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Post natal insomnia- any positive stories?

3 replies

Jard32 · 01/02/2012 09:56

Hello, my dd is 8 months old and I've had chronic insomnia since she was born. Was diagnosed with PND at 3 months when I lost the ability to fall asleep and went a bit mad as a result. Cue prescription for citalopram and temazapan to help with sleep. 5 months on and I'm having a great relationship with dd and and feeling so much better in myself, pretty happy in all honesty. However, I can fall asleep at bedtime with no drugs quite easily, but I wake after 2 hrs and it's hit and miss as to weather I fall back to sleep without drugs, sometimes I take the drugs and still don't fall back to sleep. If I do fall back to sleep I still wake maybe 1 or 2 hrs later, then panic again about being awake.
Has anyone experienced this and did you eventually have a positive outcome? Dd sleeps 12 hrs now so I could potentially get 7-8 hrs in but I'm lucky if I get 3-4. Thanks for reading, I'm just wanting to maintain hope for our future that this will improve with time.

OP posts:
Alicia26 · 01/02/2012 09:59

Hi - have just posted my story so have a look - under fully recovered from PND and insomnia after 3 months and mail me if you want to hear more. You will get better :)

ChiefPotterer · 01/02/2012 20:13

Insomnia was a big part of a recent bout of depression for me. I was prescribed Mirtazapine which is an AD with sedative qualities-it worked instantly with me and has honestly restored both my happiness and health. Maybe worth discussing with your gp? I really hope you get your sleep sorted it is truly awful lying awake night after night and I truly sympathise with you and wish you luck in your recovery x.

Arcadia · 06/02/2012 08:33

Hi Jard I had a similar experience to you. DD is now 2 and 2 months and I am so much better. It has taken a long time though, and I am still not 100% there, but it is improving over time. I've only just got myself off the over the counter pills (I used nytol and sominex, sedating anti-hystamines that you can buy from the pharmacy). They are not as strong as prescription drugs. I did sometimes revert to the prescription ones at times of stress (e.g. when starting a new job). I think it does settle down over time and as your baby gets older. It's good to hear that you are generally feeling happier and enjoying your baby because I think the key with insomnia is relaxing generally rather than concentrating on the sleep 'problem'.

I could tell you a lot more but just to let you know there is hope for the future! Let me know if you have any questions. x

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