The changes that the body of the woman undergoes in this particular phase of life, in fact, can negatively influence the night's rest and cause difficulties in falling asleep. Within certain limits, insomnia in pregnancy is therefore considered as a phenomenon in a certain sense normal, but it should not be underestimated for this. In certain situations, in fact, it can become a disabling disorder and can be an indication of some basic diseases that are not still diagnosed.
during gestation it is a good idea to inform your doctor and / or gynecologist, even more so if these negatively affect the pregnant woman's quality of life..
The aforementioned causes can give rise to insomnia in pregnancy at any time, however - excluding the causes of a pathological nature that can occur indifferently in any month of pregnancy - each phase of gestation is characterized by the presence of different factors that can cause the aforementioned sleep disturbance.
First Trimester of Pregnancy
In the first trimester of pregnancy, the main causes that can favor the onset of insomnia are mainly attributable to hormonal changes (increased levels of estrogen and progesterone) that typically occur in this period, resulting in frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting, the appearance of daytime fatigue which leads the pregnant woman to take frequent rests during the day and the increase in the frequency of urination which can cause nocturnal awakening. To all this, we must add the emotional causes deriving from arousal and, sometimes, from the worries that can manifest themselves in the expectant mother. As for the physical causes, on the other hand, they can be negligible during the first trimester of pregnancy, since the changes that occur in the woman's body, generally, they are not so marked that they can be considered responsible for insomnia.
Second and Third Trimester of Pregnancy
As the pregnancy progresses, the changes in the woman's body increase, starting from the second trimester, in fact, fetal movements begin and there is a gradual increase in the size of the belly. All this can negatively affect the rest of the pregnant woman who can struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep due to the movements of the fetus and, at the same time, may have difficulty in finding a comfortable position to sleep (for example, women accustomed to sleeping in the prone position - that is, on their stomach - they can no longer assume this posture due to the increase in the size of the belly). encounter a further increase in urination frequency.
In addition to all this, other disorders can also occur that can promote the onset of insomnia in pregnancy, such as heartburn and gastritis, cramps and tingling sensation in the legs.
In addition, towards the end of pregnancy, the levels of hormones in the mother's body undergo other variations. In detail, there is an increase in the production of oxytocin in preparation for labor. This hormone - undoubtedly useful for childbirth and for the subsequent lactation phase - can however negatively affect night rest, giving rise to insomnia.
Of course, emotional causes are not lacking even in the second and third trimester of gestation; on the contrary, generally the mix of excitement and worry tends to become more marked as the date of delivery approaches.
and non-restorative that does not allow the pregnant woman to rest adequately and satisfactorily.The condition of insomnia in pregnancy - in association with all the hormonal and non-hormonal changes typical of this period - can lead to the appearance of irritability, stress and restlessness. These symptoms, unfortunately, can further worsen the sleep disturbances that afflict the pregnant woman. .
In the event that the cause of insomnia lies in diseases such as anxiety and depression, the expectant mother may also manifest other symptoms closely related to these pathological conditions (for more information on this, we recommend reading the articles dedicated to these psychiatric diseases already present on this site).
