I thought sleep deprivation started when baby got here...

liz4paws · February 2014

...not in the second trimester! LOL

I am finding myself not sleeping well anymore and it's due to three main reasons - trouble falling asleep, nightmares when I am asleep, and having to pee constantly - usually five times a night.

I know what I signed up for and I'm thrilled that I'm here, don't get me wrong. But aside from benedryl, does anyone have any tips for sleeping better? I'm on-call for work next week which means getting calls at all hours of the night so benedryl isn't even an option. I can't be drugged up if/when I get called for work. Ugh.

And these nightmares - holy moly. Vivid and terrifying! Am I alone in this? Zombies, ghosts, murderers chasing me, and me shooting people. I wake up with my heart pounding. If anyone else find good tips for sleeping better, dreaming happier dreams, and sleeping through bladder signals a little better, I'm all ears.

BAKERMOMHDS · February 2014

Sorry to hear you are having troubles sleeping Liz!! Unfortunately, for myself it's only been worse as the weeks rolled on.

What helps me :

- A warm bath with Johnson and Johnson Vapor baby wash, about 1 hour before bed.

- My OB had me slow down the water drinking after 7pm. That has helped with the bathroom trips. And watch my sodium intake during the day...

- I take a benadryl nightly.

- I try to read something super fun in bed about 30min before I try to fall asleep. Like a good magazine, or book.. helps me relax and takes my mind away from work / stress.

- If you suffer from allergies / asthma, make a trip to the asthma doc.My meds were switched up, and I have found the congestion / breathing issues I had at night are much better.

- Lastly (this is hard for some folks) I ditched the TV/ all electronics from our bedroom. No electronics about an hour before bed..

Best of luck to you

twistsandturnsto2 · February 2014

Every now and then I will take half a unisom before bed if I really need to sleep. It helps put me out without making me feel like a complete zombie the next day!

Other than that I just try to deal with it the best I can!

MJC1116 · February 2014

I went through a patch of sleepless nights during my 2nd trimester. I'd fall asleep okay but then wake up and have hours of being wide awake and then conveniently fall asleep right before I get up for work. PPs had great suggestions. It didn't last the whole time for me. And some nights when I was so tired and afraid to wake up and be restless, I'd take a Unisom to at least guarantee one good night's rest. Good luck!

DagnyDoo · February 2014

It's training your body for when the baby does get here! I'm certainly far from a model sleeper, but I found that being really comfortable (i.e., investing in a pregnancy pillow and creating a nest for myself of pillows and blankets) helped a bit. I've also lately been putting my iPod on a sleep timer with super mellow songs to help drown my thoughts out. (I accidentally included one song that apparently makes me think of an ex, though, so proceeded to have crazy dreams about him all night. Don't make that mistake!) And, most importantly, I squeeze my bladder dry of every drop before climbing into bed. Good luck! I hope you get some rest!

JSM0801 · February 2014

Ugh, I feel your pain! I am up all night peeing. The problem for me is I wake up parched all throughout the night, so I wake up and chug water, and then of course have to pee 5 times. It's so annoying!! I haven't had an zombie dreams or anything, but I had a dream last night that I went in for an u/s and had the worlds ugliest babies with enormous noses, and I was hysterical! Luckily, babies looked precious with perfect side profiles at u/s today

Sorry, I have no tips for you! But if you are ever uncomfortable trying to sleep on your side, I would highly recommend a body pillow. Mine has seriously changed my life!!

On a completely different note, I meant to tell you last week how very sorry I am about the loss of your donor's daughter, and I forgot. What an unimaginable horrible tragedy. No one should ever have to experience that. Thinking of you and the family. XO

JennyS86 · February 2014

I agree the most with MJC above, I go to sleep fine, but then I wake up 4 hours later and cannot go back to sleep! Thankfully the last week or so has gradually been getting better. Last night I woke up only once to pee, but then went back to sleep in under 30 minutes. I slept from 11pm to 8am! I was very proud of myself! haha I always took sleep for granted before.

