Im not sleeping at all - HELP!!!

[Beccaroll]

Hi

Does anyone have any tips for getting sleep when your heavily pregnant??

If im not lying there boiling hot Im on the toilet if Im not on the toilet Im thinking "I need the toilet" to then go to the toilet and only a drip to come out then back to bed and "I think I need the toilet again!" - then the pillows arent comfortable, then I need the toilet again, then Im thirsty but dont want to drink as will encourage trips to the toilet!! Also I get really sore shoulders and back all the time but inparticular when lying down.

Its really getting me down now and last night I just ended up crying my eyes out wailing "I JUST WANT TO SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP" DP thinks Im slightly insane I think!

So....anyone else going through this and anyone with any tips!? Im totally shattered!

Oh and by the way Im 35+3

Becca
xxxx

Had the same probs with last pregnancy didnt sleep the whole way through,try sleeping on a loosely filled bean bag as a pillow it is so comfy and i just sunk into it.No advice for the weeing though- catheter maybe?lol

Poor you - it's a horrid time to be heavily pregnant. Have you tried propping yourself up in bed? I found for the last month or so I wasn't comfortable on back or side really, just sitting up. But also didn't sleep at all well. I think it's training for what comes next... And if you're really tired have yourself checked for anaemia - my pg friend (due two days ago) was exhausted and very anaemic.

Are you going swimming - really relaxing and cooling, and may help you sleep, also yoga - there should be special ante-natal classes your midwife can tell you about. And if reflexology doesn't send you to sleep, nothing will! Good luck...

Could you have a urinary tract infection? It might be worth ruling out. Other than that, camomile tea, windows open, fan in the bedroom, water spray, nothing but a sheet over you, book yourself a massage/osteopathy session with someone who understands about pregnancy for your shoulders and back, and if all else fails buy some really gripping thrillers so you won't mind being awake so much - and remember, not much longer now!

Know JUST what you're going through, Becca. I too am heavily pg (34 weeks?) and i only mangaged snatches of 1-2 hours at a time for about 3 nights when it was really hot. Get a fan - although it didn't stop the weeing problem, it made the hottest nights bearable. One night there was me, dp, dd (21 months) and the dog all in the same bed blissing out under the fan. Don't recommend it for a good night's sleep however... As for 'comfort' (ho ho) - I have six pillows, 5 for my head and shoulders and one for between my legs.

Anyway - I am a confirmed insomniac at the best of times, so here are my top tips, for what it's worth. I read somewhere a long time ago that 85% of insomnia is caused by worrying about not sleeping, so bear this in mind!

No1 If you are getting stressed about not sleeping in the middle of the night, get up. I find sitting on the sofa calms me down and I usually drop off for an hour or two there. That or go to a different bed, if you have one.

No2 Bach's Flower Remedy, Rescue Remedy. Helps with the stress of not sleeping, don't know if it's psychosomatic but it works for me.

No3 Listen to the radio (if your dp doesn't mind). I find the world service, on quietly, is either interesting enough to make it worth your while that you are awake or so boring that it's soporific.

No 4 This is when all else fails. Remember your favourite film or one you know well (I always do Thelma and Louise) or a book you have just read - even a programme you watched - and 'tell yourself the story'. This means you tell it scene by scene, trying not to forget about any details. I think it's turning your mind to something concentrated that stops you worrying about not sleeping and so you fall asleep.

Good luck, thinking of you xxx

Wow, thanks for the replies peeps!!!

Think I will give some sort of reflexology - back treatment a go as its mainly my back and shoulders that bother me - my DP is very good and gives me a massage each night but as soon as he stops the pain is back!!!

I cant remember it being this bad when I was expecting my daughter but then the memory does fade doesnt it!

I'll give some of your recommendations a go.

Thanks again!

