Insomnia in Pregnancy: A Review

Insomnia during pregnancy is common, with a prevalence of 20–60% of pregnant women reporting symptoms, versus 6–10% of the non-pregnant population. Patients with preexisting conditions such as stress reactivity causing increased vulnerability toward development of sleep disorders prior to pregnancy were found to have a higher prevalence of insomnia symptoms during pregnancy. Several predisposing factors include family history, insomnia in previous pregnancies, history of mental illness, medical history, and concurrent medical conditions. Thorough clinical history and evaluation is crucial in identifying the correct diagnosis due to a wide span of differential diagnoses. Perpetuating factors largely depend on lifestyle, and adjustment of these factors should be considered when creating a treatment plan for patients experiencing insomnia symptoms during pregnancy. Finally, due to the physiological and medical changes brought on by pregnancy, causes for insomnia are often related to medical conditions which require identification and treatment to resolve insomnia symptoms.