Insomnia in pregnancy - what can I take?

[aelita]

My insomnia's heading for the 'chronic' definition now, but I've been unable to find a remedy I can take while pregnant. Passiflora and Valerian seem to be out, as are Kalms. Does anybody know of anything non-prescription I can try (other than milky drinks, warm baths and lavender!)

[oops]

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[aelita]

Hello oops - yes, I've been using the lavender, but to no avail. It's my second pregnancy too (DS1 is 19 months) and the sleeplessness is much worse than last time...wretched, isn't it?

[orangina]

Poor you! I had dreadful insomnia when I was pg, to the extent that having the baby was a total joy, not just in terms of finally meeting our fab dd, but that I slept properly for the 1st time in 9 months.... night feeds? pah, who cares! At least I fell fast asleep straight afterwards...!

Slightly alarmed to read that passiflora and valerian are out, as I'm sure I took both of those while I was pg, not that they helped much.... I even went to my gp in desperation and he prescribed me sleeping pills; i remember I went back home triumphant clutching these pills thinking that at last i might be able to sleep... but no, I fell asleep no problem (never was), but at 1:30, 2am... ping! Awake again. In the end, I found that taking a bach's flower remedy for exhaustion due to nchronic sleep deprivation (I think it was oak, you might have to check) helped. Also, naps worked, but they weren't easy as I was working v. much full time... I found I was able to get quite good sleep between about 4-7pm (figure that one out!), otherwise at night the best thing that helped was being gently bored to sleep by the World Service on the radio... really good luck.
ps: have you tried acupuncture?

[aelita]

I'll check out the Bach remedy - might also give Neal's Yard a call and see if they can suggest anything. Acupuncture I hadn't thought of..might speak to the doc, thanks!
I work from home, but even daytime naps have gone to the wall now! I used to be the catnap master, but no more...

[oops]

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[Papillon]

Listen to music through headphones at a very quiet level.. something that you like which is soothing - might help you drift off.

Are you thirsty at night? That can make you wake up lots. Practise placing you tongue on the roof of your mouth, mouth closed when going to sleep (its a Hatha yoga technique). This habit (like it has for me) may soon continue in your sleep... I used to drink 4 times a night at least but now it is once or last night managed whole night - simply because of this exercise. The idea of trying to breath through your eyes rather than through your nose helps breathing. Its the sensation of breathing through the top of your nose than from the bottom.

I keep a water bottle next to my bed so don't have to get up or spill anything.

Is there anything you can pinpoint as to why you don't sleep.. overactive mind? restless legs etc? or bed too hard or soft... I slept terribly until recently, our bed was too hard, I now sleep on several large pillows all contained by a sheet.

Another thing! Try taking a journey into sleep.. like telling yourself a story and allow it too unfold naturally... I often drift off in a lucid dream state.

All these things have helped me sleep better good luck with rest of pregnancy and no. 2 baby. Its no. 2 for my also.

[sarjon]

Not sure if this will help you or not but my mum swears by eating an ice gem lettuce before she goes to bed. It has to be really fresh as apparently they contain a very mild opium related substance (not dangerous obviously!!!) which will aid sleep. Look here

She had tried both all the other natural sleeping tablets and ones from the dr for her insomnia but this is what worked the best for her.

HTH, Good luck!!

[Papillon]

that is fascinating sarjon - I am off to buy a tonne of the stuff tomorrow for me and dh

[expatinscotland]

I was prescribed a low dose of diazapem for mine. I tried ALL the non-drug stuff. Am just waiting for my consult on 4 September to see how else my anxiety and depression can be treated.

[aelita]

Thanks for all the interesting tips - it's taken me a while to be able to check back to them! I'm no having no trouble getting off to sleep when I first go to bed, but I awake very easily, and getting back off again is the tricky bit. Wakeful, teething DS and snoring DH are the triggers, usually!