Anyone else have insomnia?

[cedarwoman]

I have been waking up around 4am lately just from running out of positions to sleep in. I try to stay in bed but end up tossing & turning until about 7am, just from pain. I tried just getting out of bed yesterday at 4am, but I don't always have time for naps - yesterday after work and school I was up until about 10pm.  

Should I keep fighting it or just get up and be tired for the day? I meant I'm kinda tired anyways, but I do sleep a little between 4 and 6 or 7am when I have to get up anyways for my day. It takes 2-3 hours of being not-lying-down before the pain really goes away... I have tried getting up & having a bath but it wasn't a long enough break! It's not bad but not great... suggestions?

(Also, people keep terrifying me by saying it will get WORSE after the baby is born... but I can dip into dreaming sleep in minutes, and at least I can sleep on my stomach, right?)

[Kindermama]

Yes. I wake around 4am and feel pelvic discomfort. So then I get up to pee which then wakes my boy up and he proceeds to do somersaults for hours. I try so hard to fall back asleep by my brain starts going and planning. I'm so uncomfortable every time I try to change positions. I feel like I'm 400lbs. 

[montessorimama1]

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 

(Also, people keep terrifying me by saying it will get WORSE after the baby is born... but I can dip into dreaming sleep in minutes, and at least I can sleep on my stomach, right?)

I can't imagine PP sleep is going to be worse than what it is now. I keep telling myself that at least I won't have to wake up every time I need to roll over, and I'll be able to sleep on my back or stomach.  I also won't have anyone kicking me (which I admit I'll miss a little bit).  I wake up every two hours to pee anyways, so what's different about that and waking up to bf?

I'm so sorry you're suffering from insomnia; nothing is more frustrating, especially when you know you have a full day ahead of you.  I had it through the second trimester, but now third-trimester exhaustion trumps insomnia.  No suggestions to offer, other than trying to clear your mind through some sort of meditative practice or perhaps playing a hypnosis track on your iPod?

[maptome]

My insomnia has come back.  I was rid of it for about 4 weeks second trimester.  I'm attributing it to hormones because my nausea has come back as well.  I surrender to hormones.  I can lie in bed for 2 hours and then fall asleep, but I'm awake around 2-4.  Also, I'm going to bed with DD at 10, and she doesn't wake until 8, so I feel like I have plenty of time to get adequate sleep.

[redbirdlady]

I also recently got back into waking up in the 3-5am range, because of the baby kicking, having to go to the bathroom, being hungry, having a weird dream, or just not being able to find a decent position.  (More than once, one of my arms has been SO asleep that I've had to lift it and carry it with the other arm.)  In fact, one day I even sent in an email to "Way Too Early" on MSNBC and it was featured on the air.  ;)

Having been through this three times, I can take comfort in the fact that I get SO much more sleep AFTER the baby gets here.  Waking up to breastfeed when co-sleeping isn't really waking up (1/2 the time, my babies have found my boob before I really even stir, and if I do "wake up," it's only long enough to insert a nipple and go right back to sleep) and no more kicking and having to pee.  I realize this isn't every woman's experience, but, knock on wood, I'll have a fourth round of the same thing.

I usually make an attempt to go back to sleep, and that works maybe 1/4 of the time.  I'll also get up and get a snack, go to the bathroom, watch TV, read, anything to pass the time until I get sleepy again.  I have to be very careful - the way to the kitchen is right past my kids' rooms, and my 3 year old likes to wake up whenever anyone walks by his room.  He and I spent several hours this morning munching on dry cereal and watching a movie, and then slept until 9. ;)

[Conchobhar]

Ugh, I wish I didn't wake up multiple times at night.  Between my DH's seizures, DD wanting more juice, and my dog wanting to go outside, I've been waking up every 2 hours to facilitate everyone.

[AfricanQueen99]

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 
(Also, people keep terrifying me by saying it will get WORSE after the baby is born... but I can dip into dreaming sleep in minutes, and at least I can sleep on my stomach, right?)

Not worse...just different. :)  You'll find the "mom's knack" of being able to close your eyes and pass out very quickly.
 

