Insomnia - is there anything I can take to relieve it?

[dellabrew]

Its driving me crazy. I lie awake for hours, absolutely exhausted and just desperate to sleep, getting terrible headaches all day now I guess from the lack of sleep, but of course they in turn make the insomnia worse! I havent been to the doctor about it yet but was wondering if there is anything you can buy over the counter, or any herbal remedies that people have found to work? I'm only 11 weeks so got a long way to go, and if it continues like this I am truly going to go insane!!!

Just jumping in for solidarity here. I’m 13 weeks and awake at 3am or 4am every night. Sometimes I get back to sleep, sometimes not but even if I manage then it’s rarely even for half an hour before I’m awake again.

Not that it helps with the sleep, but I’ve been listening to audiobooks instead of just lying there as it stops me from stresssing about it as much.

Right there with you at 12 weeks. I'm currently sleeping in the spare room as I get even less sleep next to my snoring husband and it makes me stabby. I find reading for a bit sometimes sends me off and, if not, it's less irritating than lying there being annoyed about not being asleep.

With DS I found the insomnia went away in the 2nd trimester, praying that holds true for this one too!

Have you tried moon milk? Google it or Pinterest.
It's all natural, I just used ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg with honey.
I tried it for the first time and slept like a baby all night, not pregnant but having trouble sleeping due to illness.

I find reading helps, try and stay off your phone/tablet as I find this wires me and any chance of getting back to sleep is ruined. After reading for half an hour I usually find my eyes closing again. But I have had many a day start at 3am, its amazing what you can achieve before the rest of the house wakes up!

I found hypnobirthing exercises very good for pregnancy insomnia.

I also actively used my phone earthier than stopped it as I go more stressed lying there. So I'd accept I wouldn't sleep, put something on and then would sometimes drift off.

Otherwise be assured it stops when you give birth and you'll cope with the lack of sleep with a baby. Good luck.

23 weeks here and saw my GP yesterday about this very thing, I'm exhausted and struggling terribly with sleep, she actually recommended I get some piriton from the pharmacy, at this point I'll give anything a go!

Thanks so much all for your responses - its nice to know there are others struggling with the same thing! (Not that I'd wish it on anyone..!) I've just had a mug of moon milk (thanks @Oodilally !) and am staying up a bit later than normal in the hopes that I'll just drop off Going to pop to the pharmacy tomorrow, see if theres anything they recommend. Are you allowed to take melatonin in pregnancy? When I googled it there was some very conflicting answers so I am not sure...

I tried a piraton (not a pirate as my phone keeps insisting) and it did seem to help!

Thanks, @Starsong82

I have started eating a cracker or something when I wake up at 3/4am or else if I have a little snack right before bed, I find I wake later. Since I started, I always go back to sleep. Wondering if the insomnia is linked with low sugars or something. Also if I exercise or have an active day where possible, it helps.

Finally, I got a sleep spray from "This Works" and it's lovely - really nice for getting to sleep in the first place!

Good luck, it's brutal :(

cherry juice has natural melatonin in it or you can get cherry capsules from health food shops.
Chamomile tea is surprisingly good
A piriton is safe in pregnancy and often causes drowsiness