Health

During pregnancy women experience so many physical changes in their bodies. Not only is there a little baby growing inside you, but such physical changes can lead to the development of sleep disturbances, or exacerbate pre-existing sleep conditions. Fatigue and the presence of sleep disturbances are amongst the more frequent and persistent complaints reported by pregnant women; more than 80% experience insomnia symptoms at some point during pregnancy, and more than 75% complain of disturbed sleep and a great desire to nap during the day, with the highest prevalence of disturbances occurring in the third trimester. The principles of good…

I may be a sleep expert, but during my first pregnancy, even I found it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. So when it came to expecting my second child, I was determined to do everything in my power to ensure I got a better night’s rest; not least because this time round I had a toddler to deal with, too! Here’s what I learnt: Pregnancy is a unique, short-lived state that is associated with profound changes in your body that can lead to the development of sleep disturbances, or exacerbates pre-existing sleep conditions. Sleep disturbances and fatigue are…

Preparing for Sleep It is unrealistic expecting to go from full speed to a standstill without slowing down first. You should prepare for sleep by giving your body the right signals. It takes time to produce the sleep neurotransmitters needed by the brain’s sleep centre to release the hormones that will allow you to sleep. Reducing stimulation in the evening before going to bed boosts the production of sleep hormones. Your body and mind need the opportunity to slowly de-stress and relax, so consider the following pre-bed ritual. 1. Turn Off the Tech It is tempting to check your phone…

Countless books, articles and blogs are dedicated to advising you on how to improve your career prospects and salary, but few if any of these include in their tips for the top “get an early night”. Furthermore, the prevailing work culture suggests that staying in the office past midnight, sending emails late into the night, and pushing on into the early hours when a deadline is looming, mark you out as a dedicated employee, ripe for promotion and a decent pay rise. However, clinical studies consistently show that insufficient sleep has important negative impacts on daytime performance. Many simple and…