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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone else suffered from insomnia in pregnancy?

22 replies

DialMforMummy · 09/12/2011 19:58

Hi all,
I am 19 weeks pg and in the last few weeks I have had problems sleeping. I can fall asleep fine but then keep waking up from about 3am, then sleeping for a bit, waking again etc... Till 6.30 wake up time....
I am not particularly stressed and never had any issues with sleep in the past.
I am absolutely exhausted and really frustrated about it.
Has anyone else experienced a similar thing? Any tips to improve my sleep patterns?

OP posts:

Mum2be79 · 09/12/2011 21:32

Yep!

I'm 36 weeks and 5 days and since I was 12 weeks pregnant I have woken several times every night! Sorry!!!

I wake at 3:30am every night without fail. Some nights I also wake at 1:00am or 2:00am as well. Once awake at 3:30am, I can't get back to sleep until 6am - when I have to get up!

On mat leave now and although my insomnia is still the same, I find that by 8:30am/9:00am, I need a 2 hour nap!

Someone said to me, likely to go into labour around 3:30am. MW did say that most labours begin in the early hours. Not sure how far that is true. Will probably be for some, but not for others.

beginnersluck · 09/12/2011 22:15

yep, I'm 32 weeks and have had insomnia on and off throughout.

If one more person suggests it is to prepare me for the sleep deprivation that comes with having a newborn, I think I'll explode!

Kayano · 09/12/2011 22:18

30 weeks and I was nearly weeping this morning at work because I am feeling more exhausted than ever but I can't sleep at night! It's awful

teenswhodhavethem · 09/12/2011 22:20

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teenswhodhavethem · 09/12/2011 22:22

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frankie3 · 09/12/2011 22:23

I had this throughout my pregnancy. I was relieved when I had my baby as I had better sleep with a newborn baby!

Davinaaddict · 09/12/2011 23:39

I'm exactly the same OP. It drives me nuts, especially as when you're ready to go back to sleep, it's time for you to get up! I've found going to the loo helps, even if I don't feel the need to go (not that I ever have a problem going when I get there - love the old pregnancy bladder!) Other than that, I try to do something (usually MN) for a bit then try to get back to sleep again. Hope you manage to get some sleep soon!

PinkPeanuts · 09/12/2011 23:56

The insomnia kicked in for me too this week . I'm 25+3 and absolutely exhausted. Two nights ago I went to bed at 11, woke up at 2 something, then again at 3.15, couldn't get back to sleep until after 5 but had to be up for work at 6.30! Work was fun that day as you can imagine!

cravingcake · 10/12/2011 04:21

Yup, i too suffered with insomnia while pregnant. Only tip i have is to try doing some physical activity during the day. A good walk, pace dependant on how much you are waddling was usually enough to help me sleep until i needed to wee longer. And it made going back to sleep after waking quicker. Didnt work all the time but did help

Also, i'm only awake now as my DS has just finished a night feed :)

blushingmare · 10/12/2011 04:55

Yep! (hence why I'm posting now!). Had it since 7 weeks (now 14, still got a lonnnnnng way to go!). My wake up time started with 4am, which I thought was bad enough. Then moved to 3am. Every morning this week it's been 2:30 - I am not impressed! Don't get back to sleep after either. And the weirdest thing is, that once established at a time, I seem to wake at exactly the same time each night, almost to the minute!
Good luck with your's.

yummicheddars · 10/12/2011 08:49

Yup! I'm 20 weeks and I have trouble sleeping. From about 3am to. Has been like it for past few weeks, I to drop off easily, when the babys not kicking! It loves wiggling about at bedtime. And who would of thought at this stage the kicks are so strong! Can even see my belly bounce!

Chocchip88 · 10/12/2011 09:13

I had insomnia really badly last time. The only positive thing I can say is that even with a newborn waking several times a night I was sleeping a LOT better than when I was pregnant so managed to cope much better than I hoped.

broccolitrees · 10/12/2011 10:00

I am a terrible insomniac and have been since the week before my period was due, I'm nearly 8 weeks now, constantly exhausted. I wake up, lie for a bit, throw up (despite nibbling on something) then go back to sleep after a few hours to have to get up to spew again -the joys!

voscar · 10/12/2011 11:47

I'm only four weeks and haven't slept properly for a week now. I'm hoping this isn't going to last!

