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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Wide awake at 4am. Why? What helps?

32 replies

jenga079 · 05/05/2011 04:51

For the third time this week I've ended up on the sofa after tossing and turning for over two hours. Why? Why does our body do this to us?!

I just want a good night's sleep! Any ideas?

OP posts:

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flamegirl77 · 05/05/2011 04:55

None, wish I had some! Good luck for some zzzs before morning!

jenga079 · 05/05/2011 05:09

It sucks doesn't it? I'm loving pregnancy generally. Love my bump. Love the kicks. Love knowing LO is happily growing away inside me. Hate the insomnia, indigestion & worries! I'm seeing the midwife in a few hours so will see if she has any words of wisdom, though I suspect I'll get the 'getting you used to sleepless nights' line.

OP posts:

MrsVidic · 05/05/2011 06:03

I was woke up by (I kid you not Dp breaking wind) at 5 and cantget back to sleep as it feels like the baby is on my nerve to my leg! Good job I went to bed at 830!
It is horrible and to be honest I slept and felt better post birth last time

JenniL1977 · 05/05/2011 06:07

I was up far too early as well, kicking from LO and DH snoring and cat wailing do not add up to quality nights! It sucks, doesn't it.

Hi MrsV :)

missp2010 · 05/05/2011 06:16

I've been awake since four as well. Woke up for a wee, went back to bed, couldn't sleep and then DD came in to our bed. I've given up my fight for the duvet. I am not pleased, looking after DD's friend today too. Not sure I have the energy for three kids today.

gembeam · 05/05/2011 09:46

Tea, crumpets and 30-60 minutes of BBC World News usually sends me back to sleep! Have never got back to sleep without eating something

Booboostoo · 05/05/2011 10:07

Me too! I seem to sleep in 4 hourly intervals! 4 hours of sleep, 2 awake thoughout the night and day!

Zimbah · 05/05/2011 10:14

I'm up every night for 1-2 hours, sometime between 2-5am. Usually get up, have a bowl of cereal, watch some quiet tv or surf internet then go back to bed when I can't keep my eyes open. Annoying and tiring but better than lieing in bed trying to get back to sleep for hours and getting frustrated. Sometimes I even manage a bit of tidying but usually I can't be bothered and I don't want to wake myself up even more. i don't mind if I'm up early enough that I can get back to sleep for at least an hour before DD wakes up, but if I don't get back to bed till 6 then she wakes at 7 it's a killer.

NewMummy5July2011 · 05/05/2011 10:38

I find I sleep for a couple of hours then wake up, sleep for a couple of hours then wake up. I find getting up, going to the loo, having a snack or glass of milk helps. I also found just accepting it worked wonders - I used to get really angry and frustrated by the lack of sleep, and since I've stopped worrying so much about how many hours I did / didn't get, I find I actually sleep better and feel better.

Hope you get some zzz's soon - and if you do come up with a magic cure please do share!

BritinUSA · 05/05/2011 14:04

Thank ladies for sharing. It's nearly 8.00am here in the US and I've had another night of sleep, wake, sleep wake. This has been going on for months (I'm 26 weeks!) so have a little way to go. Nothing to do with size as I'm not that big yet (that will come later) more to do with what is going on in my head. Wouldn't you like to just be able to turn it off sometimes? I really like NewMummy5July's post - accepting this is the status quo for now has got to be better than fighting it! And of course those famous four words which mean a lot more now "this too shall pass!" Even though it is no fun for all of us, it does make you feel a bit better knowing you are not alone in this.

shefliesthrutheair · 05/05/2011 14:05

completely normal, and you won't get rid of it until baby is 6 months old :-)

BritinUSA · 05/05/2011 14:15

Hi there shefliesthrutheair - so not 'fighting it' is definitely the way to go. Otherwise I'm going to be very frustrated for a long time!

shefliesthrutheair · 05/05/2011 14:19

heheh yes... after giving birth it'll still be your baby waking you up around 3/4 in the morning! Maybe it's nature's way of preparing you

I used to read (or even get up and watch a bit of tv) and kept a snack beside my bed as that seemed to help too. If I really needed to go back to sleep I'd get up and brush my teeth - that seemed to help, weirdly...

BritinUSA · 05/05/2011 14:23

That's actually not a bad idea - maybe it tricks your brain into thinking you are "going to bed" as this is something you do every night. A behaviour that is hardwired. I'll try it!

nickelbabe · 05/05/2011 14:28

my midwife told me it was to prepare your body for the lack of sleep when the baby comes!

BritinUSA · 05/05/2011 14:57

If that is in fact the case - then I (and all of us here) will be more than prepared! :)

nickelbabe · 05/05/2011 15:00

jenga079 · 05/05/2011 16:58

Thank you ladies. If nothing else you've made me feel like I'm not alone. Midwife has also suggested getting up quite quickly (rather than tossing & turning), having a warm milky drink & reading before gong back to bed to try again. She did use the 'hormones' / 'body preparing you' line tho

OP posts:

Renaissance227 · 10/05/2011 14:37

Glad I'm not the only one with this problem! x

expuffinbookclub · 10/05/2011 22:27

Perhaps obvious but after I have done a yoga class I always sleep soundly. Acupuncture has the same effect on me. I also bought some blackout curtains at the week-end for the baby but wish I'd done it years ago as they really help me stop waking in the early hours of the morning.

Leo4 · 11/05/2011 08:34

I have this problem too..5 am every morning! it sucks! my mum keeps saying your baby will wake up at this time for its feed! probably true !!

nickelbabe · 11/05/2011 16:36

i wouldn't mind 5 o'clock!
that's what time DH gets up for work anyway, so he could just pass the baby over to me.
it's the 2:30, 3am, 3:30 etc that annoys me!

I swear I didn't get any sleep at all last night

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cellini · 11/05/2011 16:47

i also suffered from this - apparently it's low blood sugar: your body is at it's lowest ebb at this time of night hence the reason people (non pregnant, too!) wake up then start worrying - you always feel more anxious when you're hungry so the low blood sugar feeds anxiety at night.

have a snack, brush teeth (like the idea of tricking the brain!) then try climbing back in...failing that, read all those books you keep meaning to on the sofa!

littlebrighteyes · 11/05/2011 18:49

am 24 weeks and ive just started having this too

about 2am till 4am cant sleep-toss and turn for ages-need a wee-i find getting up and eating something and reading a bit helps-then i go back off-but its leaving me looking tired out in the day as come morning -i dont want to get up.

G1nger · 11/05/2011 20:21

You know counting sheep? At the moment, I'm finding it effective to count my kegel exercises :)

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