Last Updated on 15 October 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Pregnancy can produce a range of symptoms and the 3rd trimester can particularly impact getting quality sleep. The fact is that the majority of women develop sleep impairments during pregnancy,(1) with statistics showing that over 75% of pregnant women experience insomnia, non-refreshing sleep and frequent awakenings during both the 2nd and 3rd trimester. (2) From bad dreams and nightmares to backache and Restless Legs Syndrome, sleep disturbance in pregnancy can be supported with complementary treatments including massage, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine.
Dream Baby
A study showed that 3rd trimester pregnant women reported more bad dreams, overall lower sleep quality and more night awakenings. (1) It’s somewhat natural to feel apprehensive in late-stage pregnancy about the impending birth and arrival of a newborn which can contribute to the nature of dreams. Anxiety, stress and tension are powerful psychological mechanisms impacting sleep duration and quality, especially in first-time mothers. (3) Emphasising the need for better sleep hygiene, findings support avoiding physically, emotionally, or cognitively arousing activities before bedtime, especially during pregnancy. (4) Supporting a healthy stress response, nervous system support and relaxation techniques can help to reduce poor sleep quality, with massage being high on the list of solutions for better sleep.
Baby Bumps and Backaches
Massage of course has a multitude of benefits beyond better sleep. Pregnancy-induced hormonal and physiologic changes increase the risk of musculoskeletal problems in pregnancy,(5) while the application of therapies such as acupuncture and massage can be a helpful aid in improving comfort levels. One of the most frequent musculoskeletal complaints reported during pregnancy is low back pain experienced most in the 3rd trimester. (5) As belly size increases, body repositioning difficulties affect sleep continuity. (3) Side-lying positions in massage can help to get acquainted with better comfort levels as you adjust your sleeping style to accommodate your growing baby.
Restless sleep due to Restless Legs Syndrome
Sleep disturbance may be the result of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a neurosensory disorder that typically begins in the evening and often prevents a person from falling asleep. (6) During pregnancy, up to 26% of women can be affected (7) with the highest severity occurring in the 3rd trimester. (8) In RLS, uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations involve an urge to move the legs, often worse during periods of rest or inactivity such as sitting or lying down and relieved by movement such as walking or stretching. (9)
Obviously contributing to poor sleep quality, RLS is definitely on your Naturopath’s radar. Nutrient deficiencies can play a role, with iron and other vitamin and mineral deficiencies found to be risk factors. (9) RLS can be an indicator of additional medical problems – especially if associated with iron deficiency – as well as night cramps, and excessive daytime sleepiness. (9) The Livewell Naturopaths can prescribe therapeutic dosing of nutrients to suit your individual needs, contributing to improved sleep quality and help to manage RLS.
Rest is Best
The fact is, sleep may not be perfect by the time you reach the 3rd trimester but seeking ways to improve sleep quality and quantity is worthwhile. Some daytime fatigue is also common, for example, more than 75% of women report a need to nap during pregnancy. (2) Making time for adequate daytime rest and practising good sleep hygiene can pay dividends. Guided relaxation exercises have been shown to be effective in improving sleep quality (10) and breathing techniques are a perfect addition to prepare your body and mind for childbirth.
It’s always best to report sleep and energy complaints to your healthcare providers to help determine what is “normal”. When in doubt, seek a second opinion and complementary treatments. Pregnancy is truly the time to seek guidance and support and here at Brisbane Livewell Clinics, we are always honoured to be part of your pregnancy journey!
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Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Brisbane
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
Hormone Health and Thyroid Issues
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Naturopathic Thyroid Specialist Near Me
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
Weight Loss
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Other relevant links
External References
Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomised Controlled Trial PLOS ONE
Global Naturopathy Research as Reflected by Scopus (2000–2019) – Emerald Insight
Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease – PubMed
Global Strategy for Traditional and Complementary Medicine – World Health Organization (WHO)
Naturopathy for Mental Health: Approaches to Anxiety and Depression – Journal of Integrative Medicine
Naturopathic Research Resources – World Naturopathic Federation
World Naturopathic Federation – Naturopathic Research Resources
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies – Overview of International Naturopathic Practice and Patient Characteristics
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Evidence-Based Naturopathy for Chronic Disease Management
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine – Naturopathic Research Capacity in Clinical Practice
PubMed – Clinical Evidence for Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease
World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy
Journal of Integrative Medicine – Naturopathic Approaches to Anxiety and Depression
National University of Health Sciences – Resources for Naturopathic Research
Cambridge Media Journals – Naturopathy in Clinical Practice Guidelines
The American Journal of Medicine – The Integration of Naturopathy in Chronic Disease Management
External Resources
– National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
– Australian Government: Department of Health
– World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional Medicine
– National Institutes of Health (NIH) – MedlinePlus: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
– Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM)
– British Medical Journal (BMJ) Complementary Medicine
– Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
– University of Sydney – Complementary Medicine Research
– Australian College of Natural Medicine
– Natural and Traditional Medicine Program at the Australian National University