I is for Insomnia

I is for Insomnia

What is Insomnia?  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines insomnia as a prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep.  This can be caused by a difficulty to fall asleep, waking repeatedly overnight, difficulty falling back to sleep, or restless sleep.  During pregnancy this is most common in the first and third trimester.  Things that can contribute to lack of sleep are pregnancy hormones, increased need to pee, congestion, and heartburn.  During the first trimester nausea, breast tenderness, frequent urination, and dreams can keep you up at night.  During the third trimester the main contributor to lack of sleep can simply be your inability to get comfortable.  This can be accentuated by back pain, leg cramps, breast tenderness, and heartburn which are all common complaints at the end of pregnancy.  Anxiety or stress about the birth or motherhood can also keep you awake at night.  Insomnia is not harmful to your baby; it is a common (and annoying!) pregnancy symptom…

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