Can Pregnancy Insomnia Result in Postpartum Anxiety?

Have you recently had a baby and are experiencing concern or nervousness? Do you remember lying awake at night while pregnant, unable to sleep? New research has come out that addresses the issue of pregnancy insomnia contributing to postpartum anxiety. Learn more about the link between these two conditions and what you can do to lessen your fears and start enjoying life as a mother.

What the Researchers Say

According to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, women who are mid-pregnancy and experiencing insomnia are at a much greater risk for developing postpartum anxiety and depression. Here’s why:

Insomnia can be brought on for various reasons, but as it pertains to pregnant women, thoughts of life changes can certainly be cause for keeping one up at night. There is also the possibility of a drop in hormones that can cause a lack of sleep during pregnancy. Sleep deprivation that continues up to the time of delivery will most likely carry over after the baby is born and as a result, lead to depression and anxiety.

How to Get the Rest You Need and Feel Better

First, understand that your body may have difficulty adjusting in the beginning. Caring for a new baby sometimes means not getting enough natural light throughout the day. It also means your body is subjected to too much light at night when waking up to take care of your infant. This can confuse your internal clock.

As a way to combat this, it’s important that you practice good sleep behaviors. This means a few things:

• Do not force sleep. It is a natural occurrence that will happen on its own. Forcing it will only make it more difficult.
• If you have trouble sleeping, find ways to relax. Reading a book or relaxing in a dimly lit room can help.
• Avoid technology before bed. The blue light that is emitted can also confuse your body, so it’s best to put it away at least two hours before you go to sleep.
• Discuss with your partner how your baby will be cared for upon arrival. If possible, try to share the nightly duties instead of allowing one individual to take all the responsibility.

If you try all of the above-mentioned tips and it still does not seem to be working, talk to a sleep dentist. It may be possible that you have some form of sleep apnea and require treatment to achieve a restful night’s sleep. There is a multitude of treatment options available that can help you achieve sleep and ultimately, improve your mood and attitude, lessening your feelings of anxiety and depression.

Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help. Finding the right method of treatment will benefit both you and your baby.

About the Author
Dr. Shelley Shults is a board-certified registered nurse, general dentist, family nurse practitioner, and dental sleep medicine practitioner, she graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing before going on to spend years working in a variety of nursing fields. In 2001, she graduated from The Ohio State University with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree before receiving her MATRx certification in sleep apnea in 2013. Dr. Shults offers a variety of solutions to help her patients achieve better sleep and improved health. To learn more, contact us at (614) 396-9310.