[Emaya]

The only real insomnia I've ever experienced was after dd self-night-weaned at around 6 months. I think it was withdrawal from the oxytocin and totally hormonal, so I'm with maptone on this one. Can't fight the hormones. For me, there's a slightly different feeling from 'awake-and-start-thinking-of-stuff-I-should-do' kind of of can't sleep to a hard-core hormonal disturbance. 

At this point I do have trouble sleeping from some hip pain, having to heave myself over, up to pee, down again, etc., but it feels completely different from the real insomnia (hours and hours, for like weeks in a row) I had when my daughter stopped nursing at night -- thank goodness for Sweden's generous parental leave I was still on paid maternity and didn't have to worry about work then!. 

I'm at 28 weeks with triplets and feel more uncomfortable now than I did with my dd at 41 weeks. If I can make it to 36 weeks with these little ones (my goal!), it'll be interesting how sleep looks like then! 

[contactmaya]

Yes!!!  I keep waking up  at around 2am and lie there, wide awake, feeling great. But i have to be up at 6h30 (dark btw) to get my ds to school.

If im feeling great at 2am, you can be pretty sure i feel terrible by 6h30.

The uncomfortable position is part of it, because i am a back sleeper. Baby kicking is another (but i dont mind that)

Oh, it gets worse after the baby is born, its a whole other level of exhaustion. That is why you need help.  My mother and sister will be moving in just for that. And i certainly wont be the one taking ds to school by then.

Oh, i just want to sleep  well :-(

Glad to hear i am not the only one.

[DoubleDouble]

I slept from 06:30 till 07:30 last night. I am not a happy camper.

I've had bad insomnia for a few years. I'm so out of luck...

[chilichiki]

I am tired literally ALL THE TIME.  Unfortunately, every night when I finally am able to lie down, the little one in my tummy wakes up and puts up a vicious fight until I get up and moving again.  Nothing but my walking seems to soothe him late at night and it drives me crazy!!

Then, when I finally do get to sleep I am waking every hour or so to pee or switch positions.  I went to get up last night, squatted down to grab my sweatshirt that I had tossed on the floor and about died from the sudden increase in pelvic pain.  So awful!  My pelvis always hurts after lying down, but this pain was so sudden and so sharp I think it actually made me scream a little.

C'mon January!!

[applejax]

Originally Posted by chilichiki 

I am tired literally ALL THE TIME.  Unfortunately, every night when I finally am able to lie down, the little one in my tummy wakes up and puts up a vicious fight until I get up and moving again.  Nothing but my walking seems to soothe him late at night and it drives me crazy!!

Then, when I finally do get to sleep I am waking every hour or so to pee or switch positions.  I went to get up last night, squatted down to grab my sweatshirt that I had tossed on the floor and about died from the sudden increase in pelvic pain.  So awful!  My pelvis always hurts after lying down, but this pain was so sudden and so sharp I think it actually made me scream a little.

C'mon January!!

Iv had that sharp pain when getting out of bed, Do you know what it is?
 

[juneboymum]

Originally Posted by chilichiki 

I am tired literally ALL THE TIME.  Unfortunately, every night when I finally am able to lie down, the little one in my tummy wakes up and puts up a vicious fight until I get up and moving again.  Nothing but my walking seems to soothe him late at night and it drives me crazy!!

This is my experience, too!  Somersaults and backflips start as soon as I lay down in bed!  I read myself to sleep - which I've done every night since I was a little girl.  I definitely roll a lot b/c of hip pain (which is soooo much better since I started seeing the chiro every week).  Most nights I only wake up once around 3AM to pee.  I also take 2 different anti-histamines at night to control my crazy nausea and vomiting and I know those help me sleep.  I also try to listen to my hypnobirthing tracts at night but usually fall asleep at the very beginning.  I love my mid-day naps but I've found I sleep better at night when I don't nap.  There is just no winning at this point.  I still think this type of uncomfortable/broken sleep is much better than after the baby is born.  Co-sleeping is wonderful for nursing through the night, but I was never one that could do it and sleep at the same time.  In the newborn stage, we were also changing diapers several times in the night.  It's just a totally different type/level of exhaustion.
 

