Insomnia - O Fallon,MO

I would read something REALLY boring...find the most boring thing you can think of. A textbook maybe. Just keep reading until you can't take it anymore! LOL! Good luck!

I had a touch of insomnia with my third pregnancy, sme as you I had no trouble falling asleep, but one late night/ early AM stroll to the bathroom and I could be wide awake for hours. A couple of things that helped me at different times...a hot cup of decaf tea, soothing music, adding some pillows to my bed ( I tried a really expensive pregnancy pillow, but honestly the pillow that became the one I couldn't sleep w/o was the cheapest king size pillow I could find = ), I slept on my side and used it to prop my leg up or if i was on my back I could fold it in half so my feet were elevated)
Also find a pregnancy yoga dvd, I was skeptical at first as I had never done any yoga before I got pregnant, but it was very relaxing.

Lots of luck! If you can't get back to sleep at the very least have some good books on hand! ( I think I memorized the baby name book!)
I know there are safe sleep aids, I just never felt comfortable taking any kind of medication than was absolutely necesary while I was pregnant or nursing.

B.

Well it is all apart of pregnancy.It's true.I'm currently on my 3rd pregnancy and 28 weeks having another Girl and am going through this right now it does come and go but as for me the farther along the worse it gets so I use Benadryl before bedtime to get some solid few hrs of sleep and it helps when baby is on my nerves which effects my back and causes resltless leg syndrome.So if I were you it does help to take Benadryl and it is ok to use during pregnancy talk to your dr at your next appt and see if he will recommend that for you as well.As for helping take a warm bath before no caffeine if that effects you and limit your sugar intake in the evening after meals you could read or listen to music to help relax you but it is your hormones that will keep you up at nite.Good Luck in your pregnancy

I was a lot like you...up at 3 am and couldn't go back to bed or god forbid...I started sleepwalking. It's safe for you to take 1 Unisom tablet at night. After I did that I was out for the whole night and no more sleepwalking.

As for the not being comfortable...have you gotten one of the body pillows? I would put the bottom between my legs and the top just under my belly when I was laying on my side and it worked like a charm.

As for getting some sleep, absolutely DO NOT watch TV in bed...that will only keep you up! I found doing something repetitive was really the key for me...something that didn't really need your brain (I called it idiot work). I would assemble things for my son's Preschool class (Oriental Trading type crafts) but if you knit, crochet or sew that would do the trick. You want to do something repetitive and essentially boring so that it tires your brain instead of getting it to think and process information.

I don't necessarily have any advice but was in the exact same position with my second pregnancy so I understand your frustrations! My best suggestion would be to find some relaxation techniques (like breathing, counting, or visualization) to help. My seem to get better from about weeks 20-30 but returned at then end...I hope you have better luck! Also, talk with you doctor he/she may be able to help you.

Have you tried a little benadryl. I believe if I remember correctly you can take benadryl if you have tried that then you might want to talk to your ob doc he might be able to give you some advice. Best of luck to you

I had this with both pregnancies too (I have a 2 1/2 year old and a one year old). Just like you described, I'd go right to sleep, but then be up all night. I also work, so it sucked, but I did get all caught up on General Hospital through Soap Net. ha. I also read a lot of online celebrity gossip! I know it's not funny to you at all right now........

Both pregnancies my husband and I ended up sleeping in separate beds because his "snoring" (which in retrospect may have been breathing) drove me crazy..... it was awful and so, so frustrating.

I hate to tell you, I never figured out a solution....but the plus side (always a silver lining...) was that when my babies arrived, I never had too much trouble being up late, getting up in the night, etc because it was such a relief to actually have a reason to be up - ha. I had gotten used to living with so little sleep - and the relief of actually just going to sleep and staying asleep until they woke me up was wonderful -
In a way, I felt like when I brought babies home from the hospital - it was the best nights sleep I had had in months....... ridiculous!

Good luck and hang in there!!!

I was in the same situation when I was pregnant and what helped me was to take deep breaths and count backwards from 100. Each breath was one count: inhale, exhale/100; inhale, exhale/99, etc. There were some night when I did this three times in a row, but usually it didn't take so long. It's a challenge to keep other thoughts out of your mind and focus on your breathing and counting. I hope this is of some help to you - good luck!

Something that is supposed to work is trying to stay awake. Like the knitting suggestion. You're trying so hard to fall asleep, and you worry about the fact that you can't, so it just fuels the insomnia. If you shift the focus to something else and try to stay awake - I just want to finish three more rows on this scarf, I just want to finish one more chapter in this book, etc. - you're body will relax on it's own. At least that's if you can trick your mind into really believing you want to stay up. :) Good luck! Hang in there! Merry Christmas!

