Pregnancy: Getting Enough Sleep?

These are some things that can enhance your preparation for childbirth--to be well-rested is essential in late pregnancy. However, with the increased size of your baby, circulation, and all things "baby" running thru your mind, bedtime can be a challenge.



These are some ways to "prepare" your body for bedtime:







Take a warm--not hot--bath before bedtime. Add some Lavendar to the water or use lavendar lotion when you're finished. (if you have candles & music together, all the better, but if not, this is just wonderful all on it's own.)









Get a foot massage from your sweetie before bedtime. Long, slow strokes with lotion help relax the body & mind. (make sure you are sitting or laying comfortably, with pillows to support your whole body for total relaxation.)









Have some carbs before bedtime too. Nothing heavy like pizza though. Crackers are good. (Make sure you have a glass of water nearby, but don't overdo the water at bedtime.)









Play a cd with Ocean Waves on your nightstand. Or white noise. (you may find your baby likes white noise to sleep with too--it drowns out household noises once he goes to bed).







Read for a little while before bedtime. Not on the PC tho. That's too stimulating.







Make sure you have enough pillows to support your hips, neck and back when you lay down. Those body-pillows have a reputation for being great for pregnant women.





And finally, Self-talk can be calming--just make sure the words are positive, true, and relaxing. I will post a "script" later this weekend that can help you.







Do you have a tip you'd like to share or an experience in pregnancy that helped you get the rest you needed?