My sleep is just awful

[oldtiredmother]

I have a nearly 10 month old baby. She doesn’t quite sleep through but she usually only wakes once and generally goes straight back to sleep. However I’m not a young mum and am 44 in September. I am finding I just can’t get back to sleep once I’ve woken up, will lie awake for hours and hours.

It is obviously really affecting everything, my relationship is suffering, my parenting is suffering, I’m not back at work yet but that’s going to be tough when I am.

Is there anything at all I can do? It’s bloody miserable!

What is she waking for? Does she had a feed in the night?

She does, but the point is I can’t blame her - she only wakes once and feeds then back down. She actually woke just as I posted the above and I’m already back in bed. But I often find I wake even when she doesn’t and I just can’t get back to sleep. It’s awful.

Are you using screens while she's feeding? If so could you stop that and instead listen to some calm music or a podcast or audio book?
Are you already using white noise to resettle her? If not could you use it to help you off to sleep? And an eye mask?

No never. I’ve tried not having my phone upstairs at all but I still lay awake all night and was also bored!

I feel for you. I’m not a great sleeper. The GP might be able to prescribe something for you, to help you sleep. I’ve previously been on Amitriptyline, which isn’t a sedative but definitely helps with sleep.