Will my baby be affected by my sleep patterns during the pregnancy?

Eat more foods with tryptophan and melatonin. Check this out.

I know when I was pregnant my kids seemed to sleep when I was up and about. The gentle rocking motion was soothing. They came alive when I was trying to sleep.

I think that anxiety can have an impact on how the baby feels and develops due to the extra cortisol circulating in your system. So try not to stress.

Why are you having problems sleeping?

I think you will suffer more than the baby. Mother nature steals from the mother and favors the baby usually. Try to rest as much as possible. Pamper yourself a little.

Fetuses are actually in a sleep state over 90% of the time they are in the womb. Even when they are active and kicking, they are in a light stage of sleep. Don’t worry about them getting enough sleep. They are fine

It’s VERY important for you to get as much sleep as possible now. Because the first several weeks after the baby is born, you’re going to be on a roller coaster ride.

* Take lots of naps now. Even just 15 – 20 minute naps will help.
* When you’re in the hospital, let the new dad and other relatives hold the baby as much as they want during the day, and take naps while they do this.
* At night, you can opt to let them take the baby to the nursery at night, and they will bring her back to nurse. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. I thought that I shouldn’t do this, so I wouldn’t get “spoiled” when I got home. In retrospect, I really needed that sleep right after delivery and recover so I was more prepared for the first week home.
* When you get home, you will be waking up every 2 – 3 hours, whether your baby does or not for the first few weeks. All of the cat naps you take while pregnant will train you to be able to sleep every second you can.

I barely got any sleep when I was pregnant. It was almost impossible to get comfortable, and then once I got comfortable, I had to get up and pee—and pee—and pee. If I had to do it all over again I would have worn Depends and not bothered getting up at night.

@tranquilsea I’ve been in a lot of pain so sleeping it very difficult. My lower back has been feeling like it’s on fire. Its a burning sensation. Laying down does nothing to help. I toss and turn all night. Then I finally drift off and the pain actually wakes me right up in the middle of the night. So frustrating!

@noelleptc I can only lay on my back for a short period of time. For some reason I get really dizzy when I’m in the position. I fainted at one of my ultrasounds just from being on my back. The dr said the baby is resting on an artery or something.

@noelleptc Do those help? If so, I’ll definitely invest in one. A few people have mentioned those bands.

Do you have one of those giant pillows to help you sleep on your side? They helped me a LOT. I didn’t get a pregnancy specific one, because they were triple the price of one that was pretty much the same but not labelled for pregnancy. Basically, I’d hug the pillow between my legs and cradle it in my arms and I could sleep on my side more easily.

Of course, by the last two weeks, nothing really worked at all until a few days before I gave birth. By then I was so tired—I actually didn’t wake up to go to the bathroom. I was mortified—but that’s where I got the Depends idea—I coulda been sleeping all along!

Have you tried a relaxation tape? I was trying hypnobirthing for my 2nd and the CD that came with the book was great though I would think that any kind of relaxation/self hypnosis thing would be good (and cheaper, anything baby or pregnancy related is so expensive…). I used to listen to it at night and would just drift off to sleep.

Big pillow thing was good too. i also used to tuck normal pillows under my bump as i slept on my side to support it a bit which made it less achy. But I do remember that sleep was very hard to come by in the last few weeks so the napping advice is good. I’m not a napper so it didn’t work for me :-(

Genius idea to wear incontinence pads – it’s so annoying that you only ever manage to squeeze out the tiniest amount so if getting up for the toilet is bothersome then go for it. Just don’t mention if you are sharing the bed with anyone!!

The relaxation tapes are a MUST HAVE. I didn’t discover them until after my daughter was born. I’d play them while I nursed all night and they were a lifesaver when she had colic. I wish I had them in those last few months before she was born. They would have helped a lot.