My daughter-in-law keeps waking up in the middle of the night during her third trimester of pregnancy and takes about 1-2 hours to fall asleep again. What's going on?

I was pregnant in ten months. After the tormenting early pregnancy reaction in the early stage, I finally had a slightly comfortable life in the second trimester due to the dissipation of the early pregnancy reaction; but I was about to face the third trimester of pregnancy where I couldn't sleep peacefully. . Compared with the early and second trimesters, expectant mothers in the third trimester not only have a lot more psychological anxieties and worries about childbirth, but the physical burden is becoming increasingly heavy. Not only do they suffer from backache, edema, and leg cramps, but they also have trouble sleeping at night. . Adequate sleep is needed during pregnancy to ensure the healthy growth of the fetus. Let’s analyze what makes expectant mothers unable to sleep peacefully.

The fetus develops from a fertilized egg to a mature fetus, and the uterus grows from an egg to as big as a large watermelon. For example, at 38 weeks, the weight of the fetus in the uterus in the third trimester of pregnancy is about 3200 grams. Together with the weight of amniotic fluid and placenta, they exert downward pressure on the uterus, making the bladder area smaller and the urine storage capacity reduced. At the same time, the bladder The detrusor muscle contracts frequently, causing frequent urination. Frequent urination is one of the main reasons that affects sleep.

But expectant mothers don’t need to worry, this is a normal phenomenon in the third trimester of pregnancy. It is recommended that expectant mothers during this period drink appropriate water to reduce the frequency of urination; if they feel the need to urinate, do not hold back urine to prevent reabsorption of urine from adversely affecting the fetus.

Another factor that affects sleep in late pregnancy is fetal movement.

First of all, it is relatively quiet at night, and you can feel the movement of the fetus more clearly;

Secondly, the fetal movement in the third trimester is different from the fetal movement in the second trimester. The development of the fetus is getting more and more perfect, and the fetus is more sensitive to external light and sound. Although the fetal movements are not as frequent as in the second trimester, they are more powerful. Sometimes you can even see the little feet kicking the mother's abdominal wall. .

The body of expectant mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy is more prone to fatigue. In the case of frequent urination, coupled with the baby's powerful interaction, sleep will inevitably be disturbed.

One of the causes of edema: hormones secreted by the placenta cause sodium and water retention, and water accumulation in the body.

The second cause of edema: As the fetus grows, the enlarging uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, causing the backflow to be blocked. At this time, the expectant mother will develop edema. Normal edema is mild and can recover after rest without other complications. If the edema is obvious and does not improve after rest, or even worsens, you should go to the hospital for examination to rule out the possibility of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Although normal edema has little impact on the body, it can cause a lot of psychological pressure for expectant mothers and can easily lead to anxiety and affect sleep. Expectant mothers should pay attention to a light diet, reduce salt intake, and try to avoid standing or walking for long periods of time during the day, but it is not advisable to sit for long periods of time. Appropriate activities can better promote blood circulation. You can also elevate your feet slightly while lying down and massage them moderately to promote blood circulation and relieve edema.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, especially when the expected date of delivery is approaching, expectant mothers will notice slight pain in their stomach from time to time. Overly nervous expectant mothers immediately go to the hospital for examination. Don't worry, the pain at this time is not about giving birth, it is just a sign of labor. The pain will be relieved and disappear if it is irregular and irregular. After a little rest, it will disappear.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the body’s energy consumption is quite huge, and expectant mothers can easily feel tired and want to rest. But resting at this time is not as simple as lying down. My belly is too big and the fetus moves frequently, making sleeping uncomfortable. In addition, calf cramps may occur while sleeping, which are all factors that affect sleep.

There are two main reasons for the poor sleep of expectant mothers in the third trimester: first, physiological factors, and second, psychological factors.

After experiencing a series of pregnancy symptoms, expectant mothers will still feel anxious and uneasy when facing the upcoming delivery. Physiologically, at this time, they need the careful and patient care and support of their families. Expectant mothers relieve physical pain; on the other hand, they also need the encouragement and support of their family members psychologically. She feels relieved by her family's thoughtfulness and care. With a sense of security, the expectant mother's insomnia problem will also be alleviated.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, waking up in the middle of the night is a worry for many expectant mothers. Generally, pregnant women find it difficult to fall back asleep after waking up. Of course, this is a normal phenomenon.

In addition, mothers-to-be sometimes wake up in the middle of the night due to nightmares, upset stomachs, excessive heat, etc., and it takes a long time afterwards. Time to fall asleep again.

In fact, it is normal to not sleep well in the third trimester. As an expectant father, you can help the expectant mother massage her hands, feet and back. In addition, spiritual comfort can also help the expectant mother avoid various worries and improve her health. sleep quality.

As the pregnancy time increases, the mother-to-be's body will always experience some discomfort, especially in the third trimester, when the fetus enters the peak period of growth and development, and the mother-to-be's belly is getting bigger and bigger. It feels very inconvenient to eat and sleep. Not only is my appetite not good, but my sleep quality has also plummeted. I always wake up in the middle of the night, and it is difficult to fall asleep after waking up. So why is this?

