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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Excessive sleep at 36 weeks, this cannot be normal can it??

19 replies

SummerLightning · 06/07/2010 13:07

The last couple of days I have been just so sleepy. I don't actually feel normally tired, yawning, etc but I just can't keep my eyes open.

Sunday night I slept 9pm until 7:30am
I spent all Monday trying to keep my eyes open at work
Came home, slept 6pm to 8:30pm. DH woke me up and I had some tea.
Slept 9:30pm to 8:30am.
Drove to work, felt dangerous as I couldn't keep my eyes open.
Spent all morning at work prodding myself to stay awake
Slept 30 minutes in the car at lunch.
Still can't keep my eyes open!

I only have 3 days work left and I am struggling to get anything done.

Is this normal, surely not? I have upped my Spatone dose to 2 lots a day to see if that will help, but it's not so far.

I never had this first time round, HELP, is there anything I can do to try and help? Should I go to the doctors?

OP posts:
LadyThompson · 06/07/2010 14:34

I don't know if it's normal, SL, maybe someone else can help with that (I had to have a sleep in the middle of every day in the last few weeks before I had DD, something I NEVER normally do)

  1. Can you drink coffee? I know excess coffee is bad, but 2-3 mugs a day is ok
  1. What are you eating? Could it be your blood sugar is getting low? Are you eating a lot of carbs without any protein to slow their GI down? Admittedly I am insulin resistant but High GI foods make me very sleepy.
  1. Not easy when you are at work but can you take any exercise? A walk always helps to wake me up.

Incidentally - just to let you know, if you have pregnancy induced anaemia, the iron in Spatone won't nearly be enough to sort you out - I was anaemic last time and the doses of iron I was prescribed were quite mindblowing! Can you go and get a blood test to check? Either way, I think you ought to let your doc/midwife know.

oldmum42 · 06/07/2010 14:50

probably normal but if it's come on suddenly, maybe you should talk to your MW?

A quick way to check for anemia is to press on your lower eye lid, so that it rolls out words a little, if it is very pale, you may be anemic. if it has redder areas/streaks vissible, you are less likely to be needin the extra iron (which could worsen any preg related bowel problems you have). Again, discuss with MW.

I agree with LADYThomson, maybe too much high GI - if you are also thirsty, it may be a sign of gestational diabetes developing???? That would make our blood sugar swing wildly in response to the "wrong" foods (had this in only the 2nd of my 4 preg, but was able to control it totally by Low GI diet - BTW I had NO symptoms in urine or other symptoms, and it was only picked up due to my accepting my healthboards invitation to a GTT due to my higher than avarage BMI). May also be worth discussing GD with the MW

Of course maybe you are just worn out because you are 36 weeks preg.

MathsMadMummy · 06/07/2010 14:59

get to the Dr and ask for blood tests for iron levels, and probably gestational diabetes.

it's probably just (I say 'just', but man pregnancy is exhausting!) normal pregnancy tiredness but worth checking out especially if it is diabetes

lovechoc · 06/07/2010 14:59

best advice is just go and speak to your MW and get your bloods done to see if there's something going on. it could just be that you really are knackered esp from work.

biggest · 06/07/2010 15:09

I am just jealous you can sleep so much - enjoy it!

traceface · 06/07/2010 15:30

hi Summer. I don't really know but I think I would go to see the MW or at least give them a ring and chat it over. Do you feel well (apart from excessively tired?)

piesey · 06/07/2010 16:50

Definitely go and get checked out -it could be nothing serious but as well as amaemia and diabetes it could be a sign of an underactive thyroid - excessive tiredness was what I had when I was diagnosed (I wasn't pregnant then). I know lots of women who have developed this during pregnancy and this is one of the symptoms. Hope you are ok.

EffiePerine · 06/07/2010 17:49

Def get yourself checked out. Is there any way you can finish work earlier than planned? Remember you're running round after a toddler this time as well as being pg. Those last few weeks can be really difficult. And it's so HOT.

Veggiemummy · 06/07/2010 18:49

The heat doesn't help but you do seem exessively tired. I was often sleepy during the day with DS2 but I wasn't sleeping well at night and as long as I had a nap I could generally keep my eyes open. The thyroid thing sounds plausible. Pregnancy does mess up your thyroid levels. I think best to get it checked out, most preferably in work time !

JollyBear · 06/07/2010 19:36

Hello summer,

Get yourself checked out tomorrow. Being very tired isn't unusual but finding it difficult to stay awake while driving is very concerning.

Can you finish early? Take the next few days as holiday or work from home?

sparkle12mar08 · 06/07/2010 20:02

Agree about getting checked out, but for a comparison, I was also sleeping 12hrs+ every night plus having two 2hr naps a day at the weekends at that stage. It's utterly draining lugging up to an extra third of your body weight around.

xkatyx · 06/07/2010 20:53

Im 8 weeks and pretty much same, this is my 3rd baby.. my self personally i always get exhausted in pregnancy .. at the moment i have to have a little nap about lunch time then usually asleep by 9.30ish. i know first trimester and 3rd are exhausting.
But i must say once i have had a sleep i feel awake, if you still feel tired worth getting check for anemia.

good luck.

Original poster
SummerLightning · 06/07/2010 21:18

Thanks everyone, I have booked an appointment at the doctors. I don't think this is normal, not for me anyway. I am kind of hoping it might go away of it's own accord by then but we shall see.
I came home from work at 3pm, it is only a 15 minute drive but I literally felt like I could fall asleep at any moment, and very dangerous. I was asleep within seconds of getting home and have been asleep most of the time since! It's come on quite suddenly as well, though I was ill on Friday night and I think that's when it all started so hopefully it might just be recovery from a bug or something rather than anaemia or something like that.

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 06/07/2010 21:44

Can you get a lift or a taxi rather than driving? I'm a bit worried about you falling asleep at the wheel .

Original poster
SummerLightning · 07/07/2010 07:57

i think I will have to cycle in, but that means I have nowhere to kip at lunchtime.

I am going to see if my doctors appointment which is tomorrow can be moved to today as the whole thing is a bit scary and DH is away with work from later today until tomorrow and I am scared about managing on my own.

OP posts:
traceface · 07/07/2010 09:14

yes I think you should ask for an appointment today. Am worried about you summer. big hug. Best to get checked before dh goes away. let us know how you get on. xxx

LadyThompson · 07/07/2010 09:57

Yep - keep us posted, petal

Original poster
SummerLightning · 07/07/2010 10:29

Thanks, Been to the docs, nothing wrong in urine check or anything obvious but have had blood tests done for thyroid and iron levels so will see what they come up with.
I think I am feeling a bit better today, but I keep thinking that and then half an hour later I am falling asleep again.

Right may try and get some work done in the small window of awakeness

OP posts:
piesey · 07/07/2010 11:18

Glad you managed to get in to be seen today - I hope that it's nothing serious, but hope the doctor can suggest something to make you feel better.

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