Getting a full nights sleep

[Chelsey24]

Hi,

I'm 34 weeks now and sleep has become almost non-existent now! Does anyone have any good tips for a better nights sleep, or for any sleep at all! I'm still working until week 36 and shattered.

Thanks

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

oh op I feel your pain. 35 weeks here and not slept properly since about 29 weeks. Mixture of terrible SPD, getting up to pee and just generally not sleeping due to my brain not shutting up (I over think this a lot at the best of times which is really amplified when I'm pregnant).
I've filled my kindle with books in the hope that at least I'll be entertained in the small hours and not disturb DH, DC1 and DC2 by prowling round the house in the middle of the night.
I just keep reminding myself that it won't last forever and once the baby is here, though they will have me up in the night, I'll probably get more sleep as I'll be able to sleep on my front again and be comfortable.

[ChicaMomma]

That's interesting Gothicrainbow about the later bedtime- never thought of that- i'm in bed by 9.30 every night but awake by 1 and again 3 etc, might try and stretch it out and see if it helps. I'd kill for an 11-5am sleep!!!!!!

[Salene]

Should of said son is 15 months not 25 months

[hufflebottom]

Snap OP, can't wait for the next 2 weeks to hurry up.

I'm finding after a couple of days of no sleep I'm crashing right out. Going to bed later hasn't even helped.

Have however put my hospital bag together. Keep changing my mind about a bringing baby home outfit about 4 times and have a tidy flat.

[Salene]

Nope I couldn't sleep at all last 8 weeks due to chronic heartburn and SPD

I'd not worry about it, it's 10 times worse when baby comes along. I thought I was going to die from lack of sleep

I'm now pregnant again and son is 25 months and I've not had more than 4/5 hours in nearly 18 months. You get used to surviving on no sleep.

[Mermaid36]

I'm only 12 weeks and I haven't had a full nights sleep since I was about 6 weeks. I'm lucky if I can get 4/5hrs a night. Previous to pregnancy, I was a great sleeper!!

I'm not uncomfortable or anything, I'm just awake. It's so frustrating, especially when I have to go and be a fully functioning adult at work, and to realise I will probably have another 5/6 months of this before the baby comes!

This morning I got up at 4am and went and put a film on. I managed to doze on the sofa for about 40 mins - that's pretty good going !

[glueandstick]

Cantbelieve- protect him from the truth ;)

[Pooshy]

I woke up every day when I was pregnant at 4.30am for the second and third trimesters. I was shattered!! But I read about two or three books a week which made it seem not so bad

It def helped when bubba was born tho as I'd had months of training whereas OH was broken!

[cantbelieveImquittingcoffee]

My sleep went out of whack (again!) at 23 weeks. I just had a terrible night, awake from sometime before 3am until after 4 and tossing and turning before and after, and now DP isn't talking to me because I kept him awake! Shall I tell him now what the 3rd trimester is likely to be like or keep it as a surprise??

[glueandstick]

I just had to come and be all smug that I turned over once last night and SLEPT ALL NIGHT LONG. I feel like a new human. No endless peeing. No trying to turn over and getting stuck. If that's the last good night I get for the rest of my sentence then I can live with that. It was glorious.

[Chelsey24]

Yeah I used to be in bed by 10pm like clockwork but found that this isn't helping as I'm then waking up by midnight/1am then.

I wouldn't mind having to get up and go downstairs etc if I wasn't still having to then go and do a full day's work on no sleep!

Counting down the days until I have the luxury of being nocturnal and not minding!

Bring on 22nd Jan!

[GothicRainbow]

I'm 29 weeks and have pretty much accepted my sleep will go downhill from here!
I've now put spare bedding downstairs so I can get up and my a snuggly bed/chair on the sofa in the living and watch tv/read without disturbing DH or my toddler DS.

I have a v-pillow in the bed which is helpful to a point, I've also found staying up until 11.30/midnight means I'm then sleeping until 5.30/6ish most nights which I prefer than going to bed at 10pm and waking at 3am!

[ChicaMomma]

I do find magnesium supplements help.. but only a little, as i'm still up 3-4 times to pee.. my baby is transverse though so i'm so so SO uncomfortable. I'm basically uncomfortable 100% of the time, unless i'm in a swimming pool.

[glueandstick]

What's a good nights sleep? I can't remember one of those :(

[Whoknewitcouldbeso]

I just get up. I'm 36 weeks and tend to wake around 3am/4am. Sometimes 2am which I prefer as I can get back to sleep more easily then.

I remember with my sons pregnancy I just used to get up about 4.30 and go downstairs and worked on the craft project I was creating for his nursery. I'd then crawl back into bed in the day and sleep. Can't do that now because of my toddler but I did used to enjoy that time in the early morning covered in glue and paint 😋

[Runningupthathill82]

YouBastard - lucky you!! When I was pregnant with DC1 I didn't think it was possible to be any more tired than I was in the third trimester. Then he arrived....!

And I realised that the main difference was, in late pregnancy I was awake all night but at least nobody was shouting at me. With a new baby, I was awake all night with someone simultaneously shouting and chewing my nipples.

This time round I'm trying to enjoy being up most of the night by listening to the silence until DS wakes up. I may not be asleep, but at least I can read/stretch/watch tv in peace .

[allthegoodnamesalreadytaken]

I keep a glass of milk by the bed and every time I wake up I take a swig - I find it helps me drift back off a lot quicker (used to be up for 3 hours at a time). I also sometimes go into our guest room and listen to a meditation / sleep app on my phone helps me drift off again.

[Chelsey24]

Ah might try that Maisiedotes. I've been using a pillow but it's too thick and I feel like it raises my bump up too much. No happy medium!

Last night I got up and had a warm bath and set up camp downstairs. I eventually gave it another go in bed at about 5am and drifted off for a few hours do better than nothing I guess.

[YouBastardSockBalls]

You'll get more sleep when the baby comes.

I did anyway!

[mrsjskelton]

Short answer - no! I'm shattered!
39 weeks so it's only going to get worse!!!

[MaisieDotes]

37+5 here, also have toddler and older child and a useless bladder!

I put a folded up single duvet under the sheet on my side of the bed and it's actually made a big difference! I'm not sure if I'm waking up less but bed is at least restful now whereas before it wasn't.

[ispymincepie]

With you Waxweasel, it's rubbish isn't it?!

[waxweasel]

I am already at that stage at 27 weeks I find myself raging inwardly at my stupid body 'getting me ready for the night wakings of a newborn' as my toddler STILL wakes me up multiple times a night! So I'm definitely not in need of any more helpful acclimatising, thank you mother nature. Between DD and my bump I'm lucky to get a couple of hours some nights. Last night was particularly bad so I am feeling v despondent about going into work this morning...

Hope you get some rest soon! X

[Chelsey24]

Haha a few people that have just had babies have told me the same, that they are sleeping better now!

I guess I should prepare myself for it to be like this until he's here now then. And maybe invest in a lot of books!

My bank account is taking a bashing as I'm waking up and baby shopping online when I've given up on the sleep!

All be worth it though :)

[NotSoFancyNancy]

I slept between 2-4 hours a night for the last half of my 3 pregnancies. Just gave up in the end and read a lot. 3/4 books per week. Had a sneaky nap here and there during the day to help.