Sleep isn’t always easy to come by when you’re 1st trimester insomnia . Between morning sickness, frequent trips to the bathroom and even that creepy-crawly feeling in your legs known as restless leg syndrome, it’s often difficult to get a full night of rest. But sleep is important during pregnancy, and the good news is that most women find that their insomnia during the first trimester passes relatively quickly — and it’s completely safe for both you and your baby.

During the first trimester, your sleeping pattern is impacted mainly by rising levels of progesterone. This hormone can cause a disruption in the normal sleep cycle and reduce REM sleep, which is important for dreaming and memory processing. It can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can keep you awake.

Surviving the First Trimester: Dealing with Insomnia and Sleep Disruptions

In addition, heightened anxiety over the baby’s health, financial concerns and work or living situations can interfere with your sleep. So can rhinitis (swelling of the nasal membranes), which causes trouble breathing and can lead to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

If your insomnia in the first trimester persists, try taking a nap during the day or talk to your doctor about medication. But remember that a good night’s sleep will be worth it in the end! And the best thing to do is hang in there. Your little one will be here before you know it, and that will make all of the tossing and turning worth it. Just take it one sleepless night at a time!