3:00 AM.
That’s the time I would always wake up when I was pregnant with Jack.
It mainly had to do with the fact that Forrest had to get up at that time to go work an early morning janitorial job (ahh…the joys of college life).
Peeing Through the Night
Pregnant nights can be made all the more long when you have to get up to pee every couple of hours.
While there isn’t much you can do about the baby kicking or laying on your bladder, you can try to limit water intake two hours before bedtime. Obviously, don’t do this to the point of dehydration. Keep yourself hydrated! But try to drink more during the day and a little less at night to help.
When I was pregnant with Jack, Forrest had a job he had to leave for at 3:00 in the morning.
I couldn’t sleep AT ALL when he was gone, and I was scared to even get up in the dark to go to the bathroom (yeah, I had issues. haha). I often would try to hold it, which was such a bad idea. Don’t do that! It can lead to UTIs (not fun ever, but especially not during pregnancy) and other issues. So even if you don’t want to get up to pee, you still should.
Crazy and Vivid Dreams During Pregnancy
I’ve always had kind of weird dreams, but pregnancy dreams are, by far, the strangest. It’s very common to have very vivid dreams during pregnancy, but it can be a bit unsettling.
It is thought that this is due to the fluctuations in hormones, which, unfortunately, you can’t really control. If you have a dream that’s particular unsettling, try and write it down quickly and hopefully that will help you fall back asleep.
I haven’t been able to find much information about how to prevent these vivid dreams…so try to enjoy them? I had so many dreams about my baby’s being born and them either being born as toddlers, coming out of my abdomen and then going back in as they please, and more.
It was weird. So I understand being concerned. Just know that it is very normal!
General Discomfort
This is probably one of the biggest complaints during pregnancy – just not feeling comfortable at night.
I hear ya – I tossed and turned all night long with Jack.
When I got pregnant with Oliver, I knew that I had to get sleep somehow. So I invested in a pregnancy pillow.
You guys – it makes the biggest difference. It might take up half the bed, but let me tell you, it WILL help, especially as your belly gets bigger.
I love the Boppy® line of pregnancy pillows – they have just about every kind you could need, and they come in a variety of sizes and prices. They have this full body, multi-use one:
As well as the wedge, which can be great for belly and back support – I also recommend this one if you work during the day!
And this one is great for bump and belly support (though the model in this one is using it for hip and leg support) – I’ve been told this one is AMAZING for in bed, as well as for relaxing on the couch.
And this one is a smaller all-purpose pillow that can be easily moved around to help you find maximum comfort – it’s smaller and doesn’t take up as much room, as well (which makes a difference if you have a small bed!).
If those don’t work? You can try different positions or even sleeping in a different room bed or on the couch. A nice bath before bed can help relax your muscles – and a prenatal massage might help as well. Do what you can to make yourself comfortable.
Heartburn
This was one of my least favorite pregnancy symptoms (not like I really have a favorite). Sadly for me, it didn’t really go away after Jack was born. When I got pregnant with Oliver, I was on medication to control it, but it was still pretty bad.
I think this is one of the things that woke me up most when I was pregnant with Jack. I would wake up and feel as if my entire throat was burning. It made me wish I was throwing up instead – and there are few things I hate more than throwing up!
During that pregnancy, I took TUMS and Pepto Bismol, even though my doctor tried to get me to take something stronger. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen to him, and I was miserable.
With Oliver, I continued to take my prescription medication (which is shown to be safe during pregnancy), and it made me realize how silly I was for not taking it before. I was still feeling it, but not nearly as much.
I also invested in a wedge to elevate myself while sleeping, and it really helped. I still use it!
I know the Boppy Wedge isn’t necessarily for heartburn, but I think it can absolutely help with that – especially if you put it on top of your regular pillow!
Insomnia
There’s nothing worse than wanting to sleep but not being able to. Insomnia is very common during pregnancy (around 78% of women experience it)– not only are your hormones all whacked out, but you often feel more stressed or overwhelmed with things to do.
Insomnia can happen for any number of reason – starting with discomfort from your belly. Honestly, many other pregnancy sleep issues (such as heartburn, peeing in the night, etc.) can lead to insomnia. Obviously, you need to get as much rest as you can, or it will just make everything else even more difficult. You can talk to your doctor about if there are any medications that may be safe to take, but here are a few other suggestions:
Make sure your room is comfortable – have fresh blankets, make sure the temperature is correct, and maybe even invest in a new pillow. As I mentioned above, pregnancy pillows can make a world of difference.
Take a warm bath – essential oils like lavender may help
Make a list of everything that is on your mind. This is something that my mom swears by!
Exercise regularly
Take short naps during the day – avoid long ones, as this can make it more difficult to sleep at night.
Try hypnosis or relaxation techniques – Hypnobabies has a great audio recording for this!
Leg Cramps
Good ol’ charly horses. Who doesn’t love these?
Not. I remember one of my sisters talking about getting these during pregnancy and how much she hated them. I totally understood the first time I had one while I was sleeping.
While there’s not any sure-fire way to prevent them, there are a few things you can try. One way is to not stay in the same position all the time – when you do wake up at night, try and move around and wiggle your toes a little bit.
You can lay down on your left side to encourage better circulation and daily walks can help as well. Staying hydrated during the day and going on regular walks can be a good preventative technique as well. Some research has shown that a magnesium supplement can help prevent cramping as well.
Foods that are high in potassium are also shown to help with leg cramps – some examples include citrus fruits, tomato juice, and bananas.
And when you do get them? You need to stretch your calf muscles immediately. You can do this by straightening your leg and flexing your toes back toward your shins. It’s a pain but this always helped me.
The Boppy® Bump & Belly Support is also great for leg support, so that can also help you find relief, as well.
Restless Leg Syndrome
I have restless leg syndrome even when I’m not pregnant – so let’s just say it gets even worse during pregnancy! (As I was writing this, I realized that I was shaking my leg like crazy!)
It can definitely interrupt your sleep when you feel you can’t stop moving your legs and get settled. It also presents with a burning sensation and tingling. It’s often hard to find relief as well, which can make it even harder to sleep if you are constantly changing positions and moving around to stop the sensation.
There’s an old wive’s tale that says putting a bar of Ivory soap under your pillow can help with RLS – but I have yet to try this. I know people that swear by this .
Unfortunately, there aren’t really any medications that are suitable for pregnancy. I’ve read that antihistamines and caffeine can make it worse – so avoid those if you can.
It’s often worse when you are sedentary for a long period of time – avoid laying in bed to red or watch TV, and make sure you get enough exercise during the day. Stretching (prenatal yoga is great) as well as warm baths can be helpful as well!
Nasal Congestion
It is very common for women to experience stuffy noses and congestion during pregnancy. I always felt like my ears were plugged up, and it drove me absolutely insane. It typically gets worse the longer you are pregnant.
This condition (known as Rhinitis during pregnancy) occurs because of the increase in estrogen, which effects mucus production, as well as the increase in blood supply. Here are a few ways to help with it so you can sleep better at night:
Use a humidifier
Saline drops – the Neti pot is a popular option!
Sit in a room with a steamy shower – inhale that steam!
Nasal strips
Sleep with your head elevated
Stay hydrated
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boppy. The opinions and text are all mine.
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