Sleeping has probably become an interesting arrangement by now. Some people might be telling you specific positions to sleep in and they might be right. But just know that if you are comfortable you will not hurt your baby. If you can still fall asleep on your stomach at this point, you will not inflict any pain on the little one. Your body is designed to protect your child in any position and also has built in instinct to alert you to any dangers. Once your belly gets to a certain size (different for everyone, as it is directly proportional to your body size), you should no longer sleep flat on your back.  The weight of your womb will compress the Inferior Vena Cava, the major vein that returns blood from your lower extremities to your heart. This can cause a whole cornucopia of issues from swollen ankles, to complete unconsciousness. Again, if you are comfortable you are probably okay. Having said this (again) one of the safest sleeping positions is on your side with a pillow between your legs to support the weight pulling down on your spine. You will also want to rotate sides from time to time to minimize strain on you belly.

While on the subject of sleep, I want to point out the importance of getting plenty of it. Did you ever wonder the big reason why newborns sleep so much? It is because growing uses a lot of energy and is much easier while you are asleep and not doing anything else but breathing. You are probably not quite to the point in your pregnancy were your energy is sapped (usually around 7 months you will start to feel tired in general), so it is good to plan ahead. Get used to getting to bed early. Now, please remember that I am not giving you a free pass to laze around all day, and sleep in until noon. You still need to be active and live your life as you normally would (within the perimeters of your OB/GYN’s directives), just be more cautious about staying up all night.

With the physical effects of pregnancy come a whole heap of psychological and mental effects. This can range from logistical (will baby sleep in a crib in your bedroom or their own room) to financial (how will we afford all those diapers) to the emotional (will I be a good mommy?). This can lead to mild cases of insominia. A few restless nights are not to concern you but if you are laying awake more nights than not, you need to address the issue with your OB/GYN.

Word of the Week

Insomnia – n – inability to obtain sufficient sleep, esp. when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep; sleeplessness. (www.dictionary.com)

Buying guide

 
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