Postnatal insomnia, any advice?

[Holly66]

Hi all,

7 months ago I had DS. At first he slept quite well for a newborn and my sleeping pattern was fine. We then went through about 6 weeks of very little or no sleep and my sleeping pattern went out the window and I developed insomnia. I would lie there awake stressing about the baby and when he would next wake up. When he did wake i'd never be able to get back to sleep. DS started sleeping through but I couldn't. DH got really crossed and dragged me to my GP to talk about whether I had PND. I told the GP I felt I was depressed because I couldn't sleep so she gave me 6 nights worth of sleeping tablets which I took and I started to feel a lot better but then she refused to give me anymore and I struggled to sleep again. However I did start sleeping better on my own and thought i'd cracked the problem.

I was sleeping well for about 6 weeks when suddenly the insomnia has come back, worse than before. I have tried the following:

Changing my diet, more exercise, hypnosis cds, reading before bed, self help books, herbal pills, nytol and sominex but nothing is working.

The thing that is strange is I feel really tired and I don't seem to go to bed worrying about anything, I just can't drift off or I wake really easily.

I'm nervous to go back to the GP as I don't want sleeping tablets and I also don't want them to say that i'm depressed because I don't think I am.

Has anyone else been through this? Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Yes!

I had this too, after reading your post and doing a google search I've only just realised that it was well recognised though! I thought it was just me that wasmad and weird.

Mine probably got really bad at 7-10months when I was going back to work.

I tried everything you've tried except prescription tablets and nothing helped. What seems to have helped (now 2 years later) is watching TV! the thing you're not supposed to do. Something quiet and boring - documentaries etc, how clean is your house was a favourite for a while!

I now have a 2nd 4 month old baby and am doing night feeds again. I have my laptop by the bed and watch BBC iplayer/4OD with a earphone so I don't wake up baby/husband. Everytime I feed the baby I watch TV after to go back to sleep. Otherwise I would lie awake thinking as I have an over active mind that won't stop.

One thing that helped me relax about it all and get over it was realising that lying still watching TV is not as good as sleep but is still restful. I have been on the sofa all night sometimes watching stuff and had about 3hours sleep and whilst I didn't feel good the next day I could function and do a days work. I think that helped me be less scared of not sleeping if that makes sense.

I still don't like to tell anyone I have trouble sleeping as I feel it makes me seem highly strung and neurotic!

Thank you for you're advice and support. Its good to know that i'm not the only one!

My mum keeps saying that I need to stop thinking about sleeping or not sleeping but its hard to switch off. I don't have a tv in the bedroom or laptop but i'm going to try listening to my ipod tonight and try to chill out that way if I can't drift off.

Its so annoying because I did break the cycle all by myself and had about a month of ok sleep but I can't seem to break this cycle.

My GP just wants to fill me with ADs but I don't think i'm depressed. I also had an awful experience on ADs when I was misdiagnosed with depression at 18, I don't want to ever feel like that again.

I've got a good feeling about tonight, hopefully i'll sleep fine.

Fingers crossed for me and for you too!