Hi C.,

Been there dear and I remember the frustration.

I began using a Sleep Easy Mist from Daisy Blue Naturals. You can spray it on your linens, your clothes, and even your skin. Helps the mind settle down so you can drift off to sleep. Works great to settle down kids too or scare off the monsters under the bed! I have also used with success Bulgarian Lavender Essential Oil from Daisy Blue Naturals, www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com.

Sounds like you may be over stressed and your mind is trying to deal with it all. You need to find a way to de-stress before bedtime. Here are a few other suggestions: journaling, meditating, yoga (yep you can do it while pregnant), talking with someone (I know a great gal that will get to the deep down hidden issue if you are interested in resolving it. She works over the phone and has made a huge difference in how I view myself and life! Highly recommend), walking, etc.

I hope you try a few of the suggestions. Take care!

Merry Christmas!

Best Wishes,

J. Hobbs
Daisy Blue Naturals
www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com

Ask your doctor if it is ok for you to take Valerian? I think that is the name of it. It is an herb that is supposed to relax you. I have trouble going back to sleep when I wake up too but this seems to help a little. If getting your mind to shut down so you can relax has anything to do with your not being able to sleep.

Pillows, pillows, and MORE Pillows!!!!! Also, warm milk and Turkey have Tryptophan in them and help you sleep. That's why all the men fall asleep on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner, LOL!!! Good luck :)

Can you talk to a naturopathic doctor or someone at a healthfood store to recommend a supplement or herb you can take that is safe with pregnancy?

I just saw an add in a health food magazine for Restalex pm from Windmill Health Products. It says it is supposed to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. It's all natural and non-habit forming. I would make sure it's ok to take during pregnancy though. If not, I'm sure there is something else natural you can take that is ok during pregnancy.

Also, lavender essential oil is supposed to help relax the mind. You can buy a mist that you can spray when having trouble relaxing.

When I had this problem while pregnant, I would drink a cup of warm milk when I couldn't sleep, and I figured out the perfect configuration which included a body pillow I'd hold in front of me (I think I dipped it sort of under my big belly and also between my legs), and a smaller pillow behind my back which would sort of "lock" me into place. Otherwise I'd slowly roll back, and once again be uncomfortable. They sell some sort of crazy looking pregnancy pillow that I'd stare at, at the store and dream of having :) But it was like at least $50, so I couldn't justify it. If you've got extra $$, I'd try it out.

ugh, I totally inderstand what you are going through! I had a terrible time sleeping when I was pregnant. It's exhausting.
If it's being uncomfortable, try sleeping on the couch, with your back wedged into the back of the couch. It took just enough pressure off my back for me to feel comfortable.
It was also stress for me, and I did my best to clear my mind.
If that doesn't help talk to your OB. She may have something you can take if it gets really bad.
Good luck, and hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

I think there is a sleep-aid you can get over-the-counter that is safe to use during pregnancy. Tylenol PM or Unisom... but I'm not sure. Ask your doc before using. It's a part of pregnancy, unfortunately. I didn't have this problem with my first, but I'm struggling with it off and on this time around. I feel your pain.

Though I wish I had advice, I don't...I just wanted you to know you are not alone. It is 3:20 in the morning, I have been awake now for over an hour, my 11 month old will be up in 3 hours max, and I am 29 weeks pregnant. To the extent you can stop drinking earlier in the night to limit the bathroom wake-ups, that might help...otherwise, know that it ends soon enough. Good luck!

Definetly check with your Dr. first, but my friend used to take Benedryll (however you spell it) to help her why pregnant. I think your Dr might be able to perscribe you something. Also I know the melatonin supplement helps, but not sure if you can take it why pregnant. You could also try some warm chicken broth, or eat something with chicken/turkey as the poultry helps you go to sleep.... Best of luck

Hi,

I suffered with insomnia for many years. I would sleep maybe 3 hours, 4 hours at the most. It had gotten so bad; I had run off the road several times coming home from work. I started taking Extra strength Excedrin to help me stay awake in the afternoon at work and to get home safely. Tylenol PM made me very groggy in the mornings. So I couldn’t take it and be able to function at work.
It is now no longer an issue. You really need to hear what has worked for me. It may not be for you. But you really owe it to yourself to find out about it.
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Have a great day.

M. & Sonny

I honestly believe our bodies do this to prepare for when baby is here. To get you used to functioning on little sleep and able to be wide awake for those feedings. Sorry I don't have a solution. Who ever said enjoy your sleep before baby comes was sadly mistaken...its enjoy your sleep before you get pregnant!!!!! Good luck!