Sleep in the third trimester

Sleeping comfortably
Pregnant woman sleepingWatch this video to find out how to sleep comfortably with your bump.
As your baby's birth gets closer, you may find that a good night's sleep is only a hazy memory. It's normal for your sleep to get worse in the third trimester (Murray and Hassall 2009). And if this is the case for you, you're not alone. More than half of pregnant women rate their sleep as poor (Facco et al 2010) at this time.

Why can’t I get comfortable?

By the third trimester, your bump is simply too big to allow you to lie down comfortably. Try sleeping on your left side with pillows wedged between your legs and behind your back.

In the final four to six weeks, if you really can't get comfy in bed, you may find you get your best rest propped up in a comfy chair or sofa instead.

Why do I keep needing the loo again?

Remember your early pregnancy days, when it seemed as though you spent more time in the loo than out of it? Well, here we are again. This time it's thanks to your growing baby, who's putting pressure on your bladder (DH 2009).

You can try to reduce the number of night-time trips to the loo by cutting back on drinks in the evening (Murray and Hassall 2009). And make sure you completely empty your bladder on each trip to the loo by leaning forward when you wee.

What else might disturb my sleep?

You may find your sleep interrupted by a whole host of pregnancy niggles. These can include:
Although you can ease some of these disturbances, it's likely that you will have to endure a few sleepless nights. Think of this time as a dress rehearsal for life after your baby is born!

Will lack of sleep harm my baby?

No. Sleeplessness is very common in the late stages of pregnancy, but it won’t harm your baby (NHS 2011).

However, it can make you feel run down and exhausted. It's also possible that a severe lack of sleep in the last few weeks of pregnancy can mean a longer labour. Severe sleep deprivation may also increase your chances of having a caesarean section (Murray and Hassall 2009).

Listen to your body and rest when you can. If you can't sleep at night, it's fine to take naps to catch up during the day. See our tips for getting a good night’s sleep during pregnancy.



Journal of Psychopharmacology 0(0):1-25. [Accessed April 2011]

Facco FL, Kramer J, Ho KH, et al. 2010. Sleep disturbances in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Jan;115(1):77-83


NHS. 2011. Common pregnancy health problems: Sleeplessness. NHS pregnancy care planner. [Accessed May 2011]

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Terrible insomnia, polyuria.. Ahhh cnt wait.. Week 30 today..
Just to let you know ladies I might have an answer for you, this is my second pregnancy I suffer with back pains and lower stomach pains in my pregnancies I tried few body bolsters which we're waste of time, but eventually I bought one U pillow from website very affordable and it's a God sent, I can sleep at night like a baby.
I can't sleep at night at all if I lie on my left side I get a dead leg and pins and needles so then turn to my right side and half an hour later the same happens so I am constantly tossing and turning
why in pregnancy ley down in left side.....
Me too! Can't sleep the whole night...

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