[MadelinesMama]

My experience is a little different since DS is in the NICU.. but I def have PP insomnia.  I have to get up to pump in the middle of the night and then I'm stuck wide awake.  It's insane to be so freaking sleep deprived when I don't even have my baby at home with me!  I'm only getting like 5 hours of sleep when I'm one of those ppl that really likes 9 or 10 hours.

[cedarwoman]

I like 9-10 hours too! Although I said goodbye to that in June, really, so I actually have almost forgotten what that feels like. I kind of hope I do forget so that I won't feel so hard done by :P

@MadelinesMama, good for you for continuing to pump throughout the night... even if it is a pain. Hope you & DS are doing well :)

[chilichiki]

Originally Posted by juneboymum 

This is my experience, too!  Somersaults and backflips start as soon as I lay down in bed!  I read myself to sleep - which I've done every night since I was a little girl.  I definitely roll a lot b/c of hip pain (which is soooo much better since I started seeing the chiro every week).  Most nights I only wake up once around 3AM to pee.  I also take 2 different anti-histamines at night to control my crazy nausea and vomiting and I know those help me sleep.  I also try to listen to my hypnobirthing tracts at night but usually fall asleep at the very beginning.  I love my mid-day naps but I've found I sleep better at night when I don't nap.  There is just no winning at this point.  I still think this type of uncomfortable/broken sleep is much better than after the baby is born.  Co-sleeping is wonderful for nursing through the night, but I was never one that could do it and sleep at the same time.  In the newborn stage, we were also changing diapers several times in the night.  It's just a totally different type/level of exhaustion.
 

I can't bring myself to co-sleep/nurse in bed.  I WILL fall right back to sleep and I am so horribly paranoid that I will somehow roll onto the baby or that my breasts will smother him! With my first son, anytime I was nursing at night I was fighting sleep the whole time.

Applejax-  I know the pain is originating in my pelvis.  The only thing I can think of is that since I have an anterior placenta, he is already down low in my stomach and he must rest just right down there when I am sleeping that there is a lot of pressure/weight down there when I get up.  Mostly I notice the pain at night/first thing in the morning, but if I am sitting for an extended period and then get up, I feel the ache too. Uck, I'm sick of it!

[imakecutebabies]

I just started having numbness in my thighs/butt while I sleep.... Does anyone else have this? I remember having carpal tunnel in my hands for a few weeks with my last pregnancy but never experienced this. I've already been flip-flopping from side to side all night for months... now I can't even stand to sleep on my sides because it makes my legs numb! I woke up at 3am last night and slept in my recliner which helped a little bit. 

[montessorimama1]

Originally Posted by imakecutebabies 

I just started having numbness in my thighs/butt while I sleep.... Does anyone else have this? I remember having carpal tunnel in my hands for a few weeks with my last pregnancy but never experienced this. I've already been flip-flopping from side to side all night for months... now I can't even stand to sleep on my sides because it makes my legs numb! I woke up at 3am last night and slept in my recliner which helped a little bit. 

Yep, this happens to me every night, it's so hard to get comfortable.  My thighs hurt, but it's a numbing kind of pain, which comes down from my pelvis.  Ugh.  10 more weeks...

[MadelinesMama]

Originally Posted by cedarwoman 

@MadelinesMama, good for you for continuing to pump throughout the night... even if it is a pain. Hope you & DS are doing well :)

Thank you!  We are both doing well!

[moonSnail]

I think it was my midwife that said for my last pregnancy that the third trimester is to practice having little sleep before the baby comes!  That popped into my head when I started waking up at 2am to pee, then 4am to pee.... then not being able to go back to sleep.  (And now, for whatever crappy reason my partner has just started snoring, which is driving me insane).  I remember it being no worse, no better with an infant... just a continuation of the same, for whatever that's worth!  Ugh....

If I could offer anything it would be sleeping with your baby once its here will save your life.