HardCheese · 10/12/2011 12:43

25 weeks in my first pregnancy and have had insomnia on and off throughout - for weeks at a time I would wake about 4 am and be unable to get back to sleep till shortly before my alarm. I never figured out how to deal with it, other than trying to be calm about it, and thinking 'This too will pass', and in fact I am sleeping a bit better in recent weeks, though my sleep patterns aren't terribly reliable. Just try not to worry too much about it, which I know is easier said than done.

LordyLady · 10/12/2011 17:08

Urgh, me too. And having suffered with insomnia through anxiety in the past it's horrible to be dealing with it again when I need to sleep so much more than normal! My number one tip is get rid of anything that shows the time when you wake up - digital alarm clock, mobile etc - and do not check the time as this will lead to a freak out. Along with the obligatory three wee's per night I keep getting woken up by DP's snoring and attempts at cuddles, poor love got kicked about a million times last night!

clarey2311 · 11/12/2011 05:30

Oh yes, since 15 weeks or so (35 weeks now). Usually wake between 2.30 and 3.30 and that's it for me, sometime grab a further hour. Just made a stew, made some bread, checked my work emails and am now having a hot chocolate. Cat is keeping me company. I find that I feel better if I get up and do something rather than lay there tossing and turning, tapping on phone and waking up DP. Better at the weekend than on work days, have had to leave early a couple of times when I've collapsed at desk. Luckily only 8 working days to go!

MiauMau · 11/12/2011 11:45

I'm on the same boat over here. I'm 30+5 and for the past couple of weeks, when it hits 4 - 4.30am I'm awake like a big wide eyed bunny. I feel that it's getting worse as for the last two days I don't even get that, my sleep is so extremely light and add the back pain for not being able to move around as much as I want... sigh

Enfyshedd · 11/12/2011 14:22

voscar, I had trouble sleeping from about 5-7 weeks, and (hopefully) now I'm getting over another 3 week spell of it now I'm 16 weeks.

It drives me nuts when it happens though. I have no problem getting to sleep, but I wake up almost everytime I need to turn over, so about 5-6 times a night, and during the worst bit in the middle it takes forever to get back to sleep. A couple of times each time, I've got up for a wee and decided to stay downstairs to read or go on the computer to keep my brain occupied. We're planning on moving house in the new year for more room, so I'm going to make sure my stereo's in the living room so I can put some quiet/relaxing music on in these times as well - it's worked before when I haven't slept due to migraines in the past.

Here's hoping...

Original poster

DialMforMummy · 11/12/2011 20:21

Well, sorry and relieved to see that I am not the only one...
Any tips gratefully received.
looking for baggy eyes emoticon

OP posts:

bmm39 · 11/12/2011 23:46

Try a relaxation CD or a nice hot bath before bed.

MrsHoarder · 12/12/2011 11:21

I've suffered terribly with this since a week before my last peroid was due. Now at 20 weeks and it at least hasn't been constant: I'll have weeks where I don't get any sleep some nights but then the week after I can sleep 15 hours out of 24 (this has its own problems to do with housework, coursework etc). I have had life-long insomnia problems (again, varying dependent on what's going on in my life) but rarely has it been this bad when I've been this tired.

I need an alarm clock that I can quickly check though: I have a big one that's easy to hit and projects the time on the ceiling. Then if I do wake up I can just tell myself its a "sleeping time" which sometimes works. One I can watch is dangerous though.

Other things that help include a cup of boiled water with a splash of milk, drank in a darkened bedroom; making sure the bedroom is cool but the bed itself is comfy and warm; a book of essays by the bed so I can read something quietly which is easy to put down when I get drowsy.

Making sure I get some fresh air every day helps too: its very difficult to sleep if I didn't leave the house that day. Doesn't really matter what, a short walk to the local shop or library is enough if I don't feel up to a proper walk.

As for those who "helpfully" suggest it will help you deal with night feeds etc: I can't think of anything worse than 9 months of sleep problems for preparing you to deal with a newborn. Surely it would be better to be well rested and as happy and healthy as possible? Not going mad from sleep deprevation already!

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