Early wake ups

[Clemmie83]

I'm 13 weeks pregnant and for most of my pregnancy I've been waking up between 4-5am and then I'm unable to go back to sleep. Is this a common problem and does it go away?? It's leaving me exhausted!

I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and I’ve been having the same issue! So glad I’m working from home at the moment otherwise I’d be exhausted at work (I usually do 13 hour shifts). For me I think it’s because I’m at home a lot now due to Covid and not as active during the day. Also tossing and turning trying to get used to not sleeping on my back.

Prepares you for having a baby!

@KatnissK There is that! 🤣

I'm 33 weeks and have had pregnancy insomnia throughout my whole pregnancy, same as my first which was two years ago! It's the hormones apparently, and does go away when the baby arrives... But by then the baby keeps you awake all night!!
If you can't sleep, get up and have cereal or read or do something to relax for an hour or so and then try again. Nap during the day if you can, and finish work a few weeks before baby arrives if you can to give you time to catchup.

This is the same for me. I thought it was because it’s so light early at the minute.
I struggle with napping during the day as I’m often sick afterwards too :(

@KatieFTM I have the same issue with daytime naps, even pre-pregnancy they've always made me feel sick!

I've had pregnancy insomnia off and on the whole time, 31 weeks now and been awake since 4am. It was worse in the first trimester but now it's just random nights. I'm wfh so today will be a sleepy day.

I pretty much wake up at 5am every day. Sometimes earlier! I’ve been like this for weeks.

Same! My feet are boiling hot all the time and I've needed to lie down with my head raised for the last month, so lots of broken sleep these last few weeks. Nights are a killer at the moment, but I'm lucky in that I've been able to get long naps in the afternoon to make up for it.

I'm a side sleeper normally but my hips have got so sore already (I'm only 27 weeks!) that the pain is keeping me awake now as well! That could also be down to our rock-hard mattress, which I usually love. Been sleeping with cushions under me these last few nights but little change.

Got the painters in today so a nap will be hard, but DH has just told me he'll go and take care of DS so I can go and sleep in his lovely soft bed to make up for having been awake since 4am. He's a hero!

Yup, been up since 5.30am, seems to be a regular thing for me the last couple of months! Very thankful I'm not at work at the moment too, I don't know how I'd manage otherwise! Naps in the day time leave me feeling groggy and fuzzy/nauseous so I just try to power through and then get an early night.

@Clemmie83 horrible isn’t it. For me it’s like the morning sickness starts all over again 🤦🏻‍♀️

Same. I can't nap as I have a toddler. It's horrendous but worth it in the end

I've been like this my whole pregnancy. Usually wake up starving too so I have my breakfast at 4am... and then need another one later!! You get used to it and I'm 39 weeks now and still wake up that early probably about 4 times a week. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Waves @Clemmie83 🙌 I'm pretty much a day on, then a day off with early wake ups. 8 am yesterday...5-20 am this morning. I always find if I wake up after a very intense dream that gets me thinking about my life, it is absolutely impossible to get back to sleep. And I'm having a lot of those dreams at the moment!

14 weeks today myself. How are you getting on with the pregnancy so far? Have you had your scan yet?

I’m lucky that naps in the day don’t make me feel worse. Some days it will get to the afternoon and I cannot keep my eyes open so nap on the sofa! It does make you laugh when people tell you to enjoy your sleep now because you won’t when the baby comes.

This happened to me - I’d wake up some time between 3am and 5am, wouldn’t feel drowsy until 6:30am when I had to get up for work! It was easier when I went on mat leave when I could go back to sleep for a couple of hours in the morning.

In later pregnancy you’ll probably be up for the loo around this time... for now you might just have to go to bed earlier to make sure you’re getting enough rest

Exactly what @OccasionalNachos says! I wake to go for a wee between 3-4am and I'm wide awake until 5-6am. Sometimes I can't fall back asleep either. It's not fun and I'm 37+3 weeks and still at work too. Thankfully this is my last working week and I'm working from home but I'm mentally drained as well as physically now x