1.  Be hydrated.  Pregnant women need to drink lots of water as they are prone to dehydration, especially if they are active that day.  They lose 2-3 quarts of water each day through perspiration and urination.  Also, during pregnancy there is about one quart of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby and your body completely replaces that fluid every two to three hours! So drink up! However, cut off liquids close to bedtime to minimize the number of time you will need to go to the bathroom during the night.

2.  Be supported.  Finding a comfortable position in bed is not easy when you’re pregnant.  Laying on your left side is what most experts recommend to allow for the best blood flow to the baby, your uterus, and kidneys.  Buying a good pregnancy pillow will help with this.  The Utterly Yours pregnancy pillow is a great option for sleep support for pregnant women.  It costs from $39.95 to $54.95 depending on size and can be bought on line.  (Author’s note:  After surrounding myself with all sorts of pillows for my first two pregnancies, I finally tried out a new pregnancy pillow from Utterly Yours.  I love it!  It supports both my back and my stomach and I wake up feeling more rested.  Why didn’t I have this before?  I highly recommend it for all pregnant moms.)

3.  Be comfortable.  Start a bedtime routine. (You will do this for your child soon enough so why not start with you?)  Make it consistent and soothing like a warm shower, a foot massage, or a cup of decaffeinated tea to help you relax and ease into sleep each night.  Having a supportive sleep bra or nightgown with shelf bra helps to avoid the breast soreness you may feel as your pregnancy progresses.  Comfortable panties is also a must.  A favorite is Amon Maternity’s “skivvies” boy shorts which can be bought on line.  They help relieve the lower back pain caused by a growing belly.  They are slimming under evening clothes and are great for working out too.  They are non-binding and supportive.  There’s nothing worse then trying to sleep with elastic digging into your legs and stomach.  Plus, it may sound unbelievable but they are actually pretty sexy, especially in black.

Article by Maria Smith, Atlanta Stay-at-Home Moms Examiner