No matter what stage of life a person is in, getting enough sleep is crucial for their health and wellbeing. However, how much sleep should a pregnant lady get? You might be surprised by the response!
The sleep specialists at Newton Baby discuss the importance of sleep in this article, particularly for expectant mothers. In order to prepare you for what to expect as your tummy and your unborn child grow over the next nine months, we’ll also go over the stages of sleep and break down sleep habits by trimester.
Finally, we’ll offer you advice on how to deal with some of the most typical sleep issues that arise throughout pregnancy.
Why Sleep Matters
Let’s examine the reasons why sleep is so important before answering the topic of how many hours a pregnant lady should obtain. You will see that sleep is essential for all bodily functions, including the development of your tiny bun in the oven.
Vital Body Functions
Your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate all decrease during non-REM sleep, providing your body a respite from the activities of the day. Getting enough sleep throughout pregnancy will fuel your body to care for your developing baby.
Brain Performance
Your brain is actively getting ready to learn, remember, and create while you sleep. The National Institutes of Health states that the brain eliminates waste and pollutants as you sleep, much like a kidney would.
When you wake up, this will make you more focused and productive. It will also make it easier for you to learn the parenting skills you need to acquire.
Emotion Control
The amygdala is a region of the brain that controls your emotions. It becomes hyperactive when you don’t get enough sleep, which might make you angry and frustrated.
Healthy Immune System
The immune system is directly correlated with sleep. Cells that play vital roles in the body, such as fending off infections and viruses, cannot function as well when they don’t get enough sleep.
Increased inflammation is linked to sleep deprivation and may raise the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. You don’t want to give your hard-working body any more tasks to perform while you’re pregnant.
Blood Sugar Control
It may be more difficult to control your blood sugar when you don’t get enough sleep. Your blood glucose system is disrupted as a result, which increases your risk of insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.
Blood Vessels
Circulation problems brought on by insufficient sleep can raise the risk of heart disease and stroke. By now, it should be very clear that the objective is to get a decent night’s sleep and prevent all of the bad effects of not getting enough sleep while pregnant.
In addition to reducing your risk of illness and improving your ability to maintain a healthy weight, getting enough sleep also makes you feel less stressed, improves your ability to think clearly, and lowers your likelihood of suffering major health problems or accidents. Having established the importance of sleep, let us examine the phases of sleep.