Insomnia

MrsKubley

I haven't slept through the night since November. I don't have to get up to pee, I'm not uncomfortable yet, and I don't have heartburn. I fall asleep just fine at 11pm, I wake up every morning at 3-4am. I don't know what to do, I have to get up at 6:30 so I can't take anything at 3-4am.
Is anyone else dealing with this? I'm at the point where it's been going on so long that I just feel sick all the time and I break down and sob when I realize I'm not going to get back to sleep.
I get that four or five hours isn't the worst sleep, I have a toddler so I've been through the kid not sleeping through the night phase. The problem is that I'm having twins and I run a small daycare. I spend 9 hours a day caring for two 1 1/2 year olds and an 8 month old with no breaks (sometimes not even lunch for me). Taking a nap is not an option. I'm so tired that there's been a few times I've broken down and ugly cried in front of the kids.

Sorry for the rambling post, mostly I mean to ask if anyone else has this problem and what did you do?

TheThornBird

Yup, I've had this since the day we conceived. I take unisom (the doxylamine kind) every night about a half hour before bed. Works like a charm. It's rated category B and my OB says it's totally safe.

rlworzalla

I can usually fall asleep but by 5am I'm awake. It only started a week ago but it sucks!

TXmamatobe

I second unisom! I started taking it along with vitamin B6 as a nausea remedy and it also really helps me fight the insomnia. I don't feel groggy in the morning and it's not a heavy sleep aid that completely knocks you out. It just eases you to sleep and helps you stay that way.

Merciel

I've been using Unisom regularly too, with my doctor's approval.

I don't think I'd be functional without it, honestly.

MrsKubley

Sadly the only thing unisom does is make me sleepy in the first place, doesn't keep me asleep. Ive tried two different kinds.
I've also tried Benadryl, I still wake up between 3 and 4 with the added bonus of being super groggy the next day.

DanandVan

I always suffer from pregnancy insomnia. It sucks!!! The only way I survive is falling alseep whenever my 2 yr old does. It get a few decent hours of sleep before the insomia kicks in. Then I allow myself to watch netflix, clean the house, I even taught myself to sew with my last pregnancy. Then I try going back to sleep around 4. I've found it is better to just get up and do something instead of trying to go to sleep for hours.
It never ceases to amaze me that the very second the baby is born, I could sleep for weeks. Nature can be too cruel...

MrsKubley

DanandVan said:

I always suffer from pregnancy insomnia. It sucks!!! The only way I survive is falling alseep whenever my 2 yr old does. It get a few decent hours of sleep before the insomia kicks in. Then I allow myself to watch netflix, clean the house, I even taught myself to sew with my last pregnancy. Then I try going back to sleep around 4. I've found it is better to just get up and do something instead of trying to go to sleep for hours.
It never ceases to amaze me that the very second the baby is born, I could sleep for weeks. Nature can be too cruel...

This is exactly me, I sleep so much better when they're out!!
Usually if I can't sleep I'll get up and watch tv or clean something. The problem is that this has been going on so long and so severely this time that while I'm wide awake, I'm so exhausted I can't get out of the bed.

wamam027

I don't know if you're a believer in homeopathic type stuff, but these are the only things I've used to combat insomnia even prior to pregnancy. Traditional medicinals has a killer lavender chamomile tea that I drink after dinner time every night with a little honey. When I get into bed and do my relaxation techniques that Bradley Method has us practice every night, I diffuse lavender and or Doterra's serenity blend in my bedroom. I do my relaxation and then I fall asleep and let the diffuser run until it turns off. If you don't want to diffuse, lavender is a completely safe oil to apply to the bottom of your feet every night before bed while pregnant, you can even rub some under your nose so you're breathing it in while you fall asleep. This works like a charm for DH and I both. Sorry you're having these issues, it really is no fun at all.

Kurrant

I have always had sleep issues but pregnancy is making it much worse. I hate to take stuff to knock me out. I used to take stuff and found myself getting extremely dependent on it. I have had the same issue with sinus meds and migraine meds. I'm not criticizing people who take stuff, it's just not for everyone.

On days where I go for an hour walk after 6pm I fall asleep easier even after getting up to pee or just from DH snoring. I also find that I mug of warm vanilla honey milk puts me to sleep pretty nicely. I have *never* been a fan of the whole warm milk thing but trust me . . . a touch of vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey is just so yummy.

jessib899

I'm the exact same way, bed by 11, up in the middle of the night multiple times, then have to be up by 6:30. My husband doesn't help staying up playing video games since he works later hours, but I can't seem to sleep as well when he's not in bed. I too take unisom every night, but insomnia still hits. Does anyone taking it regularly worry your baby will have sleep problems too, having his own dependency on it?

MrsKubley

I love all you ladies for trying to help me! And I feel like a jerk every time I say the advice won't work, I'm sorry.

@ncm0328 I love lavender usually but any strong smells bring back the morning sickness. Even ones I love.

@Kurrant I don't drink milk, the thickness makes me gag. I have weird food texture issues.

That said I think I slept 11-5 last night for the first time since thanksgiving!! Didn't do anything different so I hope it wasn't a fluke!

MrsKubley

jessib899 said:

I'm the exact same way, bed by 11, up in the middle of the night multiple times, then have to be up by 6:30. My husband doesn't help staying up playing video games since he works later hours, but I can't seem to sleep as well when he's not in bed. I too take unisom every night, but insomnia still hits. Does anyone taking it regularly worry your baby will have sleep problems too, having his own dependency on it?

If it makes you feel better I took it with my son and he has consistently slept through the night on his own from 2 months old. The only time we have problems is teething.

MrsKubley

Sigh, didn't last. I've been up since 2am

balamama

I have a sinking feeling the insomnia is setting in for me. The past three nights I've been waking up and not able to fall back asleep, even with benedryl last night. It definitely doesn't help that I have to get up to pee at least 2-3 times a night so my new plan is to stop drinking water a couple of hours before bedtime.

nerdymama15

I don't have the insomnia from pregnancy yet (had some in 1st trimester but it went away), but my sleep is seriously interrupted by pain.  If I lay on my left side my hip and one side of my back will hurt until I turn over.  If I lay on my right side then my back will hurt on the opposite side.  I start off sleeping for about an hour to two hours before the pain kicks in.  I have a body pillow, but still the pain can become unbearable at times.  And then my DH gets up to go to work which means I have four hours left before I have to get up and go to work.  Then I struggle to sleep or stay asleep until right around the time the alarm clock decides to go off.  I am seriously not amused by all this.  Then to top it off, on the weekends/days off I keep waking up on my own way earlier than I get up during the week, but yet I could totally sleep late during the week.  It is so backwards!