Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

bad sleeping problems (me) in 1st trimester... any advice?

15 replies

orangina · 14/09/2004 06:42

hello, new to MN, 1st thread I have started/joined. Am 9 weeks pregnant (1st pregnancy), feeling tired like everyone else, not really any m/s, but totally disrupted sleep since the start. Have no problem falling asleep (so tired!), but quality of sleep is c**p, am aware of every little movement of mine and dh, and more often than not wake at about 4am, and that's it. Getting worse now, waking every 2 hours, having been really only dozing (no deep sleep), and I'm beginning to lose it. Have tried all the usual, warm bath before bed, camomile tea, hot milky drink, lavender gel, homeopathic remedies, relaxation exercises etc. Don't feel this is stress related, but it is getting this way now after about 2 nights decent sleep in 6 weeks....! Will go and see GP, but was wondering if anyone had any similar experience/advice? Sorry this is so long, and thanks so much.

OP posts:
fisil · 14/09/2004 07:19

Not sure I can give much advice, but please go and see your GP and talk it through. GPs and the health service are there for pg women, babies and old people!

ggglimpopo · 14/09/2004 09:03

Message withdrawn

princesspeahead · 28/09/2004 10:46

I'm bumping this again because orangina is my sister and could really use some advice, if anyone has any. She is still sleeping just as badly, which is driving her nuts. She is exhausted and frustrated... does anyone have any experience of this? Mears? Anyone?

Thanks!

Heathcliffscathy · 28/09/2004 10:52

I had v restless nights and extraordinarily vivid dreams. i'm so sorry you're having such extreme no sleep...are you napping during the day? i found that when i did, i had real problems sleeping at night...which goes against the advice usually given, but worth a try?

i also woke up at the same time every night for second and third trimesters (3.30am) and would often be awake for a while...found that this was ds's restless time when he was born so figure he was waking me up!

sorry not being much help, but you will definitely stop feeling as tired after the first trimester, which is only in 3 weeks or so...

popsycal · 28/09/2004 10:54

i am 17 weeks pregnant and am having really vivid (and often dodgy!!!) dreams!!

I try to go to bed really early so I can get a bit of a sleep before the dreams start. But I also have a toddler who wakes early.

Not much help sorry

Momof2 · 28/09/2004 10:55

Hi Orangina,
I have and am going through exactly the same as you and have just resigned myself to it now. I am 19+4 and my sleep patterns vary from collapsing at 8pm until about 3.30am, then being UP or trying to stay awake until about 10.30pm and then waking at 5.30am.
I have tried the same as you, hot bath, hot drink, cold drink, banana and nothing works.
I found that if I just accept it (although I am falling asleep at my desk by 3pm) then I feel much better, and I am cracking through Agatha Christie's at the moment - and sometimes that helps me to fall back to sleep again (wake up with the light on at about 6am).
So I am really sorry - no real advice - I do try to have an afternoon nap on the weekends - even if its only for 10 mins I feel much more refreshed and still fall asleep at 8pm, but apart from that I just sigh at 3.30am and pick up the whodunnit.

Momof2 · 28/09/2004 10:59

Oh, one MAJOR mistake I made a couple of weeks ago - I decided at 2am that I needed a drink and picked out a diet coke without thinking - I have cut out caffine completely at the moment - I was awake then for the rest of the night (Wide eyed)Naturally blamed DP as he had brought the wrong coke that week

welshmum · 28/09/2004 11:01

Orangina I had exactly the same thing with dd. I ended up going for acupuncture - was fortunate to find a midwife who was a practitioner.
It really helped relax me and I slept better as a result. I hope you get some decent rest soon.

Twinkie · 28/09/2004 11:03

Sorry to say I would say get used to it - I think it is a horrid way for your mind and body to get you used to how it is going to be for at least the next few years!!

I would say though that you could try hypnotherapy as it may be some worries you have that you aren't aware of or try reflexology - that always sends me straight to sleep!!

beansprout · 28/09/2004 11:04

I had the same so you have my full sympathy!
Nothing seemed to work for me either. I did also look at my diet and cut out caffeine completely, didn't eat too late in the evening and didn't have sugar in the evenings.

I did read that if we can't sleep we should still try to rest so I didn't tend to get up (too often) and try and do something else but I thinkl that is a case of personal preference.

I also worked from home a bit and this allowed me to be flexible and kip during the day sometimes. Still very hard though.

Most of all though, congratulations on your pregnancy!! Someone did say that the 1st trimester is the hardest as we are sick/tired but still have the12 week thing to get to and of course, not everyone knows so we are managing it without help a lot of the time. Hang on in there - this will pass and you will feel better soon. Take care and good luck xx

princesspeahead · 28/09/2004 11:12

thank you thank you everyone. keep them coming, and I'll let her know that her thread has revived and she is not alone!

pph xx

aloha · 28/09/2004 11:54

I think it's quite normal, I'm afraid. Try cutting out all caffeine and it may well settle down a bit in the next few weeks. Having said that, I'm not sleeping very well at 20 weeks! I find I really go into deep sleep at about 6am, so am trying to lie in whenever possible (star dh makes this possible).

codswallop · 28/09/2004 13:27

yes I would vere down the alternative route here orangina.

massage ( always a good excuse to indulge anyway)

rosies · 28/09/2004 23:21

yes yes yes! do try reflexology, massage or even reiki. all extremely good for lowering stress levels.

personally, i'd go with the reflex because it will balance your hormones and boost you immune system.

a fellow reflexologist and i were discussing the other day, how women having regular treatments during pregnancy seem to have calmer babies. and the babies really respond well to baby massage... particularly feet!

Original poster
orangina · 29/09/2004 10:42

thank you all for your advice and experience (and to PPH for re-starting this thread....). Am visiting the acupuncturist which is helping me deal with no sleep, and hoping the sleep itself will come soon! Meanwhile, will just have to adjust to sleeping when I can. I used to resist sleeping/napping during the day (thought it would give me a better chance of sleeping at night), but now find that my daytime naps are about the only thing keeping me sane(ish).....

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page