Insomnia 37 weeks

[Nttttt]

Hey all,

I’m nearly 37 weeks and I can’t sleep, not even a wink. It’s gone from a 2/3am bedtime sleeping though until 11:00am to then being a 4/5am bedtime and waking up past noon.

But today was different and I just can’t at all. I’ve tried reading, ginger tea, all the things that usually help but it’s just not happening. I’ve physically got up three times now then tried to go back to bed but nothing is working. It’s now 6:30am and I’ve not slept even for a minute.

Will I cause any issue to my baby if I’m not sleeping enough? I’m also terrified I’ll go into labour with no sleep absolutely exhausted. I’m a first time mum and really at my wits end :( I just had a little cry in the bathroom.

Ungh, you have my sympathies. No, it won't affect your baby, and it might even benefit them in some way - when they arrive you will (should!) be feeling so much better than you are now that you'll really appreciate the little bugger, even when they wake up every two hours in the night. That was my experience at least!

Have you tried yoga before bed? It's not a magic wand but it certainly makes a difference to me.

General advice is to go with the flow now: you're in the end game. Normal life goes out the window and you sleep when/ how you can. If you can't sleep, try to rest or do something that you enjoy. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your reply!

It’s great hearing that rather than the usual “you think you’re tired now?” As I know for a fact once these hormones calm down and I can get comfortable I’ll be able to sleep loads better (and pass baby to DH if I do need a sleep)

I Actually do guided meditation each night for my hypnobirthing last night and my partner does gentle back touching but I wasn’t with him last night so that could be the reason I struggled to get any sleep last night…. I do need to pick back up with yoga as I was on it earlier in the pregnancy but my pelvic girdle pain means I can’t do much and have crutches and tummy supports in the day :(

How long has it been going on? I had insomnia around week 36/37, and then it vanished for the last two weeks - almost like my body realised it needed to rest before labour!

Also, ignore any 'you think you're tired now' comments - with my second I found the quality of sleep with a newborn was better than during the last bit of pregnancy! You get less/it's very broken, but actually can feel more restful compared to the insomnia/pregnancy sleep!

I hear you on being worried about going into labour/newborn stage tired - that must be worrying for you. All I can say is I had an exhausting 4 day labour with ds, but he slept like a dream for the first 24 hours which let me recover, and as much as it was exhausting and felt all encompassing at the time, now he's 2 it feels like a very small part of my overall journey as a parent with him! We didn't have any of the golden hour etc because I was passing out, but my bind with him has not suffered - so you will be ok I promise!!

My bond* with him - typing one handed while feeding dd!

I definitely felt better once the kids were out than when I was carrying them around! The first two weeks were pretty surreal, but the sleep deprivation was full of happy hormones too and it really reminded me of how I felt in fresher's week at uni 😂

Perhaps a pregnancy massage may help?

I’m 34 weeks as of tomorrow with number 2 & my sleep has been soo awful this pregnancy that I know I’ll be getting more quality sleep after baby is here. Pregnancy exhaustion is so bloody difficult can’t wait to have baby out least husband will be on duty then too 😆

I'm 34w pregnant with my second child and experiencing insomnia. I had it when pregnant with my daughter too.
For me even though of course there is sleep deprivation in the newborn phase, it was better than being pregnant and I slept better when I was able to grab sleep. I hope the same is true for you, there's nothing worse than people making light of insomnia with comments about it getting worse soon. That's not even necessarily true.
Nap when you can if that works, just grab any sleep possible. This was easier for me with my first than it is with a toddler this time but I'm still getting the odd snooze and it all adds up.
Your baby will be ok, and the adrenaline will get you through labour. Sending empathy your way though, it sucks!

I had that last week. It seems tocome in phases throughout the whole pregnancy. I would say try to get out even for short walk in the mornings(unless you have to stay up late). Sunlight really helps.
Cut off caffeine as early as you can too(For me before 12) as it is processed very slowly now- I had a 70percent chocolate bar at 7pm(pre pregnancy that would be fine for me) and couldnt sleep until 4am(usually sleep 10-11).

Bless you- insomnia is the worst. Some good tips in previous posts. I would chuck everything at it- relaxing bath with lavender, camomile tea, eye mask, audio book/ meditation on low. I liked those “space masks” that heat up. Pregnancy massage could help. Also just try and grab zzzs when you can, I’d start the “bedtime routine” really early so it takes the pressure off, then no biggie if you don’t drop off instantly.

