First Trimester Related - Sleep Disturbances
The first trimester is a mix of excitement and surprises, especially for women who have never been pregnant. Adjusting to the changes mentally and physically can become a challenge. The rise of progesterone, one of the hormones essential for the maintenance of pregnancy in the first trimester, causes changes in the sleep architecture. The factors which contribute to sleep disturbances are:
- Fatigue: High progesterone secretion from the placenta are known to cause fatigue and earlier sleep onset
- Repeated awakenings: There is an increase in total sleep time but poorer ‘quality sleep’ due to ‘frequent wakening ups’ during the night. There is a decrease in deep sleep from pre-pregnancy to the first trimester.
- Body Changes: As the body changes, discomfort can make it harder to fall and stay asleep.
- Urinary Frequency: Many women get up more than once during the night to relieve themselves, and this interrupts valuable sleep time.
- Nausea: Morning sickness, which is quite common in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, can cause a women to wake up early.
