Sleeping has got to be one of the most challenging things about being pregnant! If you're one of the lucky ones (not me) whose only worries in the first trimester were extreme fatigue and a little bloating, it's still likely that down the road you've been cursed with the same sleeping troubles as the rest of us. I've put together a list of a few things that have helped me get some good sleep so far in this pregnancy, hopefully they will help you, too!

1. Hydrate!

This may seem a little contradictory, since we all know pregnant ladies pee approximately 400 times a day. The key here is to hydrate during the day and taper off your intake of liquids by early evening. Your body will still be hydrated, but you won't need to pee 3+ times during the night! Don't stop drinking water, ever! Your body needs to stay hydrated, and you won't be able to get the rest you need if you're dehydrated. Oh yeah, and make sure you pee right before you go to bed!

2. Invest in a pregnancy pillow, like now!

One of my absolute favorite things in the world is my pregnancy pillow. If it didn't take up half the bed, I would use it every night for the rest of my life. It gives me support in all of the right places, and helps relieve a lot of the lower back and sciatic nerve pain I get from carrying a small, growing human in my belly. You can find my favorite from this pregnancy here!

3. Put your husband to work!

Even if you'd had a lazy day, your body and muscles are working twice as hard as usual. My back is my main area of pregnancy-related pain, and I always sleep a little better when I get my husband to rub my back and legs before bed. So wherever your problem area may be, ask your husband to give you a quick massage to help relieve and relax some of those tired muscles.

4. Take a bath!

This one often goes hand in hand with number 3 for me. There's not much I love more than a hot bath (not too hot though, my husband always scolds me for this)! Before bed, take a hot warm bath, and let your body and mind relax.

5. Eyemask!

This one is kind of silly, but it truly helps me get that last hour or two of sleep in the morning. I always tend to wake up a little once the sun comes up. I suppose this wouldn't be problem if you have a super dark room, but ours gets pretty bright. Whenever the sun starts to wake me up, I reach over and put on this beauty, and fall right back asleep. It's a lifesaver for me!

Hopefully you're doing all of these things already and are sleeping like a champ! If not, I hope these little tips help you get a few more hours in each night. Pregnancy is exhausting as it is, let alone when you're not able to sleep. Happy Monday!