatures when they are newborns.
This week, a thick, white substance (Vernix caseosa) covers most of your baby’s skin and, if a premature birth occurs, there would still be traces of Vernix. Close to his date of birth and during this time, the vernix begins to disappear.
This week, your baby’s kidneys are already functioning and produce the urine that forms a good percentage of the amniotic fluid. If you had an ultrasound scan this week, you would be able to see your baby’s kidneys.
Your baby is developing more hair on his little head and body. Babies born prematurely are usually covered with fine hair, especially on their backs and arms.
Although some babies are born bald and stay that way for months, others come into the world hairy. Each baby is unique and different.
Your baby spends a lot of time sleeping, during which time he grows up and accumulates valuable energy to develop until maturity. However,
you are aware that there are times when he is most active, periods when he moves, and even kicks. This is common when the mother is trying to sleep or has simply gone to bed.
Suggestions for this week
Don’t forget to order an ultrasound scan this week or next. Second-trimester ultrasonography is commonly performed between the 18th and 20th weeks and doctors examine aspects of the baby’s development, such as its spine, brain, heart, kidneys, and other vital organs.
If you want to know your baby’s gender, this is the ideal time to find out. If you don’t want to, just be sure to tell the doctor in advance that you prefer it to be a surprise.
Talk to your baby if you haven’t started yet, since week 19 your baby can hear your voice. Take this time to start talking to him or her. If you can, include your partner in the dynamic and feel the baby’s responses.
