20 weeks and can't get back to sleep

[Lilybow]

Is anyone else waking up in the middle of the night and then struggling to get back to sleep?

I keep waking up at 4am the last month and once I wake up that's it, can't get back to sleep! And it's getting earlier! Today I've woken up at 2am and I'm still awake! Tried going to bed later, I'm not overly stressed, it doesn't make a difference ! I have work in the morning :(

Any advice on how to sleep through the night hugely appreciated :) xx

Me too- 24w and usually awake at 3/4 ish, though I do usually get back to sleep for a few hours until my toddler wakes up. It's often triggered by heartburn or needing a wee (this will get worse in a month or so) but sometimes if I limit fluids in the evening (but drink plenty during the day) and take a gaviscon before bed I can sleep through.

Mainly though it's very common pregnancy insomnia and it's your body preparing you for the sleepless nights and frequent wakes that come with having a newborn. Sympathies!!

I'm 16 weeks and have had this throughout! I woke at 3:30 and still wide awake now. I've always been an early sleeper (before pregnancy) I'd fall to sleep around 9:30 usually. Went to sleep around 11:30 last night but here I am! Probably worsened by side sleeping when I'm so use to lying flat on my stomach. So uncomfortable!

Unfortunately to be the barer of bad news, it doesn't always get easier! I am 37 weeks now and haven't had a decent/full nights sleep since around 17 weeks. Whether that be insomnia, changing position/getting comfortable, or needing a wee!

The things that have got me through the last 20 weeks are: a decent U shaped pregnancy pillow - before I got this I was sleeping so lightly as I was so scared to fall asleep on my back (not recommend for pregnant woman, mainly in 3rd trimester).

Also, having a short power nap when I got home from work, if I was extra tired that day. They do say avoid caffeine, but you are allowed up to 200mg a day during pregnancy - 1 can of full fat coke is 40mg. A can of this in the afternoon at work when my energy levels were fading was a blessing in disguise, really gave me the energy I needed to get through the rest of the working day.

Also, I know it sounds cliché, but you do get used to it. Before pregnancy, I used to majorly struggle if I didn't get my full 8-9 hours sleep a night. Nowadays, I can function perfectly well without the need for a nap on about 4-5 hours of broken sleep. It isn't ideal but it does get easier

I meant to say the sleep doesn't get easier/better, but it gets easier to get used to - if that makes sense!

Ladies, I had this with both pregnancies - slept better when I had a newborn than when pregnant both times.

I found meditation and sleep scapes on the headspace app to help a little.

In the meantime, just try not to kill anyone that tells you it’s preparation for when the baby comes.

Not pregnancy related at all but I can recommend the Calm app - it has tons of soothing "sleep stories" read out in such a way that it sends me right back off to sleep I also have a problem with waking up at 2 or 3am and being unable to fall asleep. I use tiny in-ear earphones designed for side sleepers, select a story (the ones read by Stephen Fry and Jerome Flynn are super soothing) and out like a light

Hi everyone I'm new to this app I'm 17 weeks and in the same position as you all im trying not to have a nap during the day to see if it will let me sleep a bit longer at night.

Seems like we're all in the same boat 🙈 i wake up around 2,fall back asleep at 5...then like drained during the day...on repeat..its horrible