The Impact of Sleep on Childbirth

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Sleep is something that we have to do every night for optimum health, and most of the time going to sleep is a process that we do easily, without much thought. Getting a good nights rest during pregnancy can be another matter altogether. Frequent trips to the bathroom, trouble getting comfortable, leg cramps and strange dreams can all work together to keep you up at night.

[edit] Sleep and labor

A recent study by the University of California found that sleep has an impact on the length of a woman’s labor. The study found that women who slept for more than seven hours each night averaged labor lengths of around 17.5 hours. In contrast, women who got less than six hours of sleep each night averaged labor lengths of around 29 hours. And most striking was the finding that women who slept for less than 4.5 hours each night had a cesarean section rate more than 41/2 times greater than average.

[edit] Tips for better sleep

Now that you know how important it is that you get adequate shut eye during pregnancy, here are some tips to make getting a good night’s rest easier:

Enlist the help of your partner to lighten your load enough that you can try and get as much rest as possible.

Keep your internal clock in working order by having a set sleeping schedule and do not vary from it – even on weekends

Make your bedroom a warm and inviting place. Invest in good quality sheets and blankets, and have enough pillows that you are comfortable; there are many types of body pillows on the market that help a pregnant woman get comfortable.

Spray your sheets with lavender scented spray. The aroma is conducive to sleep.

Keep the temperature of your room on the cool side to get better rest.

Have a nightly routine that you follow before you go to bed. Doing the same thing each night – such as a bath followed by a chapter in a good book – gives your body the signal that it will be soon time to go to bed.