Let's talk about sleeping (or lack there of)

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

The last couple weeks I've found it almost impossible to fall asleep in bed at night. I have leg cramps which keep me up and then I start thinking about everything and have anxiety keep me up. If I do dose off I wake up having to pee and then can't fall back asleep. The only thing that I've found that lets me sleep is going downstairs and sleeping on the couch with the tv on.

Anyone have any tricks that work to fall/stay asleep?

Btw, I'm 30 weeks.

kindlycrystal · August 2015

I'm almost 29 weeks and have had similar issues. We have a noise machine that helps both DH and I sleep (about $20 on Amazon). I put it on the 'rain' setting and turn it to a comfortable, but not loud, level and leave it on. It helps quiet my brain, which is usually the main reason I can't sleep. I also make a nest of pillows to support my back and legs. Makes getting up at night a bit harder, but I find I sleep longer.

Hope that helps and you can get some rest.

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

I had not thought about a noise machine, the problem is that DH needs silence to sleep, wonder if there is an app I could put on my phone and use headphones with....

1stComesLove421 · August 2015

I'm 29 weeks and haven't been able to sleep at night. We have an 11 month old, so I've had to sleep during her nap time... Which doesn't seem long enough!

For me I just get burst of energy at night and lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. Then of course when I do get all comfy I have to pee!

leah665 · August 2015

Yes! Between trying to get comfortable, getting my brain to shut off, leg cramps, weird dreams, and having to pee I'm having a horrible time sleeping. I've broken down and I take a Benadryl once or twice a week when I know I don't have to be up early in the morning...

310mbr · August 2015

Same! I am tossing and turning for a good hour. Then I finally get to sleep only to have to pee. Then I'm up again for two hours usually. Then alarm goes off at 515 ugh.....

310mbr · August 2015

Me too I usually use the benedryl on weekends as I have a hard time waking up from it during the work week.

4littles · August 2015

Sleep..hmm not sure I remember what that is.

kindlycrystal · August 2015

oywiththepoodlesalready said:

I had not thought about a noise machine, the problem is that DH needs silence to sleep, wonder if there is an app I could put on my phone and use headphones with....

I Googled 'noise machine app' and found some for both iOS and Android. I have a similar issue with light. DH needs total darkness to sleep, but I prefer to have a little light to see by so I don't trip on one of my many late night bathroom runs. Flashlight on my phone has been getting a lot of use.

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

oywiththepoodlesalready said:
I had not thought about a noise machine, the problem is that DH needs silence to sleep, wonder if there is an app I could put on my phone and use headphones with....

What kind of phone do you have? There's an iPhone app called Sleep Time that has some ambient noises you can play. I don't know if there's an Android version.

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

The last 3 nights I haven't truly slept at all. I will fall asleep, but I can't get deep, restful sleep. DD is pretty chill at bedtime, so unless I get heartburn, that's not an issue.

Getting comfortable, having to pee, getting my husband to stop trying to grab my boob . . . All of that is a problem.

But the biggest issue is the middle of the night where all I can do is lay in the dark and wish I were asleep.

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

I have an iPhone and I did find the app. Going to try it out tonight. I'm also wondering if the emotional outbursts are hermional or due to lack of sleep

gisjas · August 2015

RE Leg Cramps,Make Sure You Are Not Dehydrated And Maybe Have A Half Banana Before Bed, I Read The Potassium Helps.

Re Needing To Pee, Try Not To DrInk WaterAbout An Hour Before Bed.Works For Me These Days.

Good Luck.

RainNFyre · August 2015

Sleep hasn't been issue, but I mostly work third shift, so only share my bed with my lazy dogs who also sleep during the day. Our master bedroom is purposely decorated super dark (navy blue walls, gray silk blackout curtains, etc). It's also on the third floor, so you can't hear ANYTHING that happens in the rest of the house. I turn on some Netflix and ta da! However, on nights when I'm a normal human and sleep with my husband, those are terrible. How do you handle having another person in your space? I love you, now go away. DH also tends not to fit on the bed between my pillow menagerie, puppies and belly. Maybe in October? November? Merry Christmas!

shantyrae · August 2015

One word: SNOOGLE

zaclina · August 2015

Yes, preach to the Snoogle poster. It is a glorious thing. I do stretches and drink a lot of water to help with the cramps. Add in a fan to cool down our upstairs room and give me some white noise and I'm pulling in a solid 5-7 hours depending on the night.

gograce · August 2015

My only thing with not drinking anything an hour before bed is I'm always thirsty!! I think I'd die if I restricted my water intake an hour before bedtime. I always want it more when I don't/can't have it.
I felt like I was awake as much as I was asleep last night. Woke up with a horrible headache I never could get rid of. Napped this evening, but it didn't help. Made me feel worse.
Hope we all get some decent sleep tonight.

AimeesBigDay · August 2015

Omg me too!!!! So bad it's not even funny. I'm 32 weeks and ever since I hit the third trimester it seems like I have really bad insomnia. I cannot fall asleep for the life of me. I'm wide awake until about 3 or 4 am. I also have really really bad restless leg syndrome. So I'm up super late and then super tired and sleep most of the day since I'm on bed rest. The third trimester I'm so uncomfortable. Plus not being able to get comfortable and not being able to breathe since the baby is getting bigger. It's all worth it though.

lilmagic00 · August 2015

Yeah sleeping is becoming a PROBLEM now....can I just get comfy without the discomfort and the breathing hard....smh!!! The joys of becoming a mom

cderitz · August 2015

Ladies, this is my second pregnancy and I learned something this time around that I did not know before. 400mg of magnesium daily has made all the difference in my leg cramps. I got them two nights in a row and they were god awful. Started taking magnesium supplements with my doctors approval and I have not had a leg cramp since (been over a month now). It also aids in the pooping department! I was super constipated with my first, and with this one I'm still very regular and it's all because of the magnesium. Hope this helps out someone else. It made my world so much better!

danixbanani24 · August 2015

When you say leg cramps do you mean Charlie horse? I've had a Charlie horse in my calf the past couple of mornings and it sucks! I also just wake up at 4 am and that's it. Insomnia strikes and I think about every damn thing ever like why is the sky blue and crap where are those pants I like?