1. Wrong sleeping position

As the pregnancy age increases, the abdomen of expectant mothers becomes more and more bulging, making it difficult to find a suitable sleeping position when sleeping.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, in order to avoid compressing the veins and affecting the blood supply to the placenta, doctors generally require expectant mothers to sleep on their left side. However, many expectant mothers are uncomfortable with sleeping on their left side. In fact, sleeping on the left side is not sleeping on the left side at 90 degrees, but sleeping on the left side at 30-45 degrees. When I was pregnant with my eldest son, the doctor also told me to sleep on my left side in the third trimester. I didn’t know it at first and thought I was sleeping on my left side at 90 degrees. After a whole night, it was like torture. Not only could I not sleep well, but my back was also sore. It hurts. Later, after asking the doctor during the prenatal check-up, I realized that it didn't need to be so harsh. You just needed to put a pillow on your back and keep your body slightly to the left.

Furthermore, we cannot sleep in the same sleeping position all night. We can occasionally change it and sleep on the right side.

2. Uncomfortable legs

In the third trimester of pregnancy, some expectant mothers will have leg cramps or a tingling sensation in their legs, like ants. Just like climbing, you need to move your legs from time to time to feel more comfortable, which will also affect the sleep quality of expectant mothers.

Some studies have shown that leg cramps in expectant mothers are caused by calcium deficiency in the body. The body’s demand for calcium is relatively high during pregnancy, because not only the expectant mother herself needs calcium, but the growth and development of the fetus also requires sufficient calcium. Calcium, and all the calcium the fetus needs comes from the expectant mother. When an expectant mother is deficient in calcium, it is easy to cause increased nervous excitability and make her unable to sleep.

In addition, a tingling sensation in the legs during the third trimester of pregnancy indicates that the expectant mother needs to take iron supplements in time.

3. Frequent urination

In the third trimester of pregnancy, especially after the fetus enters the pelvis, the descending uterus presses on the bladder and rectum. Many expectant mothers will experience frequent urination, even when sleeping at night. No exception. I often have to get up at night to go to the toilet. My body is bulky and it is difficult to get up. I have to be careful when getting out of bed. After finally going to the toilet, I can't fall asleep after I come back.

4. Frequent fetal movements

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus develops faster than before. As the fetus gets bigger and bigger, the intensity and amplitude of its movements will be larger, making it easier to accurately The mother is woken up, and after waking up, the expectant mother needs to wait for the fetus to calm down before she can fall asleep again.

5. Psychological stress and anxiety

After pregnancy, expectant mothers will become more mentally and psychologically sensitive, less tolerant to stress, and more emotionally unstable. In fact, this is caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone in the body.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the expected date of delivery is getting closer and closer. On the one hand, expectant mothers are particularly looking forward to the arrival of the baby, and on the other hand, they are somewhat afraid of the pain of childbirth. Therefore, the further back they go, the more... I was nervous and anxious, and couldn't sleep well when I went to bed.

We know that sleep is particularly important during pregnancy. Good sleep quality is beneficial to the development of the fetus, while poor sleep quality is likely to affect fetal development. So what should expectant mothers do? , can it help sleep?

1. Mainly sleep on the left side, and alternate sleeping positions regularly. You can use a pregnancy pillow or place a pillow under the abdomen or waist or between the legs to feel more comfortable.

2. Pay attention to a balanced diet. On this basis, eat more foods rich in calcium and iron. In addition, under the guidance of a doctor, timely supplement calcium and iron supplements. .

3. Do not drink too much water or eat food that is not easy to digest before going to bed. Do not watch books or movies that are easily arousing. You can play soothing music to promote sleep.

4. When the fetus moves more frequently, the expectant mother can gently touch her belly with her hands, talk to the fetus, etc. to comfort the fetus.

5. Read more books about pregnancy and childbirth, have regular prenatal check-ups, and learn to regulate your emotions. Expectant fathers and family members should pay more attention to expectant mothers and chat more with expectant mothers. Expectant mothers can also consult doctors. Or ask experienced people for advice about childbirth-related issues. The more you understand, the less fear you have about childbirth.

Pregnant women actually have a lot of inconveniences when they are pregnant, and they do wake up in the middle of the night when sleeping. This phenomenon mainly has the following reasons.

After a woman becomes pregnant, the endocrine system in her body will change, causing hormonal fluctuations. Pregnant women often experience emotional instability, excessive stress, and mental and psychological sensitivity and fragility that can also lead to reduced sleep quality.

As the pregnancy progresses and the baby continues to grow, the enlargement of the uterus will put pressure on the bladder, which will affect the frequency of urination of the pregnant woman and may easily cause her to wake up at night.

