Sleep and pregnancy do not necessarily go hand in hand. This pregnancy has been met with more sleepless nights and tossing and turning that I have with the previous four pregnancies combined. nearly 37 weeks along, I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights, so I wanted to share a few things that worked for me!
I am lucky if most nights I get four to five hours of sleep. But I have learned a few tips along the way to at least make it so I am resting, even if I am awake.
Body Pillow
My body pillow has been a lifesaver this pregnancy. I have a pillow similar to the one pictured. I love how I can fold it if needed to support my back at night or use it as a leg support.
Button up nightgown
I ditched the sweatpants and shorts pretty early in pregnancy. A button up nightgown or sleepshirt like this is great to ensure that I am not adding any extra pressure (because there is more than enough). As my belly expands I don’t have worry about adjusting.
Sleep mask
I love my sleep mask. There is a street light that shines directly into my window at night and it can be very distracting. Even if I happen to wake up, the room is still completely dark due to the mask, and sometimes it helps me easily drift back off to sleep.
No water before bed
One of the worst parts of pregnancy is the constant late night trips to the bathroom. I try to limit my trips by not having anything to drink more than an hour or so before bedtime. Sometimes longer. I also make sure I stay properly hydrated throughout the day, this way I will need less heading into bedtime.
Purchase a fan
A fan comes in handy for numerous reasons. For one, it’s great as a white noise machine, and secondly, it gets really, really hot at night. A small fan such as this one is great to keep next to the bed at night.
Love of impromptu dance parties, 80’s cartoons, and horizontal life pauses (aka naps); Natasha Brown is a stay at home mom of 4 kids, and wife to one lucky guy! In her spare time, she is co-editor of Grits & Grace, as well as editor for The Mother Hustler Blog and Creative Director for the Mother Hustler podcast.
