One year ago today I had my 40 week visit with my midwife. I was in so much pain from pelvic symphysis that my midwife said we needed to schedule a induction date – we chose December 21, the latest date that she would be available to attend my birth before traveling for the holidays. I was so upset by the thought of an induction that I spent the entire day in a hazy, depressed fog, researching natural induction techniques. Even though I’d slept poorly the night before, I didn’t nap.
As I was getting ready for bed that night, one year ago today, totally exhausted from a very long and mentally exhausting day, labor began. And it didn’t just begin. It BEGAN. I rocked that labor for 34 straight hours. 34 hours that started from a point of exhaustion. I don’t recommend it.
So if you’re due soon, were due last week and are still waiting, or might be due any time in the future, do your body a huge favor and take a nap. If you’re not naturally a napper, start at the end of your pregnancy and just take a little snoozer in the afternoon, or straight away when you get home from work.
I’m kicking my shoes off right now and cozying in for a nap, ya know, to make up for the one I missed last year.
Were you a napper during your pregnancy? Do you wish you’d taken more naps now that your little one is here?
watermelon / 14206 posts
I’m almost 27 weeks and I nap ALL the time. I’ve been tired my entire pregnancy. I nap most days, and when I don’t, my cats are confused as to why I’m not napping, lol. Before this pregnancy, I never napped, and I wasn’t this tired with my first.
GOLD / pear / 1845 posts
I napped all the time and slept longer at night. Growing a baby is hard work! (especially with pelvic symphysis)
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I have to work until 39 weeks so no napping yet! I hope she stays in for a while after I am done so that I can be well rested for labor.
coconut / 8279 posts
A year ago today was the day before my due date. I had been on very strict bedrest since week 37 for pre-e and was just given my induction date of 12/16. I remember being so excited over the next 48 hours that I couldn’t really sleep. Had I known I’d never sleep like I could’ve then for the next year, I probably would’ve tried harder to take a nap
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Andrea: I worked on the day I went into labor and then I was frustrated that I used up two full days of my maternity leave in labor. Kind of silly in hindsight…
guest
I appreciate this post so much! I’m 40+2 today and as of my appointment yesterday making very little progress
I’m feeling pressured (by myself) to naturally get things going to avoid induction next week … But I think ill take your advice and take a nap first 
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
I’m a nap champion, I’ve loved to nap for as long as I can remember. I agree, pregnant mamas, take a nap!
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
I was a champion napper during pregnancy, but my skills have tapered off now that the baby is here. I just can’t turn my brain off as easily as before- hoping that improves as be gets older!!
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
I wish I had taken a nap before going to the hospital!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
That’s good advice!
honeydew / 7504 posts
Great advice. I’ve always been a terrible napper, but at 36 weeks am starting to find it coming more naturally to me!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Mrs. Tricycle: Ugh, I remember this so well. I was always ready for a nap right around 6pm. He would nap then too, but my mom was in town helping for the first month and she would have made dinner for us, so I could only take a short nap.
coconut / 8498 posts
I wish I had napped more! BTW, I think we delivered with the same practice
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I napped all the time (I don’t think that would be an option w/ #2), but it really made all the difference!
@Mrs. Stroller: I can’t believe your baby is a year! He’s such a cutie!!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
I was a terrible napper and had insomnia at night while pregnant – I really wish I had slept more b/c I’m even more tired now!
guest
The same thing happened to me! I was a week and 3 days late and the day I went into labor I had two appointments that day and didn’t get to nap. I also stayed up late to watch a football game. I don’t recommend it! The one day you don’t get a nap will be the day you start labor.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
Oh yeah, I napped A LOT with my first b/c I had headaches often and that was the only way it would go away. I didn’t want to take anything. With my second I napped whenever my oldest was napping and it helped. I really needed it b/c I was so exhausted hanging out with him all day long. By my third trimester I needed a break so I enrolled him in preschool at 2.5-years-old. Boy was that the best thing I did for myself and for my oldest. I was able to get a few hours of “me” time twice a week and he was able to interact with more kids his own age. Sometimes that “me” time was just relaxing on the sofa catching up on my shows. I should have been napping but I figured I could do that in the afternoon when he napped. Now with two, I can only nap when they are both napping. And most times by the time I’m done doing what I need to do w/o any interruption one of them wakes up. I try to take even a 10 minute nap and, boy, does it makes a big difference than not napping at all.
pomegranate / 3980 posts
Oh goodness I can relate a little. With my first daughter my labor began after getting up at 3am to go Black Friday shopping and then I was in labor for 48 hours! I probably sould have slept more, now I wish napping was an option.
persimmon / 1205 posts
I’m not a napper, but working while I was pregnant was tough and I soooo needed to nap! After the baby came, I didn’t like to nap and only took a few very early on. They make me feel worse usually, so I typically avoid a nap and just go to bed early. I’m odd with not liking to nap, I know.
olive / 56 posts
I nap as often as i can. Which is a good thing, because at 25+ weeks I’m starting to hit the point where I’m not sleeping great at night.
Will keep this in mind esp as I hit the 3rd trimester