When counting sheep no longer work...

Mizsoccer83

I am glad I do not feel fatigued anymore-I used to have to take naps during the day and was in bed by 8pm to sleep for almost 10-12 hours a night! However, I am now experiencing the exact opposite for the last couple days. I dont sleep at all! I will lay in bed until about 2 in the morning and if I cant sleep by then, I may take a benedryl or tylenol pm (both approved by my doctor) to assist with sleeping...and can still only sleep until around 8:30am. And I am not even tired throughout the day!

Is anyone else experiencing this? What do you do to help fall to sleep?

MandeeFoFandee

I was prescribed Ambien for years before getting pregnant. Needless to say, it's been quite the shock to actually be able to sleep without medication over the last month and a half. I'm sleeping fairly well, but sometimes I do toss and turn a bit. 

I've been counting my breaths (uh, and actually heard of this technique on The Mentalist... love that Patrick Jane). I count in my head... "one" when I inhale and "two" when I exhale, over and over again until I fall asleep. I think of nothing else except the counting and breathing. I feel like it allows my breathing to be much deeper and slower than it would be if I just laid there. 

everydayk

I'm currently using a sleep sheep! It was gifted to me for the baby, but it's awesome. It has 4 nature sounds that play on a timer (shuts off after 20 or 45 minutes). It's really helping, because DH is a loud sleeper (breathing, moving, etc).

Also, sometimes I'll get up and lie on the couch and for some reason I fall right to sleep.

Soon2BKelHdz

I downloaded an app called Relax & Sleep.  It has a nice variety of nature sounds and you can set a timer.  I use it when I'm having trouble with falling asleep and I also remind myself to take deep, long breaths.

Mizsoccer83

I just started doing prenatal yoga and have been doing some deep breathing and since it sounds like it works for you ladies, I will try to incorporate that and some soothing sounds tonight. I sure hope I can sleep this evening! Thanks!

sdlaura

I have the same problem.  My usual tactic is to start at 300 and count backward by 3's in my head (so 300, 297, 294, etc) because it makes me concentrate a bit and doesn't allow any space for my mind to run crazy about other things.

If I try to fall asleep for more than 20 minutes, I get up and go in the other room and read for a little bit, and then go back to bed - that pretty much always works for me.  In fact I'm thinking of getting a little book light so that I can read without getting up and without turning on a brighter light and disturbing DH.

JessMike07

MandeeFoFandee:

I was prescribed Ambien for years before getting pregnant. Needless to say, it's been quite the shock to actually be able to sleep without medication over the last month and a half. I'm sleeping fairly well, but sometimes I do toss and turn a bit. 

I've been counting my breaths (uh, and actually heard of this technique on The Mentalist... love that Patrick Jane). I count in my head... "one" when I inhale and "two" when I exhale, over and over again until I fall asleep. I think of nothing else except the counting and breathing. I feel like it allows my breathing to be much deeper and slower than it would be if I just laid there. 

LOL I love this!! My husband loves the mentalist. For me its not one of those shows I HAVE to watch. This is a great idea. And the sleep app is a great idea. I will be stealing both when I can't fall back to sleep.