With how tired you are you would think sleep during pregnancy would be easy. That isn’t always the case. There are night where you toss and turn and cannot get comfortable. As the baby grows your body will make room by stretching ligaments. Those aren’t always comfortable and for me seem to happen at bedtime. Also the heartburn can get pretty intense. With Aria’s pregnancy I kind of explored ways to get better sleep, and with this pregnancy I really tried every avenue. I need to be well rested for Aria, so we can spend the day together without me dragging.
This pregnancy has been so much harder than hers, I am so tired and so uncomfortable. So there has been a lot of trial and error that went into this post.
Let’s get started
Comfortable mattress or mattress topper
With Aria we had an old mattress that did the job, but it was not comfortable as I got a bigger and bigger belly. This time around we have a really comfortable mattress topper that we love. We loved it so much we got one for Aria as well. The Lucid mattress toppers are extremely comfortable and I found them on amazon for pretty inexpensive. I would suggest pairing it with a protector to help increase the longevity of the topper.
Pillows
So I highly recommend comfortable pillows to start and also purchase a pregnancy pillow. I didn’t have the full body pillows with Aria, and I regretted that. So early on I snagged this one on sale from Amazon. It is incredibly comfortable and really helps with staying comfortable and supported.
Sheets that Breathe
Your sheets will help you stay temperate all night. I love a good pair of sheets with a high thread count and a breathable fabric. Thats why I feel bamboo sheets are the best to sleep in. You run a little hot when pregnant so your sheets will really help determine what kind of sleep you may get.
Sleepwear
You want to be as comfortable as possible. For me that means loose and free. I love these pajama sets from Emi and Kay. They are not only soft, but loose and perfect for the growing belly area. I love the long shirt nightgown it is my go to sleeping piece. I know it will come in handy as well in the summer when I will be running much hotter.
Hydration
The thing that stinks about going to bed with water next to you, is the constant trips to the bathroom. Your bladder retention when your pregnant is near non existent. When I stay hydrated though I find I feel more rested in the morning. Yes I may wake up more to use the restroom but I feel like I can go right back to sleep and enter REM easier than those nights I am not hydrated.
Calming Atmosphere
On my bad nights I usually have white noise, nature noises, or a funny podcast to lull me to sleep. There are nights where you don’t feel well and are in a significant amount of pain as the baby grows. Finding a calming distraction to help you go to sleep is really helpful for a good nights rest. Spotify has some amazing stations that really helped me get to sleep through those bad nights.
Zen Routine before bed
When your pregnant you have to be careful with baths, but they really relax me so if I am having a rough night I make sure to take a very room temp bath and try to find a place of calm and relaxation. Brandon is great about getting Aria to bed on these nights and lets me just relax and get some rest. Another way I find that place of zen is to just sit with the fan on and meditate. It helps clear the mind so you can sleep without the random thoughts keeping you awake.
I hope these tips help you. There will be some nights that will be restless and hard to sleep but with these tips I hope it gives you more restful nights.