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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about taking Night Nurse when you have a baby?

20 replies

CobaltRose96 · 13/05/2019 14:49

Hi all,

Lucky me, I’ve come down with a stinking cold. I also have an eight week old DD. For the past few nights she’s been sleeping from 10pm - 5:30am, but I’ve not been able to sleep much due to said stinking cold.

I’m tempted to take some Night Nurse in order to help me sleep, but am worried after reading some stories about how drowsy it can make you. I’m worried that if DD happened to wake in the night I’d be so drowsy I wouldn’t hear her, or I’d be so drowsy in the morning I wouldn’t be able to look after her. DH is here at night but has to leave for work at 7am.

Has anyone else had experience of Night Nurse? Does it really make you as drowsy as they say?

Thanks

OP posts:

IDontDrinkTea · 13/05/2019 14:52

I took it once, was going to take it, have a shower and go straight to bed. Someone turned up at my door and chatted for an hour after I took it. It meant by the time I got in the shower I fell asleep standing up... my ex dp found me still sleeping and had to put me to bed...

I’d be reluctant to take it if I was required for night feeds to be honest. If your partner was willing to do everything overnight if baby does wake up, I’m sure you’d be fine by the morning when your partner goes to work

Original poster

CobaltRose96 · 13/05/2019 14:57

Oh wow, seems like it truly does knock you out!

OP posts:

suziedoozy · 13/05/2019 15:00

If your DH is there to wake up if your baby does then there isn’t an issue. If he wasn’t there then I definitely wouldn’t take it! It really does knock you out and as a result is a firm favourite in this house when ill.

So long as someone else is there to hear the baby take it - you will be much more able to look after your baby after a good night’s sleep that has helped you get better.

Feel better soon

Spidey66 · 13/05/2019 15:03

If you're breastfeeding and want to take it I'd check the leaflet as well to see if gets excreted in your milk.

Spidey66 · 13/05/2019 15:04

Not sure if that's the right term there but you know what I mean.

user1493413286 · 13/05/2019 15:05

Have you taken it before? I did once and was so drowsy the next day I had to go into work late after a couple of coffees. Unless you know how it effects you then I wouldn’t as I know I’d be too drowsy with DD even now she’s older

Lindtnotlint · 13/05/2019 15:05

There’s a great thread somewhere on this, the conclusion of which is that about half of people completely conk out, and the other half are basically fine.... so it depends which you are!

Morgan12 · 13/05/2019 15:14

I took it once and was fine. Woke up my usual 9763 times to pee and felt crap the next morning. Never took it again.

yearinyearout · 13/05/2019 15:17

I wouldn't take it with a baby to care for. I once woke up sat on the loo freezing cold, I'd managed to get up for a wee without even waking up. Definitely knocks you out. If it's congestion keeping you awake maybe just try some decongestant spray to help?

Spidey66 · 13/05/2019 15:18

Secreted! That's the word I was looking for, I knew excreted sounded wrong.

CupOhTea · 13/05/2019 15:19

I'm one of the ones who it knocks out completely. I feel it for most of the following day! I've always been like that with it and I also can't take antihistamines. Even the non drowsy kind. I have no idea why I'm like that! I'm not normally a delicate thing .

Anyway, I haven't taken it since before I was pregnant with dc1 over five years ago. Too scared to.

I'm pretty sure it isn't allowed when bfing, as even lemsip wasn't allowed when I was bfing dc2 iirc. That was only last year.

Original poster

CobaltRose96 · 13/05/2019 15:22

Thanks all. I’m not breastfeeding but think I’ll avoid taking it purely to be on the safe side. It is mainly congestion keeping me awake.

OP posts:

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/05/2019 15:22

It doesn't work that well for me - definitely doesn't make me fall asleep, sadly!

Have you taken it before to know how it usually affects you?

BendingSpoons · 13/05/2019 15:26

I love the Sudafed nasal spray for congestion. It really clears your nose.

LifeBeginsNow · 13/05/2019 15:27

I took it when my son stopped with family for the night. I was so out of it and it lasted well into the next day! I found it very strong. Can someone stop over too and be on duty for the night and morning?

IDrinkFromTheKegOfGlory · 13/05/2019 15:32

Yep another one who is totally knocked out by it. I took it once at about 9/10pm thinking I'd be fine by the next morning but DW had to go into work late because by 8am I couldn't stay awake properly and I had two (then) toddler DCs to look after. It was bonkers how much it affected me! Had a great night's sleep though! 😆

Tubbyinthehottub · 13/05/2019 15:37

I love Night Nurse! I don't feel drowsy in the morning, just like I've had a really decent sleep.

NannyRed · 13/05/2019 15:37

I have to be desperate to take Night Nurse as a full dose leaves me feeling really hung over. Hung over and unbelievably tired, if you do take it, I’d recommend you take a half size dose.

CupOhTea · 13/05/2019 15:42

Also, just thinking about the last time I couldn't sleep because of a 'cold' it actually turned out to be an intolerance to cat hair! In which case, the night nurse mightn't really have helped other than knocking me out.
J ust a (possibly irrelevant) thought.

Treaclesweet · 13/05/2019 15:44

Bowl of boiling water with lavender essential oil in it and a towel over your head. Breathe in deep. Repeat as necessary until it's gone (not envy). The lavender should help you sleep too if you do it before bed.

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