Oh Becca I could have written that myself. I'm 37.4 weeks now and have not been sleeping for the last month or so. Saturday night was my worst with 6 trips to the loo (wouldn't mind it is was worth it!) and I now sleep starkers without the duvet or anything, windows wide open and I still get all damp and drippy because I'm so hot. All the advice on here is good and if you are lucky then something might help but I've resigned myself to the fact that this is par for the course at this stage of pg and at least it will make getting up just a couple of times a night for a feed seem easy

Thing about the needing to pee - you know it will only be a trickle so once you've had enough just tell yourself its not worth it and try to think about something else. Doubt it will work but you never know. Forget about any sense of privacy and just strip off and try to "rest" when you can even if its not sleeping. I found that the best thing to help me sleep was the alarm going off. I kid you not but after hours of tossing and turning as soon as the alarm went off to get the kids ready for school then I would doze off into blissful slumber. Thank God its the holidays now. This morning DH settled them in front of cbeebies with drink and some fruit and I just turned over. Didn't get up till 8.30. Think that was the best couple of hours kip I've had for weeks.

I'm only 18 weeks, and have not gotten more than 4 hours sleep each night this past weekend, despite lying in bed for nearly 9 hours - trying desparately to fall asleep. I usually need 9 hours, so I don't know what is happening and am always tired and cranky during the day. I don't have the pee problem, but I'm thinking for me, it's more psychological - stress, etc with second baby to be born soon, and worrying about how I'll manage and also feeling like I don't like DH any more - long story. So I can sympathize, but cannot offer any help. Sorry!

Hi Becca,
As a long term insomniac I totally agree with Cha on this one. DON'T GET STRESSED!!! Easier said than done I know. I think insomnia during pregnancy is very different from 'normal' insomnia. You have reasons that you can't sleep: physical disomfort, going to the loo all the time, worry, precious little one doing an internal tap-dance, and then of course there's the heat!

So firstly, don't let the fact that you're not sleeping panic you into not sleeping. I know that sounds silly, like telling someone not to think of pink elephants... (see what I mean? Cute aren't they) but the more you stress about not sleeping the harder it is to relax.

I find distraction is defintely the best remedy but keep it calm... I don't think watching telly or using the PC is a good idea. These things stimulate you and what you need is to be relaxed. Even if you're not sleeping, relaxing and listening to calming music will give your body a rest.

Lot's of people swear by a warm bath or hot drink, but in this weather I'm not sure if they would help.

If you get very hot, keep a plastic bottle with a spray nozzle filled with water in the fridge. When you get hot, spray yourself with a fine mist of water. I find this very cooling, especailly if you not wearing anything and the window is open!!

If you find you're more comfortable on the sofa, the floor or anywhere else then don't force yourself to sleep in bed. I would never reccommend this for 'normal' insomnia, but as I said, I think we're all in a very different situation and, IMHO, anyway you can get some sleep is good.

Lastly, you are not insane. In fact, as you can see from the other replies, you are perfectly normal for a pregnant woman!!

Sorry if this goes on a bit.. and it's all only IMHO so any professionals out there, sorry if you don't agree.

BR (34+4)

Hi Becca, I can completely relate at the moment. I'm not to bothered at night time because I can't get to sleep, its in the morning and rest of day when I don't have the energy to do even basic house work. My house is currently a tip, my son has been eating rubbish for a week and I don't think I've had a proper meal since my dh was home 5 days ago. I contemplated phoning my m-i-l today to ask for help, but realised then that she would probably come round and I would have to clean up before she got here. I don't remember having such a bladder problem with my first, but the restless legs is just as bad as first time. Lets just hope we can get some sleep before our due dates.

I always put insomnia in late pregnancy down to the fact that your body is adjusting to the long days and nights ahead when the baby is born.As the others have said dont get stressed.

Beccaroll, go for ice cubes. You will find it cooling and still be getting liquids but not as much as drinking and then running to the toilet and filling up again. Try freezing juices instead of water for a change.
I found myself very sleepy during my last trimester, everytime you missed me I was tucked up in bed. I felt more drained of energy. Sorry I can't help with insomnia.