Insomnia and pregnancy go together for many women. The fact of the matter is that there is so much going on to and in your body – from pressure on your bladder that makes you have to pee every half hour to a growing belly that just makes things downright uncomfortable to fluctuating hormone levels. Getting enough sleep during pregnancy can truly be a challenge.
That being said, there’s no reason you can’t turn the insomnia to your advantage. If you’re having trouble sleeping, lying in bed tossing and turning isn’t likely to help you out. Instead of just becoming more and more frustrated at your inability to sleep, there are a number of different things you might consider doing:
- Catch up on some reading. Even if you’ve made it through all of your pregnancy books and magazines, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some reading. In fact, this might be a good time to dive into your favorite romance novel, or to try something new. Reading outside of the pregnancy area might help your mind to relax a bit, as well.
- Learn a new skill. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to crochet. While you can’t take a class in the middle of the night, you can certainly try a kit that contains instructions. You might instead learn a new language, or try your hand at another interesting and new activity.
- Journal. Whether you do it electronically via a blog or website or whether you do it the old fashioned way (with a quill and parchment), writing down your thoughts and feelings is worthwhile. Even if you don’t share them with others, it can help you think through various issues in your own mind.
- Bake. There’s no law that says you can’t make a German Chocolate cake in the middle of the night. Just don’t eat the whole thing, or you’re likely to be miserable the next day.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to turn those nighttime doldrums during pregnancy into something productive.
