Anybody else with pregnancy insomnia?

[naturalbornmum]

I'm 28 weeks and have been suffering on and off throughout this pregnancy. Is anybody else experiencing this and have you got any suggestion that might help (please!

I have tried baths before bed, redbush tea, relaxing, not napping in the day etc.....

I hope that you all have had a better nights sleep. I fell asleep at 6/30ish and DH woke me up at 9.30 - another story. I took a pirition at 10 and it did make me feel sleepy but i did'nt get off until 2am (think it was because of sleep had earlier). Will try again tonight!!!!

naturalbornmm try taking the piriton a couple of hours before bedtime then start winding down, think nice thoughts.... sleep well!

Hi, I've been having dreadful insomnia on and off for this pregnancy, something that has really helped is a cup of either linden blossom or lemon balm tea. Drunk v early at about 9pm or otherwise I just wake up for a wee - counterproductive!
If any one else tells me sleep deprivation is good practice for when the baby's here I'll sock them!

Hi

So sorry to hear your woes. I too suffer from awful insomnia (now 34 weeks pregnant) which I've been told is hormone related due to the pregnancy. The doctor prescribed me antihistamines (cant remember which ones now) but said you shouldnt really take them in late pregnancy as makes the baby drowsey which is not ideal for birth (though i think that anything before 36 weeks should be fine).

My tips are:

• dont clock watch during the night (i.e. make sure there is nothing in your room with the time on it) as it only makes you more anxious about how much sleep you are not getting. what you dont know doesnt hurt so much
• no internet after 7pm (I am breaking the rule now only because I am going out in a minute and will have half a glass of champagne!)
• no drinking fluids after 7pm so you minimise having to get up in the night. if you do have to get up, then try not to turn any lights on
• make your other half sleep in the spare room (if they will!), as worrying about keeping them awake doesnt help
• catch up on sleep during the day / weekends but dont have too much during the day as it will affect your night time sleep and start a vicous circle
• leave a note pad by your bed so you can write down any thoughts that are keeping you awake, and get them out of your head
• try yoga which will make you relax. also if you wake up in the night focus your mind on your breathing. i find it helps you relax and drift off again.

i think thats it! hope it helps and good luck

X

Hi, I'm 13 weeks at the moment, had insomnia really badly with the first baby (but then am pretty insomniac anyway) and, this time, it's even worse. It's 2am now and I have been thinking about it so much, I thought, 'right, it's time to get on Mumsnet'. And here you all are...

I may try the Piriton and have always done the hot chocolate in the middle of the night thing. I've currently got a cup of camomile tea in front of me and I did read yesterday that there's something at Neal's Yard called 'Perfect sleep' or something. I am going to hotfoot it down there.

DH had such a go at me yesterday about wandering about in the middle of the night that I'm sure that's why I woke up even earlier than usual at 1am. I went to bed at 11am - much later than usual - because I'm so tired, I often go to bed while he's cooking supper at 7/7.30, wake up to eat, have a bath and go back to bed by 9/10. Hopeless routine. I then sleep until maybe 3/4am and then sometimes am awake until P wakes up at 6.30/7. As you've said above, not good in the daytime and end up being a cranky, horrid person. Not good for anybody.

My sister (who doesn't suffer insomnia and writes for a national newspaper - ie does lots of health stories) says I should not stimulate myself and should just lie there and wait to go back to sleep. As she doesn't have insomnia, I don't think she knows how frustrating it is to just lie there. Believe me, I have tried this many times through life! I remember being awake a lot in the night as a child.

More hints and tips would be great as I really would like to get some sleep from 13 weeks...!

I was up at 3-4am most days - the worst ones I'd wake at 1am unable to get to sleep and then of course off to work in the morning. :( It's just practice though!

Yes! I'm 32 weeks and have been up since 5am researching

reusable nappy incentive schemes: webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:www.babykind.co.uk/incentiveschemes.htm

facebook , and how to stop the council building on our heath ( preserve talbot heath, poole)

Magnesium , and how to stop the spasms that have just begin happening at odd times.

and some of the royal college of obstetricians guidelines:
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/guidelines

and youtube: absolutely brilliant hair tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/user/lilithedarkmoon

any jobs I actually NEED to do thus skillfully averted.
xxx work's gonna be interesting today...

PS, if you REALLY want to sleep, try these xxx

www.patient.co.uk/health/Relaxation-Exercises.htm

Just googled insomnia at 26 weeks and this popped up. I thought it was just me worrying about stuff but I've been awake from midnight til gone 4am for the last five nights and I am run down, got a cold and feel like death. I am not managing to sleep in the day either which is a killer :(
In the end I got up, made myself some toast with strawberry jam and a cup
of mint tea. Praying I get some sleep soon.
xx

Hello all - thanks for these messages! I'm 33 weeks pregnancy with no.2 and had preg insomnia for last few weeks. Was up all night last night then had really hectic day and still can't sleep so tonight had an awful panic attack. Has made me feel really rubbish about myself :( Anyway nice to know am not the only one!

Morning, notthe, you are not alone, am 37 wks with number 2 and have managed 2 hours so far tonight......

I'm finding I can't get back to sleep after getting up for a wee. A combination of nap and later bedtime is suiting me better at the moment. All good training for when beanie gets here.