Help. I'm pregnant and I can't sleep

This is a common complaint amongst pregnant women and it is certainly the one time where you need as much sleep and rest as possible. In fact in a research poll a staggering 78 per cent of women reported more disturbed sleep when pregnant compared to other times.

Why Can't I Sleep?

There are numerous reasons for not being able to sleep from not being comfortable, restless leg syndrome, snoring, leg cramps and heartburn! All of these problems can be aided by simply being comfortable during the night and this can be achieved with the right mattress and pillows.

A woman's body goes through tremendous change during pregnancy more physically and hormonally. It is important that as the baby grows you are correctly supported during sleep so that you achieve as much sleep as possible, this will be considerably lacking once the baby is born. The majority of people do not realise that it is their bed that is preventing them from sleeping well and in some instances actually keeping them awake.

A very common complaint amongst pregnant women is that they cannot sleep. Here are some techniques that are recommended.

To get comfortable it is suggested that you lie on your left side with a pillow between your legs and one under your belly to keep you supported. This is not always comfortable for everybody but, lying on your left side will promote better blood flow for you baby.

It also reduces the chances of low blood pressure, impaired breaths, indigestion and hemorrhoids! It is also considered that sleeping on your left side will aid a pregnant women's kidneys, making them work better thereby reducing the number of visits needed to the bathroom, and the risk of swollen ankles, feet and hands.

If snoring is an issue this can be helped by sleeping on an extra pillow so your head is slightly levitated.

With indigestion/heartburn a suggestion again is extra pillows so the head is levitated to avoid reflux so that you are sleeping in a semi-reclining position!

Also having several short naps during the day is thought to help. Believe it or not, one to two catnaps during the day can actually improve your sleep during pregnancy. The idea is to avoid becoming overtired, as this prevents you from relaxing, when this occurs your body sends out adrenaline to keep you moving when you should be sleeping.

What Can I Do?

Unfortunately the mattress you are sleeping on just might not be adequate, in size or comfort levels. Remember when you are pregnant you are heavier and larger than usual. Therefore, your mattress may no longer be providing adequate support. If your mattress is getting on in years it could be time for a new one which, will provide the correct level of support. You should also consider whether it is time to upgrade in size perhaps from a double to a king or even a super king size.

In pregnancy it is necessary to support the stomach area whilst, it is your hips, lower back and spine that need extra support at this time.

It might not be feasible to purchase a new mattress at this time and an alternative is a new mattress topper, a mattress topper could provide the solution. This extra layer of comfort might be all that is needed. In particular a memory foam topper could be the ideal choice. During pregnancy you tend to get hotter and due to the nature of memory foam, when heated it allows the foam to mould and contour to your body. So no matter how much you twist and turn during the night it will continue to support you. Also if you are comfortable in bed, you are less likely to move around.

Following the arrival of your baby sleep will be something your body craves but does not achieve. We are all warned about those sleepless nights but there is just no preparation for them. Once the initial shock has worn off it is now even more essential to have a comfortable bed and mattress so that when you do sleep it is as uninterrupted as possible. You do not want to spend your valuable sleep time twisting and turning trying to get comfortable on your mattress. Comfort and support is paramount.

So when preparing for your baby do not forget to give consideration to yourself and your needs. It is important to invest in a good quality mattress, mattress topper and even pillows. Good Luck!!!