During pregnancy, the calcium consumption in the pregnant woman's body is very large. If it is not replenished in time, it will easily cause leg cramps when the pregnant woman sleeps at night.

Pregnant women waking up in the middle of the night may also be caused by a lack of nutrients or trace elements in the body. This situation can be detected in time through pregnancy tests and timely supplementation.

Due to the development and growth of the baby, the pregnant woman's abdomen becomes heavier and heavier, which will cause the pregnant woman to suffer from back pain and even body pain. She will have difficulty turning over during sleep and will easily wake up in the middle of the night.

1. Hormones

After a woman becomes pregnant, the endocrine system in her body will change, causing hormonal fluctuations. Pregnant women often experience emotional instability and excessive stress, and their mental and psychological sensitivity and fragility can also lead to reduced sleep quality.

2. Urination

As the pregnancy progresses and the baby continues to grow, the enlarging uterus will press on the bladder, which will affect the urination of pregnant women. frequency, resulting in frequent urination at night, and pregnant women are more likely to wake up at night.

3. Cramps

In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the body of pregnant women consumes a lot of calcium. If it is not replenished in time, it will easily cause leg cramps in the pregnant women’s legs while sleeping at night, and then wake them up. .

4. Lack of nutrition

Since the development of the fetus requires nutrients from the mother's body, pregnant women usually have an increased appetite and feel hungry from time to time. Many pregnant women even wake up hungry in the middle of the night. This is a normal phenomenon during pregnancy. The reason is that on the one hand, changes in hormones cause the metabolism of pregnant women to accelerate, and on the other hand, the stomach and intestines of pregnant women are squeezed by the uterus, which affects the amount of food they eat. This requires attention to adjusting the diet structure in daily life, eating smaller meals more often and continuing to supplement. Pregnant women waking up in the middle of the night may also be caused by a lack of trace elements in the body. This situation can be detected in time and supplemented in time through pregnancy examination.

5. Back pain

Due to the development and growth of the baby, the pregnant woman’s abdomen becomes heavier and heavier, which will cause back pain and even body pain during sleep. It is difficult to turn over when sleeping, and it is easy to wake up in the middle of the night.

1. Use pillows

Prepare a few more pillows, which can be used to support the abdomen and back, relieve the pressure of pregnant women, and also help eliminate body edema. There are many specialized pregnancy pillows on the market, such as U-shaped and ring-shaped pregnancy pillows, which can help pregnant women sleep.

2. Appropriate exercise

Walking and yoga are more suitable exercises for pregnant women, and they can help pregnant women relax their body and mood, and can also help pregnant women sleep more soundly, which will be beneficial to the follow-up. production is also of great benefit. However, it is best to ask your doctor for advice and make a reasonable assessment before formulating an exercise plan.

3. Adjust sleeping position

In the third trimester of pregnancy, if a pregnant woman lies on her back, she will suffer from hypotension in the supine position. The pregnant woman herself is prone to adverse reactions such as palpitation, chest tightness, and inability to fall asleep. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women mainly lie on their left side when sleeping, which can effectively relieve the venous pressure caused by the weight of the fetus and promote sleep for pregnant women. Experience also shows that lying on the left side can prevent the fetal umbilical cord from wrapping around the neck.

4. Timely calcium and iron supplementation

Generally speaking, pregnant women need to timely supplement calcium and iron starting from the 16th week of pregnancy. At this time, you can also eat more foods rich in calcium, such as dairy products, eggs, beans, seafood, animal liver, etc. Of course, the specific conditioning plan is best adjusted under the guidance of a doctor.

5. Psychological adjustment

Pregnant women who encounter sleep disorders should pay attention to psychological adjustment, relax their mood, and avoid being too nervous and anxious. You can usually read more scientific books about pregnancy, fully understand a series of situations that will occur during pregnancy, face your own sleep problems, develop good work and rest habits, and actively seek solutions.

In addition, in addition to the above methods, pregnant women can also take some auxiliary measures before going to bed, such as foot soaking before going to bed, relaxing massage before going to bed, reading before going to bed, etc., to help themselves fall asleep. If the sleep disorder is severe, be sure to seek help from a doctor in time and do not self-medicate.

It’s a normal reaction, be careful. I have had different children with different reaction times to late pregnancy. I have personally experienced methods and insights that money can’t buy. I hope you are lucky to have met me. , I am a woman with a beautiful heart who helps people all her life. I try to help others as much as I can. Sometimes the people I have helped forget, because I am accustomed to helping people. I do it every day. Sometimes I have helped him somewhere. Or her, they always left a deep impression on their hearts and eyes. When they saw me, they were very, very excited and grateful and couldn't say enough kind words and thanks.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, fetal movements will be more frequent. I remember that my baby often pushed my belly up. Then my belly got bigger and my sleeping position became very uncomfortable. I had to put my feet up with pillows to sleep, and I had to turn over to protect my baby. Dad, please help. It’s really hard to carry a baby. Dad should give your mother more love and care. Keep at it and your baby will be with you soon