During pregnancy a vast majority of women suffer from sleeplessness. According to a recent survey, about 80% of women suffer from insomnia during their first trimester and another 97% report that the condition only worsens by their third.

Many women consider this to be a natural occurrence during pregnancy and tend to ignore how grave the situation is. Doctors suggest that the lesser a mother sleeps during her pregnancy, the more hours of labors she bears. There is sufficient evidence to support this claim and link between sleeplessness and labor. We are all aware of the importance of sleep in our life. Not only does it relax our brain but also gives our body the strength to regain its strength and energy. When you are sleeping for two, this sleep significance doubles both in magnitude and as a necessity. At night, our body is basically utilizing the saved energy to contribute in cellular growth. The systems try to repair themselves and regain their vitality.
Imagine how a normal person feels after a sleepless night. For pregnant women this sleeplessness causes sudden mood swings and agitation. A study carried out by the University of California, San Francisco reveals that women who suffer from sleeplessness at night, and get almost 6 hours lesser sleep than needed are more likely to suffer a great 10 hours in labor as compared to those who managed to maintain their healthy sleeping habits.

Sleeping patterns change in a number of ways during pregnancy. During the first few weeks, most women tend to feel drowsy and tired even after a good night’s sleep. If women suffer from sleeplessness during their first-trimester, then it is owed highly to the hormonal rise. As the progesterone levels increase with time during pregnancy, women get unexpected surges of sudden drowsiness and sleep. Progesterone is also responsible for the nausea that most women dread during their early weeks. Other common effects include an increase in body temperature. While the sudden drowsiness appears to be enough for the body, these little bouts of sleep are usually fragmented and hence not enough for the body to completely restore its strength.

During the second trimester women tend to feel a tad more relaxed as the body is now getting used to the changes. This means that the energy levels are higher and women tend to feel more alert. But sleep may still be a problem for many as physical discomfort increases and restorative sleep is hence rarely enjoyed.

The third trimester also proves to be hard on the mother as heartburn and backaches tend to increase. Women feel more breathless as the fetus grows to its maximum size and weight. Moreover, most women tend to experience leg cramps and restless legs syndrome. Sleep is thus hard to come by as it is not easy to find a comfortable sleeping position.

It is advisable to consult your doctor to help you through your pregnancy. There might be certain foods which may be causing the discomfort and certain others that can help you manage a more peaceful pregnancy.

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