Lack of sleep and I feel like I'm losing my mind. Please help

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I'm 37 weeks pregnant and for the the past 2 days I haven't slept a wink. It's been happening on and off for a few weeks but this past week I feel like I'm functioning on an hours sleep. I feel so upset, emotional and angry. I just want to be able to close my eyes and sleep but I can't switch off. Do you have any tips or remedies please? I work all day in a very active job but as soon as I'm home my body starts to ache and I become so irritable. Please help as I feel like I'm losing my mind and it's really affecting what has been an otherwise lovely pregnancy.

I'm 36+1 and have had very minimal sleep for a good few weeks. I'm having a complicated pregnancy so this on top is nearly breaking me. I also have a busy job and am definitely tired by the end of the day. I can usually get to sleep initially but wake up and just then can't back to sleep for many hours. It's infuriating and my eye bags are huge and all I do is moan about how tired I am, while people tell me I need to sleep before the baby arrives. Not very helpful as I'm having a c-section in 11 days. Sometimes a hot milk helps a bit. I did in desperation take one nytol (the on the shelf one) at 2am and got a few hours, but I don't want to do that routinely. You have my sympathy.

It’s very normal I’m afraid. So frustrating. I remember being exhausted in labour because of it! Can you go on Mat leave and get naps in?

Sounds weird but I found when I pregnant with my twins and couldn’t sleep my partner use to rub my belly and I always ended up drifting off to sleep

So sorry you're missing out on sleep when you need it most! I had a similar issue at that stage. Best tips were:

Bath with bath salts for achey limbs, plus paracetamol or hot water bottle when it was bad.
Warm drink (hot chocolate or sleepy tea) and banana before bed.
Propped up with loads of pillows supporting bump/back, legs etc.
Cool room with warm duvet on.
Lavender room spray (hated my poor husband's scent - he didn't smell, just weird pregnancy nose!).
Really dark room.
Sleeping alone, if possible?
No phone before bed (or if having to use it, warm light filter setting on).
I bought a Tommee Tippee soothing sleep toy before baby was born and played it for her at night to get her used to it. It does a 20min lullaby (also works for adults). White noise / rain sounds played on Alexa or Google device also works and is great for baby when they arrive!

I think this is pretty common unfortunately. Can you nap at all in the day?

I wonder if it's a way of conditioning us out of needing sleep to prepare us for the newborn stage!

Pretty common Mother nature getting you ready for newborn life. My sleep/insomnia has been ridiculous this pregnancy I’m only 20 weeks in 😂 Yoga definately helps & baths. Reading before bed if you read may help or audio books. Good luck!

There's a herbal essence from Australian Bush Flower Essences called Calm & Clear. You can buy it from their website or Amazon. It's totally natural and safe. 7 drops under your tongue before bed and you will relax easily and drift off. It's like a miracle for insomnia without resorting to pills which aren't safe in pregnancy. It worked magic for me so hopefully will for you too. Sleeplessness is so so hard.

Try then Just One Thing ‘Sleep Well’ podcasts with Michael Mosley on Radio 4.