Pregnancy & Sleep
Are you suffering fatigue during pregnancy? It’s very common to feel extremely tired, especially during the first and third trimesters. We can help you treat common sleep disturbances and disorders during pregnancy.
Sleep disturbances during pregnancy may be caused by:
- Changing hormone levels
- Nausea and other pregnancy-related discomforts
- Emotions and anxiety about labor and delivery, balancing motherhood and work, or your changing relationship with your partner
- Pre-existing sleep disorder
- Sleep apnea
Common Sleep Problems During Pregnancy
- Insomnia includes difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early or feeling unrefreshed. Insomnia related to stress or anxiety about your pregnancy may result in significant sleep loss. The discomforts of pregnancy may also disturb sleep.
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS) includes unpleasant feelings in the legs, sometimes described as creepy, tingly or achy. These feelings are worse at night or in the hours before bed, and they are temporarily relieved by movement or stretching.
- Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. A noticeable feature of sleep apnea is heavy snoring accompanied by long pauses, and then gasping or choking during sleep.
- Nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nighttime GERD), also known as heartburn, is considered a normal part of pregnancy. However, nighttime symptoms of GERD can damage the esophagus and disrupt sleep.
- Frequent nighttime urination is a common feature of pregnancy and can result in loss of sleep.
Most sleep problems that arise during pregnancy go away once the baby is born. However, you should still pay close attention to your sleep after you give birth, as new sleep problems may arise.
Methodist Sleep Centers Can Help
Talk to your doctor about any sleep problems you experience. If symptoms are severe, she may refer you to one of our Sleep Centers:
Methodist Sleep Disorders Center - Memphis
5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 300
Methodist Sleep Disorders Center – Olive Branch
5480 Goodman Road, Suite 3
Olive Branch, MS 38654