Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Pregnancy insomnia - when will it stop?

42 replies

Bumperlicious · 21/03/2010 07:56

I'm 13 weeks and haven't slept a full night in 3 months. I just keep waking up and struggling to get back to sleep. I'm absolutely knackered!

Is this it for me? Will I not get a full night's sleep for the next 2 years now? I'm so tired, what can I do? I already go to bed early to try and compensate, but it doesn't seem to make any difference whether I go to bed at 9 or 11, I'm still knackered.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 02:22

Argghhh! Can't sleep!

I am having semi lucid dreams about the childcare voucher/preschool thing that I can't switch off from, or if I do it is replaced by the Dora theme tune. I haven't watched Dora today but I don't know why, it is driving me mad! My neck is killing me, I'm going to have to take more paracetamol. I'm so fed up.

I listen to Harry Potter on my iPod when I go to bed so I don't usually have trouble getting to sleep, it's staying asleep. I have the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs, I have Paul Mckenna, Glen Harrold, you name it! But I'm not good with those types of CDs, I don't know why, especially when I still feel nauseous (neck ache isn't helping).

God, someone put me out of my misery.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 16:04

Have been to the doctor after not getting back to sleep last night and being in work at 5.30, and she has reluctantly given me some sleeping tablets. I had to wait 45 minutes for my appointment and was basically falling asleep in the waiting room and fairly incoherent.

She has also signed me off work for a week which is a mixed blessing as at least I can sleep when I need to but all I can think about is the work I will have to do when I get back!

OP posts:

MorrisZapp · 23/03/2010 16:27

I feel your pain. I've had insomnia all my life but now am PG I'm not allowed to take pills for it.

So I don't know if I have PG insomnia or if it's just my normal insomnia, unmedicated.

It toally sucks.

VeronicaCake · 23/03/2010 17:09

I got signed off work from insomnia a couple of weeks ago too, and like you could only worry about all the work I'd have to catch up on on my return.

But I'm back at work now and it did help overall. Focus on using this week to help reduce your anxiety about sleep - it doesn't matter if you don't fall asleep until late, and if you wake early there is no need to lie awake stressing because you have to be in work in 3 hours, 2.5 hours, 2 hours etc... You can get up confident that if you feel exhausted later on you can still take a nap.

It is incredibly hard not to fret when you are sleep deprived. You may find if you get a couple of good nights sleep your anxiety about work will diminish of its own accord, so focus on the sleep rather than on the work-related anxiety first of all.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 17:37

Thanks VC, and to everyone else for the rest of the replies.

OP posts:

lelarose · 23/03/2010 18:07

Hey ladies I'm right there with you, just got in from very difficult day at work as was awake all last night, yet again. Cried my eyes out all the way home in the car like a crazy woman. I have, out of sheer desperation, booked to see a hypnotherapist in a couple of days about this so will let you know if that seems helpful.

The other thing people could try is reiki, which is a holistic therapy that works really well for a lot of people. As does aromatherapy massage.

MorrisZapp- I too have always been an insomniac and am really struggling without being able to take pills. I think you spoke to me on another thread about scans. When you don't sleep its just incredibly hard to deal with that kind of stuff which is difficult at the best of times. So can empathise with you on many levels.

All the best to all of you anyway, at least we know we're not alone xx

thesecondcoming · 23/03/2010 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 19:19

Well I'm hoping not to have too many wee small hours

Oh God, do you all judge me for taking them when pg? I promise it'll just be for a couple of nights. GP said every other night. I'm also going to pop to Neal's Yard while I am off. I spent half my last pregnancy in their buying crap for every pg ailment I had and trying lots of different treatments, can't say any of it worked, but at least it made me feel a bit more proactive.

Please don't judge - I just reached breaking point today and couldn't continue working if it it carried on.

