If you are pregnant, then you might want start making sure that you are getting sufficient good quality sleep.

Why?

Because research has found that insufficient and poor quality sleep during pregnancy can bring about many problems for the mother-to-be and her off-spring.

A May 2014 study in the journal Diabetes reported that pregnant mice that experienced interrupted sleep during their 3rd trimester gave birth to off-springs that had greater middle-age weight-gain, poorer insulin tolerance (i.e. a higher risk of type-2 diabetes), as well as higher cholesterol levels.

A 2011 study in the journal Sleep found that the risk of preterm birth increased in pregnant women who experienced sleep disruptions in their first and third trimester. The link between premature birth and sleep disturbances were also found by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in a 2013 article in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Besides increasing your risk of premature labour and unhealthy off-springs, poor sleep during your pregnancy lowers your immunity and increases your susceptibility to infectious diseases, including the fetus-threatening rubella and measles. Poor sleep can also increase your blood pressure, which could endanger both you and your unborn baby’s life.

So if you are pregnant, and not getting enough good quality sleep, it might be time you do something to improve your sleep.

References
(1) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140516092305.htm
(2) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101095304.htm
(3) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130717164725.htm
(4) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/07/no-nonsense-guide-to-a-naturally-healthy-pregnancy-and-baby.aspx

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at All 4 Natural Health.com.