Some of the symptoms the first trimester of pregnancy can bring are fatigue and tiredness. Later on, many pregnant women feel exhausted as a result of the changes to their bodies and extra weight they are carrying daily. What’s more, the hormonal and emotional changes they are experiencing may easily lead to insomnia. But remember, during pregnancy, it is quite common that women’s sleep patterns change or are disturbed.

Luckily, there are some things they can do to improve sleep and boost energy levels. Here’s a list of the most effective tips for coping with pregnancy insomnia:

1. Stop Putting Pressure on Yourself

First and foremost, pregnant women have to understand that putting pressure on themselves to fall asleep might actually worsen the problem. Hence, if you are exhausted but find it hard to sleep at the moment, try to increase your energy levels by exercising (if and as advised by your doctor) and eating a healthy snack (like nuts, fruit, or a nutritious salad).

A bonus tip: If you have difficulties falling asleep, get up and go to another room. Don’t torture yourself by rolling over in bed for hours. Simply get up and do something you like or take advantage of the peace and quiet and relax.

2. Focus on Calming Your Minds

Feeling anxious or stressed is quite exhausting. In other words, this means that even though you get a good night’s sleep, if you are stressed out or anxious, your body will still be tired. Therefore, try some relaxation techniques and practice them every day. Also, remember that your negative thoughts are just thoughts, not facts. One method you can try is allocating about 10-15 minutes a day to write down your thoughts. By putting pen to paper you can take them out of your head and let them go.

3. Don’t Go to Bed too Early

It’s no wonder that feeling tired during pregnancy makes women think that going to bed really early is a good idea. Yes, it sounds tempting, but doing so can eventually reduce your sleep appetite leading to poorer sleep down the line. With that in mind, next time such an idea comes to your mind, try indulging in an activity you enjoy doing like watching your favorite TV show or series, or going out for a walk so that you stay up a little later. This will help you follow your pre-pregnancy sleep schedule, which is the one already familiar to your body clock.

A bonus tip: To keep your sleep consistent, try to wake up at the same time as well. So, set an alarm and get up at the same time like when you weren’t pregnant. And yes, you should do so even when you feel tired. Thus, you will increase your chances for better sleep the following night.

Conclusion

The bottom line, it’s all about how you perceive pregnancy and insomnia. You are what you think, indeed. Thus, ensure you understand that not getting enough sleep won’t hurt your baby at all. Women's bodies are designed to cope with poor sleep during pregnancy. So, ensure you eat healthily to increase energy levels and reduce stress by practicing relaxation techniques. Eventually, you will feel less pressure to sleep well, and spontaneously improve your sleep.