One of the greatest blessings that you have in life is to have children, but many times we focus on material things and not on the emotional side. If your emotions are in conflict, you will not be able to enjoy being a mother and fully enjoy the first few months of life of your baby. Since the relationship that you have with your baby is essential for a healthy, personal and emotional growth, it is important that you have this in mind at all time.

Trust in yourself.

Give yourself fully to this new blessing in your life and accept it with all your heart. Trust in yourself so that you can be an excellent mother, because you will know the fruit of the love of your marriage better than anyone else and you’ll know what it all means so that all will be well.

Facing the fear.

It is very natural to feel something of fear before the baby’s arrival, because of the changes that will bring to our lives in addition to that it is almost impossible not to think about the complications that may arise at the time of birth or if you are going to be a good mother. But, the fears you have will be an opportunity to grow as you turn them into challenges that you will overcome successfully if you trust fully in yourself. In addition, most of the times fears are only vague emotions of the future, anticipating consequences that may never occur.

Establish a connection with your baby.

This is imperative for all mothers. When you connect your mind and heart with your baby from the first moment in which you know you are pregnant, you will make an special connection of love and security which is extremely important for the emotional well-being of both. To establish this connection it is important that you speak and stimulate with sounds and touching your belly, especially during the last months of pregnancy.

Establish a connection with your husband.

What binds you with your husband is the love and commitment involved in marriage, but it is also important to know how it feels before the baby’s arrival, so it is extremely important to know your concerns, fears and plans on what is going to happen when the baby comes home. Remember that he is not only your husband, he is also the father of your future child, so you should discuss with your husband about things that are better adapted to the new roles.

It is not uncommon for Women to feel tired during pregnancy, mostly during the first trimester, even though they might need more sleep than they did before. Early symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea, heartburn, indigestion, more toilet trips during the nights, and even the restless legs syndrome (RLS) can affect your pattern of sleep. However, some lifestyle changes may improve sleep during the first trimester, making you sleep just like a baby.

This post will help you understand the different sleep problems, and possible solutions to give you back your sleep during your first trimester.

Reasons for lack of sleep during the first trimester

Your body undergoes many changes that interrupt your sound or normal sleep. National Sleep Foundation had a Survey in 1998 on women and slept, and reported that 78% of women reported having sleep disturbances when pregnant more than other occasions. Here are the signs that obstruct sleep during your early pregnancy stages.

1. Feeling sleepy all the time

During your first trimester, you’d feel very tired and sleepy, mostly during the day. The increase in hormonal progesterone causes this sudden change in your sleep patterns. This hormone regulates the reproductive cycle of women which causes drowsiness. The thermogenic or heat producing effects and soporific (sleep-inducing) effect of progesterone brings about fatigue and sleep earlier on and the false idea of having flu.

A study “The Longitudinal Changes in Sleep Architecture during Pregnancy and Childbirth” by Dr. Lee noted that total sleep time increases in the first trimester, but is of poor quality because the pregnant woman constantly wakes up. There is also a reduction in a deep sleep when compared to pre-pregnancy. Most women complained of drowsiness, fatigue, and also depression.

2. An increased Frequency of urinating

The hormone, progesterone is also partly responsible for the incessant urinary urgency. The inhibitory hormonal effects on smooth muscle stimulate this urge. As the pregnancy progresses, the increasing level of the bump also exerts pressure on your bladder and thus increases the frequency of urination. It makes you often wake up ease yourself, and this disturbs your sleep.

Solution

If you’re tired of visiting the bathroom, do not attempt to reduce fluid consumption. Instead, take more drinks during the day and less before your bedtime. You should also drink less or cut off caffeine drinks, such as tea, coffee, and the cola drinks.

3. Physical changes accompanied by Discomfort

During pregnancy, you have sensitive and painful breasts which makes comfortable sleep quite difficult. For those who prefer to lie on their stomach, it is less comfortable as your belly begins to grow.

Solution

Try your best to sleep on your side, and this is also an ideal position for feeding your child. Also be sure to wear a bra that is suitable for the new development or growing of your breasts. You can use a sports bra that feels comfortable or a maternity bra while you sleep and use a pillow to support the sore breasts. If the pain or soreness in the breast interrupts your sleep too much, you might need to see your doctor who may prescribe acetaminophen, FDA Pregnancy Category C drug.

The reasons why you can’t sleep are not limited to these, but we have limited the list to these three reasons for simplicity and ease. Stick with this blog to get more as time goes on.

Share your experience or questions with us using the comment area below.

We all know pregnancy is an experience that changes lives in many ways. To be sure of the good health of both you and your child, you’d want to do everything possible, from the food you eat to the right work out sessions, even if you do not want to.

If you like to be in the water, you may be worried about swimming because you are pregnant. You may ask many questions about swimming during pregnancy, questions such as: is it right or harmful to your child? Will this cause any complication? And many more.

If you understand the effects of swimming and how it affects your body during your period of pregnancy, you will make the right decisions.

Is swimming safe during pregnancy?

As against the myths and misunderstandings, for pregnant women to engage in swimming during pregnancy is completely safe. You stand no risk concerning you or your child’s health. As long as you swim in a proper and convenient manner, taking certain precautions, then there is nothing wrong with it. However, it is important for you to be reminded that you must consult your doctor first. Each woman’s body reacts in different ways during pregnancy, and your doctor will know what your status is and the best condition for you.

Another general myth is that chlorinated water is often thought to negatively affect the health of a child. This is not true. In fact, most of the swimming pools have a controlled proportion of chlorine, and this is why swimming is safe. If you have a healthy pregnancy without complications, then swimming is no problem for you. In fact, it has lots of health benefits for you and your baby.

Benefits of Swimming during Pregnancy

1. Swimming can help in the promotion of good sleep, especially for those women who have difficulty sleeping during the different stages of pregnancy.
2. It helps effectively in the burning of calories and keeping the body active during pregnancy.
3. Swimming helps in the relieve of weakness and fatigue and makes you remain energized.
4. As a means of exercise during pregnancy, engaging in swimming can also strengthen your muscles and increase strength.
5. It is believed that regular swimming reduces swelling and fluid retention.
6. Helps in improved circulation. Heart and lung function are also some of the additional benefits derived from swimming during pregnancy.
7. If you have difficulty coping with physical changes during pregnancy, swimming helps in making it easier.
8. Most of the aches and pains felt during pregnancy are best treated by swimming.
9. If you do swim before your pregnancy, you should not be having any problems during pregnancy.

Safety tips you should adhere to while swimming during pregnancy

You should only swim if it makes you feel good. When you feel uncomfortable, or you feel tired, then you must make sure you leave the water. To be on the safe side, have someone stay close during your swimming sessions. You might want to share your swimming experiences and feeling with us using the comment area below.