Q&A: I want to know how much lack of sleep can harm the development of my baby since I work a lot.

Many women, unfortunately, have to work during their pregnancies, but working 40+ hours and every other Saturday shouldn't rule out 8 hours of sleep a night. What else might be going on? Other kids with homework, social visits, movies, etc.? It's difficult to put the things you actually like behind work in priority, but because you have to work, you should take inventory on how you spend the rest of your time. Stress won't hurt a baby. Adult life is nothing but! And the stress will only increase after delivery, as you lose your automatic babysitter (your womb).

Pregnancy is difficult anyway, but if you're a single expectant mom, then this is doubly hard, and it's easy to fantasize how much easier life would be without working. But this is real adulthood...doing only what you can as best you can. If you're married, a frank discussion with your husband will help delineate some tasks to get you a better sleep schedule.