NBR: insomnia

DCKate

any tips on how to deal with this? I think part of my problem is that my own sleep cycle is messed up from DD's being crazy for the last few weeks. But I am also home with an active toddler, so falling asleep shouldn't be a problem!

Help!

OhBaby+2013

Ok, so I took a class in university (10 years ago) all about sleep. One of the ways I learned to cope with insomnia was to make sure that as soon as you are tired, go to bed. Also, if you wake up at night and can't go back to sleep you should get out of bed and go to a different room. This might sound strange but you should go read or watch tv. And as soon as you feel sleepy go straight back to bed. You need to recondition your body to understand that your bed is for sleeping not lying awake. I've used this strategy myself whenever I get insomnia and I've found it to be useful. Good luck, no sleeping sucks!

spainy17

I have issues with sleep and used to be medicated for it so I am there with ya.  I used to take meds when i worked nights and weaned off of them once trying to get pregnant with DD.  I also work day/evening shifts now to help.

My sleep goes to hell once DD's does too, even when she STTN almost like my body is waiting for the next wakeup!  I get anxious about my lack of sleep and that makes my sleep worse, even when exhausted!

I have been doing like the pp said and making sleep my top priority.  I go to bed as soon as I am tired and even doing like 5 minutes of strtching/deep breathing to relax me before doing so.  I take magnesium supplements and melatonin if I need to get back on schedule.  And also similar to the pp, if I am having trouble falling asleep (or getting back to sleep if DD wakes me up) I will switch beds and go into our guest bedroom to lay down.  Sometimes the change in venue is enough to calm me back down.

Hope this helps, you aren't alone!  I struggled with this a lot post partum and I have a little bit of it every time DD goes through a period of getting up at night.