J1D · August 2015

There's a nice magnesium powder supplement called Nature's Calm that you mix with water and it doesn't taste horrible. Helps with muscle cramps, restless leg and as a pp mentioned it helps in the potty department. I don't have any of said supplement at the moment but have a pretty strict 2 bananas a day policy and that seems to really help with the leg cramps. Lots of water, bananas and if I feel like I'm behind on water I also drink a Gatorade.
I still don't sleep much on account of all the other things, but at least my legs aren't trying to kill me.

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

@danixbanani24 I get a few Charlie horse cramps each night and also general aching in the legs. No amount of stretching, activity or rest helps with the aching.

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

@cderitz and @J1D I will have to ask my doctor about magnesium supplements at my appointment latter this week.

intheversa · August 2015

My doctor told me to take Benadryl if nothing else is working. I took it last night because I had to be able to function today.

The snoogle helps too, especially if you're having back or leg problems.

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

gograce said:
My only thing with not drinking anything an hour before bed is I'm always thirsty!! I think I'd die if I restricted my water intake an hour before bedtime. I always want it more when I don't/can't have it.
I felt like I was awake as much as I was asleep last night. Woke up with a horrible headache I never could get rid of. Napped this evening, but it didn't help. Made me feel worse.
Hope we all get some decent sleep tonight.

Exact same problem with the water. If I cut myself off it is all that I can think about!

farwellmama · August 2015

I take a liquid calcium/magnesium supplement (midwife recommendation) and my she said I could take a double dose before I would normally start getting those awful Charlie horses. Well, I started to get them sometime in the middle of the night, so I now take it right before bed and it's worked like a charm!

I went on vacation for 5 days and forgot my calcium/magnesium and boy did I regret it! Cramps came right back with a vengeance! Ugh.

I get the blueberry flavor from Bluebonnet at Sprouts or on Amazon and it actually decently yummy

well worth it to not be awakened by searing pain from the precious little sleep I can come by!

beckles112 · August 2015

Lately I've started having trouble sleeping again. In the past week I've started having really psychotic dreams when I do sleep, though. Third trimester is fun! 8-X

CrissyGee · August 2015

Anyone else on a schedule? I've been waking up every night at 3am since I've gotten pregnant. It's pretty weird. Sometimes I freak out because I've rolled over on my stomach. However I have to say, getting out of bed is by far the hardest thing right now. Hang in there Mamas!

elmann1 · August 2015

I just can't get comfortable. Once I do, I have to pee. Getting out of bed is so hard! If DH isn't awake to ski lift me, rolling out is so achey!

ryanandbekah · August 2015

I'm 29 wks with the same problem! I've been having nerve pain on both legs starting at the hip, and going down past my knee whenever I laid on that side. I actually ended up going to my chiropractor for the pain in my hips, and it worked after one visit! I'll continue to go back to maintain, but it felt nice to get more than 30 minutes of sleep at one time! Good luck!

beckles112 · August 2015

CrissyGee said:
Anyone else on a schedule? I've been waking up every night at 3am since I've gotten pregnant. It's pretty weird. Sometimes I freak out because I've rolled over on my stomach. However I have to say, getting out of bed is by far the hardest thing right now. Hang in there Mamas!

Yup! I wake up any time between 3:30 and 5:30 every morning. I have been since the beginning. Now that's when he's most active so I don't mind it as much anymore.

briraeh · August 2015

I don't sleep because my dogs! They wake me up at ridiculous times to go out or move around a lot. hence why i am up at 4 in the morning. I just don't have the heart to make them sleep in their kennels.

Sweet Sadie Mae · August 2015

I hate restless legs. I took a benadryl for itching and wouldn't you know instead of dozing off to sleep I've been awake all night with restless legs. Yay me. Can't wait to go to work in 4 hours.

MrsFirePuppy · August 2015

There is an awesome website called Rainy Mood (rainymood.com) that I play all the time to go to sleep. Since I have Wi-Fi on my phone I just open it up and it will repeat forever. I've been using it for years and years but I love it now. I know theres an app but I think you have to pay so I just use the website which is free. Hope this helps!

wandering.artist05 · August 2015

@CrissyGee yes, I wake up between 4-4:30 each morning. I've found that is one of the times baby likes to play the most

oywiththepoodlesalready · August 2015

I picked up lavender bubble bath on my way home last night, took a warm bath at 9pm and was passed out by 9:30! I think the aromatherapy did the trick, that or just taking time to relax before bed. Either way I'll take it!

beanie1977 · August 2015

I'm waking up to pee every 90 minutes or so! Plus I toss and turn for about 2 hours before I can fall asleep.

I fluctuate between restless legs and leg cramps. If it's not one, it's the other.

I'm bordering on exhaustion.

brittanispears · August 2015

shantyrae said:

One word: SNOOGLE

My husband bought one for me when I was about 18 weeks and it helped when I was smaller. But now that I'm 31, nothing makes me comfortable. We went on a maternity tour, Monday, and they encouraged buying an exercise ball for back/hip pain. So, I'm thinking that'll help ease the pain I have from lying on one side.

Aldermanbaby · August 2015

I wake up after about 4 hours of sleep every night and maybe go back for another 1 hour? I don't know how I will keep this up I am so tired.

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