Don’t stress about being tired for labour/ the new baby- again as everyone has said- adrenaline will kick in and it’s a totally different vibe once they are out. Hope you get a bit more zzz tonight.

I had non sleeping babies but it was still preferable to pregnancy insomnia. My only recommendation is that I listened to hypnobirthing techniques that really helped and tried to stay as cool as possible (easier said than done.) Good luck

It’s great to hear stories like this thank you so much :) I hope my LO comes out and sleeps well even just for 24 hours - I need to rest! It’s lovely to hear that despite no GH you bonded easily with him

it’s weird because I had the burst of energy around a week and a half ago and I was so ready for labor to maybe start then? I think I’m also so fed up at this bit, I can’t get out much due to my PGP :( I had low iron so I’ve been on tablets which did help at first and my iron went up a little bit but I just feel back at the start with the exhaustion.

I have it in my head that LO is coming early so every day just seems like I’m wishing my pregnancy away which is sad but honestly I’ve not enjoyed it very much at all x

Take me back to the party days 😂 I’d be very happy with that. I find it crazy thinking back to early adulthood and how I would do a full day after no sleep and partying the night before, I guess you’re right it’s all those hormones bouncing around!

It also makes me laugh the places people would sleep during that time, pals sofa top and tail with someone you’ve never met? But now I need the room to be a perfect temperature, audio relaxation on and lavender oil on my pillow - that was even before the pregnancy! X

I’m glad I’m not the only one looking forward to DP taking some of the workload now! 😭

Thank you, I will have a look at pregnancy massage I had a few massages earlier in the pregnancy but I’m so uncomfortable at this point I couldn’t imagine lying or sitting for too long. I’m really lucky that my partner does little relaxation things with me each night (I listen to hypnobirthing/ audiobooks and he gives me a little rub or a back tickle) but it might be time to call the professionals x

Aww, I don’t know how you bunch do it after having your first - literal superheroes. I want a second but the idea of a toddler and feeling like this sounds so hard 💐

I’m glad so many people have said newborn sleep is better, I’m just excited to share the load with my partner at this point. I think that’s the hardest part is that you can detatch yourself from the situation, I just feel kinda stuck.

Did you get a small boost of energy before labor began? I’ve heard that happens a lot x

A massage sounds like what you need, and I think just chat to whoever is foing to do it and explain how you're feeling, they might be able to alternate between you sitting and lying etc - especially of they semi-specialise in pregnancy massage!

I love the description of newborn sleep haze being like freshers, never thought of it like that before but it absolutely is! Minus the heavy drinking obvs 🤣

I hear you on worrying about wishing away the pregnancy - but it's ok to really not enjoy pregnancy, it does not make you any less grateful or a worse mother! You can find things hard and still be showing up every day and doing amazing work growing your baby and keeping them safe, which is exactly what you're doing right now!

I'm sorry you dealt with this too - it’s rubbish. I do find going out helps but struggling atm with PGP :( I also eat pretty healthy and have sugar and caffeine as a treat but I didn’t even think about dark chocolate as it’s usually my go to also (I literally just had Greek yog with peanut butter and a bit of dark chocolate on top as my dessert!) I will definitely be cutting that back, thank you!

Thank you @NWnature I will definitely be implementing some extras to my sleep routine. I always like to think about myself as having super healthy habits where I can (eating good, meditating, reading, herbal teas) but I think I need to start taking it seriously as often times I’ll still have my phone near or some kind of distraction. I’m also finding everywhere way too hot, which is odd as I have low BP and low iron which usually leaves me freezing! Fingers crossed tonight is my lucky night!

@Nttttt it's honestly amazing to me thinking back to how little sleep I had surrounding my daughter's arrival but how energised I was, and that I was able to do it. So even though pregnancy and childbirth are so tough I think one of the reasons I'm willing to go through it again is because I know now what my body is capable of and that I just need to get through it.
This time I feel much less guilty about not enjoying pregnancy! Even though this second baby is planned to be our last, I can't wait for pregnancy to be over. Very ready to meet this baby now!

Ohh Yes.! Hypnobirthing has been helping me get through this definitely, I’ve tried to do some every night with partner doing light touch massage which has been helpful at times. Thank you for reassuring me @fantasticoplastico that newborn sleep is better than this, it seems so many people feel this way and it’s actually making me more excited x