Hormone expert recommends eating a breakfast staple before bed to beat pregnancy insomnia

A woman’s body undergoes significant physical and emotional changes during pregnancy. While many issues are extensively discussed, some relatively trivial problems escape the notice of most. Dr. Nancy Crowell, a doctor mom who goes by @drnancycrowell on TikTok, opened up about the distress of experiencing pregnancy insomnia. She found herself waking up in the middle of the night and starving, an issue that arose only after her pregnancy. The doctor dissected the common pregnancy problem and revealed an easy bedtime snack that could solve all your sleeping woes, pregnant or not. 

Dr. Cowell pointed out that insomnia in pregnant women was common yet less talked about. “One thing that I see is very common in women is waking in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep,” she began. Meanwhile, in an overlay text on the video, she hinted that “most women” are unaware of the reason behind pregnancy insomnia. Drawing from her personal experience, Dr. Cowell recalled not having struggled with sleep before she was pregnant, but suddenly found herself starving in the middle of the night, wide awake at 2 a.m. while pregnant. 

"The thing that people don’t realize is that one of the biggest causes of insomnia, specifically waking up in the middle of the night or frequent wakeups during the night, is nocturnal hypoglycemia,” the soon-to-be mom explained. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a condition where the glucose levels in the blood drop below normal. When this happens at night, it is called nocturnal hypoglycemia. Reversing the condition, in mild cases, is easy. The expert revealed a “game changer” for pregnant women struggling with low blood sugar at night. “It is boiled eggs,” she said. Breaking down her bedtime ritual, Dr. Cowell shared that she boils a dozen eggs at a time and eats two of the hard-boiled eggs every night. 

Deviled eggs also remain an option. The idea behind consuming two eggs every night is to get those extra calories needed during pregnancy to ensure good health. “We’re not supposed to be eating for two…only be eating an extra 200 or 300 calories,” Dr. Cowell enlightened. Therefore, her diet during the day remains normal, while the eggs before bed add the extra calories to her intake. Additionally, this breakfast staple also helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels, which prevents insomnia. “It is a game-changer, highly recommend it. Pregnant or not,” the expert concluded. While most pregnant women blame their hormones for the midnight hunger pangs and insomnia, Dr. Cowell advised women to look past the stereotypes and find an efficient resolution to the recurring problem. 

The post was liked by 14,200 people, as her insights resonated with several viewers, mainly women. @ailynannette said, “Okay, so I’m not crazy! I’ve been experiencing this right now! Like, literally wake up at 2:50ish a.m. every time, starving! Still in my 1st trimester.” @kenziesoto divulged, “As a Type 1 diabetic and pregnant, try an apple before bed with peanut butter if you can. I don’t wake up hungry or with low/high blood sugar.” “I just kept a protein bar on my nightstand,” quipped @eleezabethr. 

You can follow @drnancycrowell on TikTok for more videos.