A little sleep, a little slumber… sleep is extremely important during pregnancy. That should sound like chocolate for your ears, but it’s completely true (and calorie-free). That’s why you’re so tired. In previous articles we’ve discussed the importance of listening to your body. When your body cries out, “Put me to sleep,” if at all possible, you should listen.

We’ve also talked about how your body is literally building a new human being, and creating the building blocks from the materials you give it. Sleep and nutritious food are vital materials. Why? Everything that is built requires energy. A skyscraper in process downtown may seem like it’s shooting up by itself, but it’s not magically assembling walls and levels, there are cranes lifting hundreds of pounds and expending gallons of fuel, there are men shouting and directing each other using their energy. And all of a sudden they stop. They park the cranes, quiet down, and pop open boxes and bags. Why? It’s time for a lunch break. Think of sleep during pregnancy like a lunch break in the building process. Time to replenish your energy stores.

Throughout your waking hours, your body is trying to determine who to spend energy on, you or the baby. But when you’re resting, all your energy can be devoted to the baby.

Each individual has their own requirements for sleep. We can’t simply say that humans need 8 hours or you should do this or that and refer to the entire human race. Not only do we have examples of people that seem to show us differently but we have to steer clear of this concept of bottling people into one category and treating them with the same potion. It’s a nice thought to say that we’re all created equally for democracy’s sake and for all of the peoples to work as one for communism’s sake (I had to address both so as not to offend either party, or at least to offend them both equally) but for the body, this is not true.

We know that the African is known for his ability to run forever and the Russian for his ability to be resilient. What do we do with these facts? Well, we simply put them into context. We are all the same, but we are also different. We are each unique in our own special way. We all have the same equipment from which to work and in that sense we were created equally. What we choose to do with that equipment is where we differ. The key words are, “choose to do”. We all need sleep and we need to listen to our bodies and at the same time choose how we want to address the area of sleep. In the same way we know that when we crave a french fry perhaps we’re craving a potato, when we crave sleep, we have to look at what that means in regards to how much, what kind, times, etc.

The need for sleep is an extremely complex issue, I cannot possibly say here are all of your answers, but I do hope to get you on the right track.

If you are tired, we need to look first at why you are tired. Our first conclusion can’t simply be to lie down and sleep. If we choose that route, maybe we’ll never deal with an issue than can be changed and you’ll sleep forever like Rumpelstiltskin!! Diet, activity, and sleep are intertwined with your resulting energy levels. First look at your diet. What are you eating, why are you eating it, when are you eating it, and how do you feel once you’re finished? We’ve already decided in past articles that a potato, olive oil, and sea salt are going to give you more energy than a super-sized order of french fries.

The second thing we’ll take a look at is your activity level and type. What are your days consumed with? Are you sitting all day? Are you standing all day? (Both sitting and standing for long uninterrupted intervals can lead to fatigue.) Are you at a computer for several hours? What kind of lights are in your office? (Taking breaks outdoors in natural sunlight and oxygen can give you great energy boosts.) Can you change any of these factors? Are you in a high-stress environment? How are your relationships?

The final factor we’ll look at is your sleep habits. What time are you getting to bed? How many hours of uninterrupted sleep are you getting? Do you have bedtime and wakeup routines? What are you sleeping on? Are you comfortable? What do you eat and how long before you go to bed?

In Judaism, we many times answer a question with more questions, and I’m leaving you with a lot of questions to ask yourself and to think about and not simply rote answers. For the most part we can’t just make a blanket solution for everyone reading, but can say that you can individually take a look at all of these areas and see where you stand. As frustrating as that may seem, it is of course for your best and will lead down a path with more specific and fulfilling answers for you.

I have several suggestions for a next step for those of you who are seriously looking to end a cycle of disappointing sleep and are looking to look and feel healthier and more energetic, especially if you’ve “tried everything” and still feel overwhelmingly fatigued beyond what you think is normal for a pregnant lady. Your first step could be to visit or schedule an appointment with a sleep expert, dietitian, or even psychologist. Another option is to contact us here and ask about specific concerns. We’ll try to field and address those questions in their order and as soon as possible.

For those of you in the Dallas, Texas area, feel free to contact me and set up an appointment for personal training and we’ll address a lot of these issues. For those of you not in the Dallas area, I have limited availability for online and telephone coaching that can help you personally if you find that some of the broader answers do not address your concern.

Lastly, if you are having difficulty locating someone in your area that can help, please also contact us and we’ll try to find someone for you in your area to help you get on your path to a healthier and more fulfilling life of rest and enjoyment!!!