Getting a good night's sleep Sleep can become more and more elusive as pregnancy progresses and your uterus gets bigger. Try these tips to help you make it through the night: • Avoid sleeping flat on your back after mid-pregnancy. Sleep on your side with your knees bent and a pillow tucked between your legs. Some women prefer full body pillows that they can snuggle around. • Although the left side is best, it's fine to alternate between your left and right during the night to stay comfortable. (And don't worry if you happen to find yourself on your back when you wake up.) • Prop up your head and chest with extra pillows or even try sleeping semi-upright in a comfy recliner if heartburn and indigestion are keeping you awake. • Wear sleepwear that's loose around your abdomen and waist. • Avoid drinking fluids a few hours before bed to cut down on night-time bathroom trips. • Consider having a small snack before bed if hunger wakes you up in the middle of the night.

Once nausea is a thing of the past, your appetite will increase and you may notice that you have fewer food aversions, making it easier to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. You may also have cravings for specific foods during pregnancy. What to do if you crave things that aren't exactly nutritious? Don't deny yourself the occasional treat, but try to eat fruit, vegetables, protein-rich foods, and other healthy foods first, before you reach for anything with empty calories. And try not to let yourself get voraciously hungry. Skipping meals is a bad idea under normal circumstances and is an even worse idea during pregnancy. Among other things, it can affect your blood sugar, lead to dizziness and irritability, and set the stage for binge eating when you finally do get the chance to have a meal. Your best bet is to shoot for three meals and two snacks a day.

• Oranges ? Steak? Pizza? Pickles and ice cream? What kinds of foods do you crave most?

You may have heard that you should avoid lying on your back during your last two trimesters. Here's why: When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can partially compress a major vein (called the inferior vena cava) that returns blood from the lower half of your body to your heart. Lying on your side (or even tilted just a bit to the side), particularly your left side, prevents this compression and improves your blood flow. Try placing a pillow behind you or under one hip for comfort.