Would cheerfully strangle half my loved ones for a night's sleep...

[korky]

Having had insomnia on and off throughout my life I really thought having a baby would be the answer (not that that's whay I got pregnant!) - I figured I'd be so tired I'd just conk out at night, right? Wrong! Somehow, for some reason, my body has got into a routine of collapsing around 10pm, literally unable to keep my eyes open a minute longer, only to wake up around midnight - not because of DD, who is still in the room with us - and then be unable to get back to sleep for at least an hour, usually more. Then DD stirs at maybe 4am, so I get up to shush her back to sleep, but she wakes up again at 6am/6.30am, at which point she needs to be fed. Any suggestions? We can't move DD into another room yet as construction of said room is ongoing. I don't drink coffee at all (never have) and limit myself to three mugs of tea a day (and never have one after 5pm, just to be on the safe side). Not sure what else to try.

Sublingual melatonin - I get them in the US. Orange flavoured tab you put under your tongue at bedtime, worked for me after 2 months of insomnia. Alternatively, Night Nurse always sends me off. Having said all of that, I rarely have a night where I don't get up to pee at least once and dd stirs at around 5.45-6.00 every morning which wakes me, so I sort of snooze until we get up aroud 7.15am...

I have 3 kids and have always needed a full night's sleep. Anybody waking me and I am awlful for days after. Every few months I go through a period of insommnia, and wake at about 3-4am every night. My GP suggested it was to do with the times my children used to wake when they were babies. (Strangely all 3 used to have the same sleep patterns) I take valarium when I am having trouble sleeping finds it helps or nitol which contains sominex. Other good knock outs are Actifed, piriton or night nurse. The only trouble being that if you take them after midnight you might find that you are still sluggish in the morning. As a student nurse we never gave sleeping tablets after midnight for this reason.

Queen of insomnia here. Long long history, incl sleep clinics CBT etc.
I suggest chamomile, lavendar oil (one drop on pillow)and valerian(which is really good). Also when you wake up, try doing relaxation to get back to sleep.Current CBT thinking, is to get up after 20 mins, go into another room, and do something like reading a simple novel, until you feel sleepy, and then go back to bed.
Also no caffeine incl choccie, coke, tea or coffee after 2pm. All of this came from sleep clinic.
As for me, valerian only thing that worked, but you can't take that long term.
Now? I am on 50mg amitryptiline, (an antidepressant which makes you feel sleepy-50mg is a low dose) which means I sleep really really well, nearly every night. It is the only thing that has worked long term for me I even sleep through dd's waking up.
If you need any help, please ask, am total total expert in this sleep (or lack of) business.

Hi Korky, I do sympathise, I've had insomnia on and off for years, and it can drive you potty. I've been known to take advantage of having both a husband, and a sofabed downstairs, when desperate (though not always feasible - will your DD let him shush her back to sleep rather than you??). Am interested to read remarks below about various chemical aids, though again, if she wants you rather than him, that might just make you feel worse being groggy with a needy child. Persoanlly I do find it's habit though, to wake at the same time each night, and getting out of the habit is easier said than done. I used to concentrate on counting to 10 with no other thoughts at all in my head, if you have a thought, you have to go back to 1. All about clearing the thoughts from your head (which I've struggle with) This is meditation stuff apparently, but my latest trick (which might sound a bit bizarre!!) is too concentrate really hard on imagining I'm having a really good shoulder or head rub! Fab! Does the trick for me! And I'm so glad I'm posting this under a nickname!!!

Jakmum, don't know if thid Helps. Active ingredient in sominex is phenergan 25mg. You can buy these over counter very cheaply, and you get loads about 50 or 75. Sominex is not cheap...

Night Nurse tends to knock me out for a minimum of ten hours straight, so I only take it when I have a cold and really, really need the sleep to recover. I'm a bit wary of taking it regularly, especially when I need to be alert to crazy rolling baby during the day! Last night I tried a new technique (sounds nuts but bear with me) - I went to bed an hour and a half later than normal, even though I spent most of that 90 minutes yawning wildly. DD stirred about ten minutes after we went to bed so I shushed her back to sleep no problem and climbed back into bed. And slept till 5.40! Now I reckon that was just over six hours sleep, and today I feel invincible. Six hours is pretty much what I need to function well on, seven hours is better but I never need more than that. What woke me up was the need to pee (I share your bladder Schmauskin - well, not literally, but you get my drift), despite making myself drink nothing at all after 9.30. I normally drink gallons of water every day, around two litres on average, so peeing a lot is inevitable. But if dehydration is the price I have to pay for a decent night's sleep, so be it!
Thanks for all the advice ladies.

Korky, that was exactly what I was told to do at sleep clinic. Do NOT go to bed until very tired, also, the less time you spend in bed, the better you are supposed to sleep. Sounds like you've cracked it!
I will carry on with my little bedside chemist, as this is the only thing that works for me. Am very jealous of you!

Fizzbuzz, you have my genuine sympathy - trying to explain to anyone (other than a new mum) what it is like to endure not just the occasional night of missed sleep but years and years of it while still holding down a skilled job and now raising a child as well is something I have found those who sleep soundly just don't understand. I'll persevere with this later nights routine and see if it works. Course, can't do much about it if DD is waking because of teething (poor little bunny). Oh the joys of motherhood!

Yes, people do not understand, but we have a special insomniasc club at work, where we all swap tips and news about medications. Very sad I know, but it makes us all feel better to know we are not the only ones staring at ceiling at 3.30am.....
Will carry on with my little pile of mummy's little helpers, as a good nights sleep makes such a HUGE difference to quality of life (and my temper!)