Pregnancy insomnia - please help!!

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I’m 32 weeks pregnant (33 weeks tomorrow) and I’ve been really struggling with pregnancy insomnia for weeks. I’m averaging between 3 & 5 hours sleep per night and I feel terrible. I have a lively 15 month old (who, luckily now sleeps through) to look after as well. I’ve been trying to nap when he does in the afternoon but this can leave me feeling worse!

I fall asleep very quickly then wake up after 3/4 hours and cannot get back to sleep. I’m wide awake with my mind racing. I get up, have a snack, read...but it can be 4/5am before I’m back asleep then DS wakes up at 6am.

I asked the GP for help but there isn’t anything they can do - she suggested lifestyle advice and gave me a couple of websites to look at.

There have been other things that haven’t helped - I’ve had a couple of illnesses recently (tonsillitis and bronchitis) & currently me & DH seem to have some kind of stomach bug. Also have the usual pregnancy wake ups - heartburn/need toilet/baby kicking . But this underlying issue of very poor sleep never seems to improve.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Anyone else experienced anything similar? Did it get better or worse? I’m desperate for some decent sleep!

Hey sorry to hear you are struggling, sounds like you've been really poorly too. I've had this on and off sometimes it lasts a few weeks and put it down to anxiety for me. Have you tried any sort of white noise like rain, light hearted radio or listening to meditations? My husband swears by using rain sounds on YouTube to help him when he has bouts of insomnia. I hope you get some relief soon x

I sleep on my side with a pillow under my bump, which is quite comfortable.
Not sure if you bump/difficulty in getting comfortable is one of the causes of your insomnia.

I’m only 16 weeks but this last week have been suffering from exactly the same thing - going to sleep, waking after 3-4 hours and then it takes me another 2ish hours to get back to sleep, at which point my alarm goes off and I’m exhausted for the day. I think my underlying cause is anaemia, because my heart is beating far faster than usual despite not being stressed. But I also downloaded the ‘calm’ app, got a 7 day free trial and have been listening to sleep stories which help me go back to sleep. I’ve tried things like guided meditations before but they just annoy me . Also I’ve been keeping biscuits by the bed and having a couple.

I'm 31 weeks and in the same situation, with the added complication of awful spd and restless legs keeping me awake too.

The only thing I found that helps is going to bed really early as I then get a decent chunk of sleep before waking and feel more able to cope with being awake in the early hours.

I really feel for you, it bloody sucks doesn't it?

Loads of sympathy for you it’s horrid :-(
I’m now 36 weeks & it’s improved a bit but a few weeks ago it was awful, just like yours. Fingers crossed for you it’s just a phase that will get a bit better.
I found reading made me drop off sometimes & also definitely going to bed early to bank sleep, as no chance past about 3/4am.

Hi everyone, im so sorry that there are others in this awful position. I’m 29 weeks and have been suffering from insomnia from 17 weeks. From 17 weeks I’ve had nights when I haven’t been able to sleep until 5/6 in the morning and only got 2/3 hours and then other nights when I’ve slept fine. Over the last ten nights or so I’ve been at my wits end and not falling asleep until at least 5 and the GP has prescribed Avomine to make me sleepy but they don’t appear to be having any effect at the moment - I’m so unbelievably tired, my eyes are so heavy but I’m just unable to nod off. It then gets to 5/6 in the morning and I manage to get 3 hours.

Has anyone else been in a similar position where they are completely unable to fall asleep? Any tips or advice would be so very welcomed. I’m doing all of the sleep hygiene things, having a routine, avoiding bright lights before bed and whilst I’m awake, I’ve tried meditation and been to a hypnotherapist, but they seem to make me worse - like I’m more aware I’m not sleeping. My GP has said he is unable to prescribe anything and told me to ring the antenatal unit where they advised herbal tea 😳😳 Unsurprisingly it didn’t work.

I feel horrendous at the moment and genuinely can’t see how I can carry on like this until the end of my pregnancy. Always Cold Hands - what has made it ease up for you? Any help would be massively welcomed! Xxx

Thank you so much for replying, and for your helpful advice and suggestions. There’s things here that I haven’t thought of so I will give them a try. Massive sympathy to anyone else who’s struggling with this it’s awful xx