Bedtime Blues

It’s an understatement to say that pregnancy is at times exhausting! During pregnancy many women are plagued by seemingly endless nights of disturbed sleep, followed by days of fatigue.
Having to compete with frequent bathroom trips and searing heartburn matched with baby related anxiety are enveloped into ones life and pepper daily pregnant life, but rest is ultimately a key factor in pre-natal health.

We've gathered together a few tips on how to make sure that you get the deep sleep you and your bump need and deserve:

- Exercise.... yes we know it’s a cliché and we know that exercising is probably the LAST thing you feel like doing, but easy stretching exercises like yoga and pilates will help you burn pent up energy, whilst giving a wealth of benefits to you and your babies' health.
NB – try to exercise no later than early evening, as exercising later will leave you fighting the effects of adrenaline and the endorphins.

- Invest in a new pillow. If you don't have one already, v-shaped pillows are brilliant! They’re perfect for adjusting to your changing shape, and giving extra support to you and your bump, and great for feeding post birth.
NB – Placed between your knees will help ease the pressure on the hips, and make it easier to achieve a comfortable position in order to sleep on your left hand side.

- Wind down before you attempt to get into bed! Going to bed with a head full of worries will further agitate the problem, you will be left lying awake contemplating your ‘to do list’. Try to take 30 minutes before you get into bed to write down your thoughts, take a warm bath, listen to some relaxing music, indulge in a soothing aroma as to ease yourself to bed, you’ll find drifting off far easier when your in a calmer state.

- Start a routine now: exercise – unwind - go to bed, and sleep! By getting yourself into a routine your body will be more prepared to allow you to rest and a consistent routine will be great practice for when baby is born.

Avoid late meals- For some it may not be convenient, but taking into account you sleep pattern throughout the day will allow you to get more sleep during the night. Big meals at night will aggravate problems like heartburn or nausea. Consider eating more carbohydrates during the day, a high protein snack in the evening and perhaps a cup of warm milk and a banana before bed to ease you to sleep.

Grab all the unbroken sleep whilst you can before the baby arrives !!