Insomnia / sleep anxiety with new baby

[Figgy2387]

Hello!

I am 35 weeks pregnant and have been suffering with a relapse in severe insomnia for about 2 months now. I’ve suffered on and off with it for years and usually result in taking meds for rough patches and then just braving it out till the anxiety reduces. Promethazine, zopiclone are two I’ve used in the past. Obviously the zopiclone is only for real emergencies and never for long periods. There are times I don’t manage to sleep at all and the other nights very light, small amounts of sleep.

This is a particularly bad patch I’m in as I think the anxiety about new baby arriving is panicking me. ‘I must sleep or I can’t parent’ etc. incidentally after my DS1 was born I did not suffer from insomnia!

I’m wondering if any mums have found medication that can help when up during the night to feed etc / how did you go about this? I’m terrified of the insomnia persisting into newborn territory where I can’t take any meds to get some relief!
I’ve currently been taking some promethazine after a bad night and am on sertraline. The promethazine knocks me out most of the night when I take it so I’m not sure it’s an option if I need to get up for feeds etc.

Any help and experience gratefully received.
I’m in the UK.

I’ve been on Amitriptaline throughout my pregnancy and assured I can stay on it with baby and breastfeeding when he arrives soon. We will have to be in hospital for 24 hours for baby to be observed to just check he’s ok.
Definitely go to your GP or midwife, if you go to GP make sure you also alert your midwife and hospital to your anxieties so they can keep an eye and help signpost you for help. Your local perinatal mental health team might be able to help too.

Thanks for your reply. Do you find the amitriptyline helps and would you be able to wake up with baby in the night? I am the care of the perinatal team at the moment x

I hear you op. I had bad insomnia and insomnia anxiety with my first baby, who was also a terrible sleeper. I know this is controversial but When baby was 6 weeks old we had to sleep train as I was losing my mind with not sleeping . I know it’s so frowned upon but 3 night of cry it out and she was sleeping through with one quick feed in the small hours. This allowed me to concentrate on getting my sleep sorted. So we were all happier and well rested.

I have always woken up to baby even when taking promethizine but I feel so groggy it’s awful.

good luck op. Sleep anxiety is rhe worst. Also have you tried a self help CBT book for insomnia? I found it very helpful.

I find that telling myself that humans can go a long time without sleep helps to calm my anxiety. I also tell myself that at my worst I didn’t sleep for 3 nights and was actually still able to function. This also helps my anxiety. As in tell yourself that even if you don’t sleep you will actually be fine and be able to parent. This will hopefully reduce the anxiety and then you will sleep.

Thank you so much. Yes it’s the grogginess I’m worried about. Even after 11 hours sleep on promethazine following a bad night I feel groggy the next day! I sometimes find the anxiety is worse than the tiredness. Not knowing how the next night will be and not being able to relax. It’s awful

Try to cut off or atleast reduce the intake of medication as that would make you dependent on drugs in the long term. As for concern about child birth, I would suggest that you do not worry as things get settled on its own and the maternal instinct lets to be awake when needed and the tiredness of entire day will definitely reduce your insomnia as you routine will get better.