I also have crazy dreams. I try not to eat as many sweets before bed, and that seems to help for me a little bit.

Hopeful1029 · February 2014

Ugh, I feel your pain, and then some.....I'm allergic to Benadryl and can not take a sleep aid. I'm up every hour because I'm dying of thirst/have to pee/ or just because. I found doing a few yoga stretches and moisturizing with Johnson and Johnson's nighttime lotion helps me fall back to sleep more quickly.

katekat8721 · February 2014

Ha, no sleep here. I go to bed by nine, wake up around 12, again at 3 then finally at 4 when I say screw it and get up for good. Good practice for babies I guess?

I take a bath before bed, turn all off electronics, read for a bit before turning off the light and pop half a unisom to help me go back to sleep when I wake up. I think sleeplessness, nightmares and (just wait!) leg cramps and hand numbing is just par for the course!

BBColt78 · February 2014

I agree to the Unisom. I haven't used it but heard it's amazing!

RosyGlow · February 2014

I've been using essential oils of Lavender to help me fall asleep. I buy a 100% certified therapeutic grade that is wonderful. I rub it on my feet, wrists, and chest before bed. I'm also doing the same with a blend of oils called "Serenity" that has really decreased my night terrors. You can also diffuse essential oils, which is nice. I use the doterra brand. They have made a big difference for me and for DH too!

sarah_beth2005 · February 2014

I feel ya, I've been sleep deprived for months! Seems like it started in the first tri, when I had to pee every.single.freaking.hour.on.the.hour, and just hasn't let up. Now I only pee about 3 times each night, but every time I get up, I'm thirsty, so I drink more water...then it takes forever to get comfortable again, and by the time I do get comfortable, I'm thirsty and have to pee again. Vicious cycle every night! Sometimes I can get a full 4 hours of sleep at a time, but usually no more than 2-3 hours (sometimes less). it sucks, but at least I know that I can function with this kind of sleep cycle, so hopefully it will make it less of a shock when the babies come and I'm up every 2 hours!

liz4paws · February 2014

FANTASTIC tips, ladies! More than I had even hoped for! You are awesome! Thanks!

Cutiecruz327 · February 2014

I hear ya! I've been waking up the past week & a half anywhere between 2-4 and I'm up for 2hours. If I can fall asleep I can't stay asleep. I'm only six weeks but I'm a back sleeper. Sleeping on my side is sooo uncomfortable. I bought a body pillow today, I hope it helps. I hope you all get some sleep soon!

krdesi · February 2014

Oy! I have had a few not so nice dreams, but nothing crazy like you're having!

The whole getting up to pee multiple times is totally getting on my nerves though! I walk to the bathroom like a zombie and have trouble waking up for the day when it's time! Then of course, I don't even have to pee THAT much, which really puts the icing on that annoying cake! lol

Hope your sleep gets better soon!

xtina78 · February 2014

Totally. Lots of nightmares. I had what seemed like a really long dream where I was fleeing a Zombie apocalypse while pregnant. In the dream I broke into someone's house to steal supplies and saw some tampons and I remember thinking in the dream "at least I don't need to take those." Weird. Currently at about three pees per night which doesn't help either. I think I might try what PP said about the lavender.

chucktgirl · February 2014

Oh geez, Liz, you have to stop watching Criminal Minds! Scary dreams suck. I have very vivid dreams, but not usually scary. I also can't get a full night's sleep in. The worst is that I always wake up about an hour before my alarm goes off. There's another lost hour! I'm glad you posed this question. I didn't even know I can take Benedryl! I wish Pregnancy came with an instant instruction manual in your head! I have another friend who also swears by the oils, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. Good luck to us all!

firesiren · February 2014

Between nightmares, peeing, and my new thing..... waking up with my left leg cold and numb.... I sleep horrible. I just started doing the lavender lotion thing. It seems to help. I'm always tired though.

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