What do you do to help you sleep?

babyW15 · August 2014

Do you use extra pillows? Do you sleep a certain way? Do you take any medications to help you sleep?

Lanatir · August 2014

Magnesium sometimes helps me. We have caplets that are 400 mg a piece. I take one. Usually within an hour I feel drowsy and can fall asleep.

Otherwise, this doesn't always work for some people, but watching tv in a dim room actually puts me to sleep. I guess I'd fit in with the test group of a study that I read once that claimed people register less brain activity while watching tv than sleeping... My main problem falling asleep is my brain won't shut off, so that is perfect for me. DH HAD to have a WiiU, so I watch Netflix on the little hand held game pad in bed and almost always fall asleep before whatever episode I turn on is over. And if I don't wake up, the WiiU does shut itself off after a period of inactivity.

Stargirlb · August 2014

Limit unnatural light after 5pm. Dim the lights after supper, avoid screen time an hour before you want to go to sleep. Otherwise you will delay production of melatonin.

I can't give up my pre-bedtime laptop time, so I downloaded https://justgetflux.com which will automatically dim your screen and change the tint so that it takes away the blue light. It's AMAZING you seriously must use it if you use your computer at night.

musicgal05 · August 2014

I put a pillow between my knees (side-sleeper) to help with the pain I get in my hips if I don't. That's the only trick I've had to do, otherwise, I fall asleep super quick because I'm just so exhausted by the end of the day.

Speaking of exhaustion.. I'd love a nap right now.

stayhealthy · August 2014

I've been waking up about 3-4 hours into my sleep each night lately. I usually lay there for what seems like a long time to me (but I'm not checking the clock) and then fall asleep. I try to gauge the time on how light/dark it is outside my bedroom window. My dog is my alarm clock.

My mom says cherries have helped her lately. She eats a few frozen ones before bed each night. Guess I should be trying that... Otherwise, I just lay there and accept some pregnancy related sleeplessness.

Stargirlb · August 2014

look at night waking as preparing you for the early nights of feeding the baby

SpaceGirlSpiff · August 2014

I have been having aches and pains lately while sleeping and have been tossing and turning a lot .. I try to use a regular body pillow between my legs and sleep on my side which kind of helps, but not enough... it's worse this time around compared to my first pregnancy

My Mom was generous enough to offer to buy me one of those fancy maternity pillows ...I think it's the Leachco Back 'n Belly contoured body pillow that completely wraps around and gives support and the front and back as well when you're on your side...and I think it's supposed to help support if you need to lay on your back as well. I figured it's worth a try....it's on order from Amazon now and I should get it on Thursday.

Curbs12 · August 2014

I take Benadryl to help me fall asleep and sleep with like 6 pillows surrounding me.

JVLaura23 · August 2014

I take 1 tab of Benadryl each night (I used to take melatonin religiously but my OB advised me to get off it before trying to conceive and while pregnant). Suffered from insomnia my whole life but the small dose of Benedryl plus the tiredness of pregnancy has seemed to work for me so far. Still up 3-4 times a night to pee though!

shannjohnston · August 2014

20-30 minutes of reading. Fan on max for the cold air and white noise. Sometimes ear plugs as well. All the shutters and curtains drawn - very dark. I make sure to have peed and that there's no trace of hunger. Memory foam pillow for my head - not big enough to need one between my legs yet, but I have one on hand for when I do.

luciddreamer106 · August 2014

In addition to the advice above, I sometimes take 1/2 unisom to help me fall asleep.

jennyhatt · August 2014

I often take a relaxing bath, stretch, sometimes meditate if I need to clear my thoughts or read for half an hour before bed. I sleep with a pillow between my legs now. I never watch anything too stimulating before bed (anything crime drama keeps my head spinning).

Latham12 · August 2014

CrazyMonkeyBear said:
I take a benadryl when my allergies are bad; if not that, I'll generally take 1.5mg to 3mg of melatonin if I have to work the next day. I use my snoogle. Between the two, it seems to help me.

Melatonin is not safe for pregnancy...

I use a snoogle and love it. I also try to read something boring before bed lol If it's really bad I use Unisom.

4littlebears · August 2014

Stargirlb said:
look at night waking as preparing you for the early nights of feeding the baby

This is exactly how I look at it. But I side sleep with a pillow between my legs. With my first, I couldn't stop back sleeping. I seriously peopled myself up on like 7 pillows so I was practically sleeping sitting up! Strange!

sparksfly22 · August 2014

Latham12 said:

CrazyMonkeyBear said:
I take a benadryl when my allergies are bad; if not that, I'll generally take 1.5mg to 3mg of melatonin if I have to work the next day. I use my snoogle. Between the two, it seems to help me.
Melatonin is not safe for pregnancy...

I use a snoogle and love it. I also try to read something boring before bed lol If it's really bad I use Unisom.

Yes, melatonin is not good.. My doctor made me get off it and take Benadryl instead so I take this and sleep with a pillow between my legs and an extra fan to help me stay asleep. I get thirsty a lot though with night time dry mouth so I have a cup of water next to my bed which makes me get up often

Cbeanz · August 2014

Stargirlb said:

Limit unnatural light after 5pm. Dim the lights after supper, avoid screen time an hour before you want to go to sleep. Otherwise you will delay production of melatonin.

I can't give up my pre-bedtime laptop time, so I downloaded https://justgetflux.com which will automatically dim your screen and change the tint so that it takes away the blue light. It's AMAZING you seriously must use it if you use your computer at night.

I am loving this Flux app!

SRose1005 · August 2014

My doctor told me to take unisom, so that's what I've been using.

llambrose · August 2014

Before getting pregnant I took trazadone to sleep and it was amazing! I slept all night, hardly ever woke up. My doctor told me to switch to Unisom while pregnant which helps but not a ton, I take up at least 4 times a night to pee/change positions.

rodiesmum · August 2014

Lotsof pillows. I still wake up at 3-4 though so i sometimes lay around if not go clean the kitchen or start bfast so id just have to reheat and not have a crazy morning. Pack the lunches and clean until i feel sleepy again.

Saracp78 · August 2014

Warm bath or shower (raising your body temp and then having it fall puts you at rest). Our power bill is up because I keep the house cooler at night and I love my sleep pillow, snoogle

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