Any way to do (gentle) sleep training in utero?

[annettemarie]

Because these babies start a dance party every night around 11, and Mama is starting to get a little crabby from lack of sleep.

[taffywelsh]

hmm, I'm not the fetal psychology expert or anything, but I'm afraid you might be stuck with it.
You could try waking them up with loud music first thing in the morning, but I bet it's really hard to train people that still live inside your body and don't know the world even exists. Mine seems to go to sleep when I'm walking fast, but that's not a good bedtime option, I suppose.
Good luck!

[dovey]

I read that some babies calm down when the mother rocks in rocking chair...I haven't tried it myself though.

[RedOakMomma]

You're joking, right?

I know you're an experienced mama, but if it helps--I've noticed that the sleeping/waking patterns of my babies in utero change every several weeks. Whatever pattern they have going now won't be this way forever.

[~Demeter~]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

You're joking, right?

I know you're an experienced mama, but if it helps--I've noticed that the sleeping/waking patterns of my babies in utero change every several weeks. Whatever pattern they have going now won't be this way forever.

I agree with this.

[HeatherB]

I had to when I saw the title and then saw who was posting it.

Sending for you and for the babies!

[Honey693]

I told this kid I'd buy her a pony if she stopped elbowing me while Iw as trying to sleep. It worked last night lol.

[St. Margaret]

My baby is partying right along with them! Every night at 10:30 or 11 he starts rolling and thumping.

I haven't connected his movements with my lack of sleep (rather, my sciatica is what I notice, ugh) but I have heard that cat/cow and kind of swaying like that, on hands and knees, can help babies to fall asleep in utero, so you can sleep. I think it was on my prenatal yoga DVD (which I have obviously not used this time, as I've been limited since 22 weeks with this stupid sciatica... poor baby is being stress or pain hormone trained I guess ).

[MyFullHouse]

I guess this is a case in which I should be grateful for an anterior placenta, lol. And a singleton!


I remember reading (way back when) that it's a "great" mechanism to sleep-train MOM, in preparation for night feedings. What a load of bull. Especially this early!

Sending restful thoughts!

[Galatea]

Well, if you are more still during the day, the lack of movement might wake them up, and maybe reverse their schedule. I know on the days I work, my baby is not active, and then he makes up for it at night.

[Strong Mama]

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by Galatea

Well, if you are more still during the day, the lack of movement might wake them up, and maybe reverse their schedule. I know on the days I work, my baby is not active, and then he makes up for it at night.

This is exactly the case for me.

If I rest a lot during the day (and thus, she wakes up and gets active... like right now, girl is going CRAZY and it HURTS LOL) then at night she wont wake me up as much.

If I spend the day moving, or even late at night pre-bedtime I start moving more... then she goes crazy when I lay down to sleep and she wakes up due to not being rocked to sleep anymore.

[Qbear'smama]

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

My baby is partying right along with them! Every night at 10:30 or 11 he starts rolling and thumping.

Mine, too! As I mentioned in our DDC, he gets shy and quiets down when DH talks to him, so I make him come over and say "be nice to your mama, no dance party!" Sometimes it works.

[FarrenSquare]

I've found that dtd seems to put baby to sleep!

[Llyra]

I'm so feeling for you on this one. Between having to pee every half hour round the clock, and the heartburn, and the in-utero midnight disco extravaganza, I got like NO sleep the last few months of carrying my twins.

Honestly, I got more sleep-- a LOT more-- after they were born, believe it or not. At least then I could plug in the boobs and they would hold still for a half hour.

I was fortunate that I only had DD1 at home with me during those months, and she still napped, so I at least could crash in the afternoon for an hour or two. I think if I'd had non-napping kids at home during that time, I would have gone stark staring mad.

The only way that I know for sure to get an unborn child to go to sleep is to get worried that something might be wrong with said child. Seriously-- as soon as I'd WANT to feel movement, for reassurance, all of a sudden they'd go totally still for HOURS. I swear, they did it on purpose.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by FarrenSquare

I've found that dtd seems to put baby to sleep!

That's what a finally resorted to. DH took one for the team.



And yes, totally joking. Kind of. These two babies are like little pinballs in there and seem to feed off each other's energy. If you look in my avatar, they already have their two little heads together. I am so dead.

But the lack of sleep is really really hard on me, especially because I have 4 other kids to keep up with during the day. I just was talking (OK, crying) to DH and saying that physically, this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, hands down. And I still have three months to go! Love the babies-- love, love, love-- but I really wish they would sleep when I sleep. I've actually taken Unisom or Tylenol PM a couple times just because I needed to sleep so badly.

[Strong Mama]

But the lack of sleep is really really hard on me, especially because I have 4 other kids to keep up with during the day. I just was talking (OK, crying) to DH and saying that physically, this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, hands down. And I still have three months to go! Love the babies-- love, love, love-- but I really wish they would sleep when I sleep. I've actually taken Unisom or Tylenol PM a couple times just because I needed to sleep so badly

You mean it gets WORSE? I am only 3 months into this pregnancy and already feel like its the hardest thing ever. I. Never.Sleep.Anymore.
And they are barely moving!! UGH! I want my old sleeping self back. And now you say it gets worse. Thanks.:nana

[annettemarie]

Sorry.

[RedOakMomma]

In my experience, it gets better. They get so crammed in there during the last few months, there's a lot less movement than a singleton. My twins were 8+ years ago, but I do remember how tightly packed they were...the only movements that really woke me up were when ds2 decided to flip from breech to vertex (then back to breech another night) when he was in his final weeks. Zowie.

From what I remember, the last couple of months were fine, other than the incredible weight of the belly as I flipped over in bed...that really made my hips and back ache every time I needed to adjust positions at night. Pillows. Pillows, pillows, pillows. (And if necessary, a very comfy recliner.)

They're just playing with their extra space right now--wait a few weeks, and they'll slow down.