OP posts:

BranflakeGirl · 23/03/2010 19:21

I hate insomnia...almost as much as I hate the constant need to pee! I was up every 5 minutes the other night for about 3 and a half hours...just as well I couldn't sleep really

And if we combine the insomia with the peeing with the anti-social behaviour of my neighbours...not a happy bunny at all! More like a homicidal bunny!

I have the greatest sympathy for everyone of you suffering with this. I just wish I had a solution I could share with you all

nickytwotimes · 23/03/2010 19:23

Oh, God, woman, don't feel bad!
That is serious insomnia and needs a bit of help to get back on track.
Neals Yard is herbal stuff, right? Be careful - a lot is contraindicated when pg and when taking meds. SOrry, you probably know this already... but Jeezo, do not feel bad about taking a few pills for what is a seriously debilitating thing.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 20:10

Thanks

You are right about Neal's Yard, but I was thinking Bach Flower Remedies or something, but they are pretty good at telling you what is safe anyway.

OP posts:

lelarose · 23/03/2010 20:17

Bumperlicious- what kind of pills are you taking if you don't mind me asking? Not saying that to judge you in the slightest, just because I'm almost getting to that stage myself...

thesecondcoming · 23/03/2010 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Bumperlicious · 23/03/2010 21:17

It's Zopiclone (means nothing to me). I think I might not even take one tonight as I haven't even napped since last night so I am hopefully going to just sleep. Of course when you are over tired the opposite often happens. But I don't need to get up in the morning now.

I think I'll see if I manage to sleep without then if I wake up and don't go back I will take one. She said every other day, if I really need them.

The other option I was considering was asking for anti depressants. I'm not depressed, though I have all the symptoms (lethargy, not wanting to shower or look after myself, not wanting to speak to people or go out, tiredness) but she said try the sleeping tablets first.

Right, am off to bed now. I hope you all have restful nights.

OP posts:

thesecondcoming · 23/03/2010 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tiredfeet · 24/03/2010 00:52

another one with pregnancy insomnia here. that combined with bad morning sickness has turned me into a bit of a zombie over the past month or so

Bumperlicious I just wanted to say don't feel guilty about taking the tablets, its important you take care of yourself, and if you're that tired it does sound like you need them. I felt incredibly guilty because i had to take tablets for morning sickness for a couple of weeks as i couldn't even keep water down, but I just kept telling myself that on balance it was more important for the baby that I had some food and liquid inside me. Similarly here, you are only doing this because you badly need the sleep now.

I struggled with insomnia for a time at uni though and i do think it is important for the sleeping tablets to only be used infrequently if possible, otherwise its too easy to start to think you won't get to sleep unless you take one. I only twice took actual sleeping tablets, but developed a routine of herbal tablets/ lavender oil / milky drink etc and literally didn't believe I would go to sleep without this whole, it took me a long time to wean myself off them

also- this might sound ridiculously obvious but do check you're not inadvertantly having caffeine or something during the afternoon /evening. I originally had horlicks as part of my nighttime insomnia routine, then realised after several months that despite advertising itself as a nighttime drink it contains caffeine

good luck, and it does sound like things often improve for people shortly, so fingers crossed it will for you (and me!)

MissusRabbit · 24/03/2010 07:51

I think you go through differnt stages of tiredness and insomnia.

I have always been incredibly exhausted dring the first trimester, and never sleep well in the last due to SPD, hip pains and general uncomfortableness. The last month or so (am now 37 weeks) i can;t sleep more than an hour or so at a time..and like today am often awake from 4am (as well as seeing every hour on the clock) but don't feel too bad for it. I aslo was lookingforward to the kids waking at 6am so i could get up!!!! I don't think about how much sleep i've had anymore as it can make you miserable and i can often feel fine.

My kids have always been rubbish sleepers so I could probably count on one hand the number of full nights i've had in 5 years...

I think once you get over this initial exhaustion phase you'll find you're feeling a lot better. The old 'warm bath before bed' has helped me a lot too.....

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread