A news report from Live Science examines how and why pregnancy affects sleep.

Similar to the advice that a pregnant woman should be “eating for two,” health professionals should also be emphasizing the importance of “sleeping for two” during prenatal visits, Lee told Live Science.

One reason is that pregnancy can affect both the quantity of sleep a woman gets as well as the quality of it.

As their body changes and pregnancy discomforts make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep, mothers-to-be should spend at least eight hours in bed each night so they can get at least seven hours of sleep, Lee recommended.

Researchers have found that not getting enough sleep during pregnancy could affect a woman in ways that go beyond feeling exhausted during the day, irritability and poor concentration.

View the full story at www.livescience.com