4wk pp insomnia

[JanaRowan]

I have a beautiful newborn who sleeps for 3-4 hour blocks at night and I am suffering from insomnia. I lie wide awake and it is making me feel very desperate. Is this hormonal, therefore is there anything I can do about it? I am practicing good sleep hygiene. I feel so frustrated and upset. I can get to sleep but once I am awake after the first night feed, I am then awake for the day. I am exclusively bf, I have tried napping during the day but cant do that either. Any advice anyone?

How are you when you're awake @JanaRowan? Are you anxious or ok but just awake?

I am anxious when I am awake - anxious about not being asleep and how ridiculous it is that I have a sleeping baby but can't sleep myself, anxious about how I'm going to get through the day and feeling tired and rubbish etc

Ok so I think you may have some signs of PNI? I think that it's certainly worth talking to the PANDAS Foundation about how you are feeling before discussing it with family and the GP.

Congratulations on your LO too

I had terrible pp insomnia with my DS. For me I think it was mostly hormonal but then the anxiety that I SHOULD be sleeping made it worse. I would be in tears trying to sleep between his 1am and 5am feeds.

Mine just passed with time so I'm not sure if my hormones just levelled out but it was awful at the time so you have my total sympathy.

Could you try sleeping in another room for one night and your DH/DP just bring baby into you when they need feeding?

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto thank you for the reply and the link. I thought I felt pretty ok the first few weeks post birth (mentally but not physically) and thought the insomnia was more hormonal but having looked through the PNI/PND symptoms, a lot resonates. Especially the feeling of sadness and lack of bonding with baby. She just doesn't feel like mine for some reason. I don't really want visitors or to see anyone.

@twoontheway23 sorry to hear you suffered as well. I am in tears trying to sleep too and definitely have an anxiety about not getting back to sleep. My partner suggested I sleep in the spare room but I am breastfeeding so would have to wake up for that and the problem is once I'm awake, that is it for the night. I seem to be able to get to sleep to start with ok. Did you see the doctor who suggested it was hormone related? I wasnt sure if theyd be able to help at all as the hormone changes are natural. Thank you for your reply.

thank you for the reply and the link. I thought I felt pretty ok the first few weeks post birth (mentally but not physically) and thought the insomnia was more hormonal but having looked through the PNI/PND symptoms, a lot resonates. Especially the feeling of sadness and lack of bonding with baby. She just doesn't feel like mine for some reason. I don't really want visitors or to see anyone.

That's absolutely no problem. If you do feel that you can recognise yourself in a few of the symptoms please phone the PANDAS Foundation if you can and discuss what treatment might be available to you.

One really, really good thing is that you've realised that you're struggling early on and can now start on your road to recovery

Hello,
Sorry to hear about the pp insomnia, I struggled In pregnancy and after pregnancy, I honestly thought I was never going to sleep again, like my mind was dead set that I would not sleep. This absolutely fueled my anxiety every single night! I dreaded going to bed. What helped me was nytol one a night tablets, I got them from my local boots pharmacy. They helped me massively. I hope these help you. I just sympathise as I know how horrendous it feels to be lau there wide awake whilst your newborn sleeps. My little girl is 6 months on the 18th, you will come out on the other side. I also would always tell myself "if I don't sleep then fuck it" like so bluntly, that kind of eased my anxiety about sleeping! I still have a little anxiety every now and then but them nytol tablets help

hello, how are you doing?
I came across your post and couldn’t not comment.
my little one is nearly 8 months, and oh my, my insomnia was horrendous!! Everyone banging on about how sleep was so important just made it so much worse, I’d tried everything and nothing worked, because I was putting so much pressure on if I slept I wouldn’t be anxious etc.
i was just making the insomnia worse. I spent weeks wide awake, I felt like I was wired all the time even though I was exhausted! Ebf too, what helped me was medication for my anxiety and when that finally kicked in it really really helped (it took a while)
I just wanted to say I feel your pain and you are totally not alone, a lot of woman get it after giving birth because your sleeping hours get all muddled up. Look up Kathryn Pinkham, she’s an insomnia specialist, basically you can’t force sleep, the more you try the harder it is!
I didn’t believe anyone when they said I’d sleep again, and now I am….when my baby allows he’s never been a good sleeper! Take care x