Please help me to sleep

[BlingLoving]

I am 25 weeks and have only had one proper night's sleep since I was about 16 weeks. Various reasons like some unrelated back pain etc, but now it's almost like it's become habit and my body wakes me up because it thinks it should.

I wake up every 1.5 - 2 hours. Normally I have to get up and walk around then go back to bed. If I'm lucky, I think sleep again fairly quickly, but often I dont and just lie there trying to sleep for up to another hour or more.

I am seriously starting to breakdown now. I work long hours with a long commute and that's not helping. All I want is a decent few hours sleep. Right now, being able to sleep for even 4 consecutive hours would change my life. I am not sure I will manage for much longer - I am already starting to cry at the drop of a hat and am feeling myself shutting down.

Any tips, please. Am desperate.

If you can find an ante-natal yoga class, that might give you some relaxation techniques.

However, if you're desperate, I'd call your midwife or GP and ask what you can take.

Good luck.

Thanks. I am doing an ante-natal yoga class which I think helps... but not enough.

I don't feel consciously stressed, but I'm worried it is related to work because it tends to get worse through the week, then slightly better on the weekend.

I get really bad pregnancy insomnia so I utterly sympathise. The only thing I've found that helps is having a nice relaxing bath and then dripping lavender oil all over my pillow case. I don't know if this is psychological because I think aromatherapy is mostly a bunch of woo but for some reason it does seem to help!

Also you could try a hypnotherapy/relaxation CD, I did this with my first pregnancy and it worked well. Can't do it this time around as am co-sleeping with DD.

Do you already have any DCs or is this your first? I would just grab sleep whenever you can and sod sociable hours. Is there any chance you can get some time off work before mat leave?

I can totally sympathise, I was suffering very badly from insomnia right from the start of pregnancy, could get to sleep ok but woke up every night at 4 and wouldn't manage to get back to sleep until about 7 (getting up time basically).

The only thing that helped me long term was getting signed off by the doctor for two weeks, gave me a chance to break the cycle of waking up and not getting back to sleep and also gave my brain a break from all the work stuff and baby stuff that was making me stressed and affecting me getting back to sleep. I do still wake up around 4 every morning to go to the toilet but can now get back to sleep on the vast majority of nights.

I know this sounds weird but I went through a patch when I couldn't sleep in my own bed, but if I went downstairs on a camp bed I could drift off. It was as if the 'pressure' was off once I was in a different bed. Give it a go. Good luck it is horrible to be in that trap, particularly when you have to carry on being 'normal' at work. Just know that things will change and you won't always feel like this.

Hi
I totally sympathise with you because I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm nearly 20 weeks and since about 16 weeks I've had terrible insomnia - sleeping for an hour or two, and then waking up and lying there for an hour or two. More recently I tend to wake up about 4am and lie there until about 6, then fall back asleep just as the alarm goes.

I've taken a few days off work to try to relax and break the cycle.. I've found the only thing that works for me is trying to accept that there is nothing I can do about it and think that when my body really does get tired enough, I'll sleep. Having a glass of milk seems to help, as does listening to a relaxing cd.

I hope things improve for you soon and you get some much needed sleep. xx

Sympathies from me too - total insomnia here, restless legs plus an 8 month old who still wakes in the night.

I'm 28 weeks pg and haven't had more than a couple of hours consecutively for months.... I also find I can doze off on the sofa easily or sleep during the day.

I actually think I'm getting used to it now

It sucks big time and I'm so fed up of having no energy but on the positive side... only 12 weeks left.

Me too. Do try moving to a different bed or the sofa as I've sometimes found that helpful.

Me too!! I've been awake since around 4am. Listened to my Hypnobirthing CD, tried my yoga breathing, imagined redecorating my house and spent £10 million lottery winnings (again in my imagination!! More is the pity!)
I've given up now! Have decided I'm going to be early for work for first time in ages! Normally so wrecked in the morning from nocturnal wakings/ toilet visits etc that I just can't manage to get up on time!
Only a half day and some Reflexology to look forward to this afternoon, so things shouldn't be too testing!
If I remember I take rescue remedy night and I think it helps a little and def sleep better after preg yoga class.
Hope you all got some rest last night. 7 mins left until I get up, off to make the most of it!!!!!

You've got my sympathies too. Had sleeping problems for about 10 years now and am still on tablets. I'm 29 weeks today and find that I sleep until about 1am then toss and turn the rest of the night. I'm suffering from bad anxiety, so it just makes the whole thing worse.

I've got a session in a flotation tank next week, which I've heard is meant to be super relaxing and might improve things a bit.

Other than, I can't really offer any other advice. My midwife tells me to get up and read a book, but I'm too bloody knackered and it's cold outside of the bed!

I'm back to hardly sleeping, I'm 9wks, finally got to sleep at half three and woke up at 9am. i dont seem to be able to sleep past 9 at the moment.

so frustrating.

Thanks all. It's amazingly helpful to hear it's not just me.

I have been thinking of trying to sleep in a different bed for a night or two so will do that. Also, have told DH that tomorrow I am pretending to be sick and will lie around in bed, dozing as need be, to try recover somewhat.

I might try the lavender thing as well although it's not my all time favourite scent. Any others that are good for sleeping?