No two pregnant women are alike in their symptoms and degree of sleeplessness. Although a lot of pregnant women experience some form of sleeping disorder at a certain stage, the degrees of intensity differ. There are undeniably also some individuals who simply breeze through pregnancy with minimal discomforts and sleep problems. Since your condition is unique, you should also look for a pregnancy sleep aid that will suit you.
Look at Externals First
Last on a pregnant woman's sleep aid list should be drugs and medication. Before you decide to medicate, look at some external conditions that may be causing your insomnia. It is generally known for example that the most comfortable sleeping position for a pregnant woman would be sleeping sideways. If you still end up rolling over on your back and waking up, try using pregnancy sleep aid pillows. A wedge pillow for example can comfortably support your tummy as you lie on your side while a full body pillow can be placed behind you to prevent rolling over. Some women also suggest putting a pillow in between bent legs to support the back.
Your diet is another external factor which you may want to consider looking into before taking any medication for sleep aid. The reason why warm milk may be a good pregnancy sleep aid is because it contains L-tryptophan which promotes sleep by increasing serotonin levels. Aside from milk, you can also take eggs and a turkey sandwich.
Snacks which are rich in protein are also recommended. A low blood sugar level may be the reason for sleep discomforts. A peanut butter sandwich is one of the simplest and best pregnancy sleep aid snacks.
Look at Feelings and Emotions
You could also be suffering from insomnia because of your own nagging worries about pregnancy, motherhood and family life. Before you decide to seek psychological help though, you should try to ease your anxiety with home based techniques.
Deep breathing is a simple pregnancy sleep aid method that can eliminate anxiety. Lie comfortably on your side with some pillow support and close your eyes. Inhale deeply through your nose with your mouth closed and gradually expand your tummy. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then exhale gently. Perform the exercise several times until you feel relaxed.
One other effective home pregnancy sleep aid you can try is the progressive muscle relaxation. Lie on your side and close your eyes. Focus on each of your muscle groups starting with your toes. Tense your toe muscles and then release until you feel your toes relaxing. Move up to your other muscles, tensing and relaxing each until you feel calm and relaxed.
Drugs and Supplements
Taking sleep aid medications should be a pregnant woman's last resort at dealing with pregnancy insomnia. When you do decide that you have no other option, then you should first consult your doctor. There are really FDA approved drugs that can be safely taken by pregnant women. Some however would prefer natural supplements. A good supplement would produce no side effects but it is always best to have your doctor approve anything that you plan to take.
Just when one thinks that there is just one too many sleep aids available in the market, think again. A new sleep aid that can promote dreaming has been formulated by drug researchers and pharmacologists. The said is also said to be effective in improving one's memory. This medication specifically targets the orexin system, which is also associated with the urges connected with feeding and addiction. Orexin is a type of hormone that was discovered in 1998 and is known to control or induce a number of physiological reactions and conditions such as narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder where people can fall asleep several times a day and experience paralyzing musculo-skeletal contractions.
A Swiss drug company named Actelion has also unveiled a new candidate drug known as orexin-RA-1 that can block the orexin system. Laboratory rats slept soundly and performed better in maze tests the following day than rats given with only conventional sleep aids, suggesting that the drug improves memory capacity. Measurements of muscle tone and brain activity revealed an increase in the dream phase of sleep. According to Actelion CEO Jean Paul Clozel, the dream phase is when memory is hardwired in the brain. According to Clozel, older medications reduce REM sleep. Lack of REM sleep makes people still feel tired even after they just woke up.
Shahrad Taheri, a doctor from the University of Bristol, said that orexin has great potential for promoting sleep and regulating appetite. Taheri said that orexin can be used to reduce cravings for food.
The new sleep aid drug is now undergoing stage trials. Clozel says that the drug could be available in the market by 2012. He admitted that there are plans to extend its application beyond insomnia. Unlike older generations of sleep medications, orexin-RA-1 showed no signs of being addictive or of losing its effects over time. However, this type of medication should have a thorough inspection for possible unwanted side effects. Existing sleep aids being sold in the market are known to have a number of side effects. Tests should be done in order to fully analze a new drug's effects in the brain, and how it can provide other beneficial effects without harming other human internal systems.
Aside from using medications, people with insomnia should continue receiving non-medical help to overcome sleeplessness. Among the most common advice given to insomniacs by doctors and behavioral therapists include:
Cutting down on caffeinated drinks especially during hours that are too near sleeping time
Avoiding stimulating activities such as games, exercise, and watching action movies when on is about to sleep
Keeping the bedroom as a private place for sleeping. An insomniac should not do work inside the sleeping quarters.
The room must be kept dark, free from noise, and comfortable enough to induce relaxation and drowsiness.
In very severe cases of sleep deprivation, the help of medical and psychiatric professionals should be sought. Insomniacs, however, must make sure to consul these professionals first before using any sleep aid. Using sleep aids without proper consultation could lead to substance abuse and, worse, to accidental death. Sleep aid overdose is a very serious risk faced by insomniacs who use medications without the proper prescription.
Soon, however, new drugs such as orexin may help people with severe sleep deprivation gain back the ability to sleep, rest, and dream about better days and nights ahead.
Both Veronika Namesse & Cristel Lumabas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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