When you are pregnant, it is obvious that you feel fatigued and tired most of the time. It is important to listen to your body and give it some rest and have a good night's sleep to give your body the much-needed rest. While some women sleep like a baby as soon as their head hits anything soft, some find it difficult to get even the usual eight hours of shut-eye. However, you cannot ignore the importance of sleep during pregnancy.
Sleep -- how much is too much or too less?
Just like you don't need to double your caloric intake during pregnancy, you don't have to double your sleeping hours too. It would be really worrisome if you sleep for 16 hours at a stretch. Instead, what you should do is give your body enough sleep to stay healthy and strong. Make sure that you get at least eight to 10 hours of sleep through the day. Here are a few ways in which you can get that:
Word of caution
While trying to get enough sleep during pregnancy, make sure you don't overdo it. 'While it is good to stress the importance of sleep during pregnancy, it should be noted that oversleeping is not encouraged. During pregnancy the cardiac output increases, and that shoots up the fatigue level. This is the reason you feel tired and weary during pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, it's going to be more tiring for you. Sleeping enough and giving your body the needed rest is just essential,' says Dr Veena Zaveri, consultant gynaecologist, Kohinoor Hospital, Mumbai.
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