How will my sleep patterns be affected while I’m pregnant?
Like any other major life event or change, pregnancy can affect your sleep patterns. Early in the pregnancy, you shouldn’t notice a change. But later, as the fetus grows and the uterus enlarges, you may feel an uncomfortable pressure on your back, especially if you try to sleep flat on your back. You may also find it difficult, if not impossible, to sleep on your stomach. Also, as the pregnancy progresses, the combination of the enlarged uterus pressing on the bladder and increased blood flow to the kidneys results in an increased production of urine. As a result, you may need to get up in the middle of the night to urinate more frequently. The normal aches and pains of pregnancy may also cause you to wake up during the night. What physical and emotional changes can I expect? Each stage of pregnancy will bring about physical and emotional changes. Some of the most common physical changes that you may experience include backache, hemorrhoids, frequent urination, spider veins, tiredness,
