Key Takeaway:

Sleep affects your ability to get pregnant, your risk of pregnancy complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, and how well your body recovers after birth.

Sample facts and insights:

• The quality of your sleep influences the quality of your eggs.

• Sleep issues are highly common but often overlooked in pregnancy. Nearly 80% of pregnant women experience sleep disruptions, and about 1 in 4 meet the criteria for a diagnosable sleep disorder like insomnia or sleep apnea. Many aren’t told these symptoms matter or that they can be addressed.¹

• How you sleep matters more than you might think. Sleeping on your back after 20 weeks can reduce blood flow to the placenta. Shifting to your side especially your left can improve circulation and lower the risk of late-term complications.³

• Sleep can influence pregnancy outcomes. Poor sleep in late pregnancy is associated with longer labor, increased rates of cesarean delivery, and higher likelihood of gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.⁴

• Improving sleep now sets you up for postpartum recovery. Better sleep in pregnancy is linked to more stable mood, lower risk of postpartum depression, and greater emotional resilience during one of life’s most demanding transitions.⁵