Sleep Remedies

[smeisnotapirate]

I haven't had more than 40 minutes of sleep in over 4 days. Give me your sleep remedies. I'm getting desperate!

[chirp]

a 2 mile walk around the apartment complex...as fast as i can...in the am.
it's not very fast these days but it poops me out.

that or cleaning my house like crazy...

anything that gets me mobile...then, i forego the nap and hit the bed early. a lot of times it means i wake up early...but i sleep well for a little while at least.

or, inviting particularly high maintenance friends or family over.

[APmom2Libby]

I was sleepless until I got desperate one night and took my dd's Calms Forte 4 Kids. I had been taking Calms Forte (adult version) and it didn;t help at all----but for some reason the kids version REALLY helps. Go figure.

[battymama]

Chamomile, and hops tea and if you drink milk some warm milk, milk contains chemicals that relax you. One of my friends swears by wearing damp socks, covered with another layer of socks, and keeping your legs elevated. She is a bit weird though, but it is the only thing she has found that helps her insomnia.

[Galatea]

You can take 2 benadryl safely in pregnancy.

[symesa]

Just before bed:

Calcium-Magnesium supplement
Calms Forte
Rescue Remedy's - Rescue Sleep (a couple squirts)
Breathe Right nose strips

Sleep on the couch because it is a lot softer than my firm mattress.

[Shanana]

Lavender oil. I have a diffuser, but if you don't you can put a few drops on a hanky / rag / cotton ball, and set it on the pillow near your nose.

You could also try valerian. It says on the bottle not to take while pg or bf'ing, but I think that's just a CYA thing. My mw and my homeopath both said it's okay. You can get an herbal tincture form at Whole Foods, health food store, etc. Herb Pharm is the brand commonly carried in many places, and if your HFS has that brand, they may carry the Relaxing Sleep Tonic herbal remedy (scroll down almost to the bottom to see it). My mw said I could also take that.

In my case it was more for restless legs than sleeplessness (although I do struggle with that too). She said the valerian would help with the restless legs. DH just got the straight valerian, but I've only taken it a few times so can't really comment on it's effectiveness for helping sleep. But it is supposed to make you sleepy.

I also take the homepathic gelsemium to help calm my spinning mind, anxiety, etc. Sometimes it seems to help, sometimes not. You should also be able to find that at the HFS.

Good luck. Not sleeping really sucks. I only got a few hours last night and am just hanging here long enough to catch up and get my MDC fix, and then I'm off for a nap!

[battymama]

Originally Posted by Shanana

You could also try valerian. It says on the bottle not to take while pg or bf'ing, but I think that's just a CYA thing. My mw and my homeopath both said it's okay. You can get an herbal tincture form at Whole Foods, health food store, etc. Herb Pharm is the brand commonly carried in many places, and if your HFS has that brand, they may carry the Relaxing Sleep Tonic herbal remedy (scroll down almost to the bottom to see it). My mw said I could also take that.

I think this is the case as well, at least for the third trimester, a lot of herbs are ok for the third trimester but not recommended for the first two. They just put that there to cover their bases, i know the Valerian i sell at my shop has the warning on it, so do a couple of other herbs that i know are ok. There is plenty of info out there to do your own research and see what you are comfortable taking, and what the risks are, but a lot of people wont do that, so thats why there is a blanket warning.

[pdxmomazon]

Originally Posted by symesa

Just before bed:

Calcium-Magnesium supplement
Calms Forte
Rescue Remedy's - Rescue Sleep (a couple squirts)
Breathe Right nose strips

Sleep on the couch because it is a lot softer than my firm mattress.

I do this exact same thing, except I don't use the rescue remedy. I also have a lavender "sleep spray" that I douse the pillows and blankets with. And almost every night before bed I take a nice warm bath. Totally helps my lower back! Last night I had a nice little glass of pinot noir in the tub and slept very very well!

[NatureMama3]

Originally Posted by Galatea

You can take 2 benadryl safely in pregnancy.

worked for me last night. (took it for the itching)

[amyaebi]

I also use benedryl when desperate for sleep. Try one first, and then take a second if you aren't sleepy yet.

Amy

[smeisnotapirate]

Spoke to my MW today, and she put me on Valerian and Cal-Mag. I was already taking the Cal-Mag for my charley horses, so it's good to have that validated.

[Molck]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Spoke to my MW today, and she put me on Valerian and Cal-Mag. I was already taking the Cal-Mag for my charley horses, so it's good to have that validated.

Hope it helps

[smeisnotapirate]

It worked!

Well, something worked. My MW gave me a bedtime routine. One cup of my decaf RRL tea and a banana, then my Floradix, Valerian, Pepcid, Cal/Mag, and Prenatal Vitamin with two Tums before bed (for calcium, since I can't have milk).

I didn't conk out, but I slept. I only got up twice to go pee (which is AMAZING) and I feel rested.

Finally.

Thanks so much for the support, everyone.

[amyaebi]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

It worked!

Well, something worked. My MW gave me a bedtime routine. One cup of my decaf RRL tea and a banana, then my Floradix, Valerian, Pepcid, Cal/Mag, and Prenatal Vitamin with two Tums before bed (for calcium, since I can't have milk).

I didn't conk out, but I slept. I only got up twice to go pee (which is AMAZING) and I feel rested.

Finally.

Thanks so much for the support, everyone.

Oh, I'm so happy for you! I'm sure you'll feel like a different person with a good night's sleep under your belt.

Amy

[Molck]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

It worked!

Well, something worked. My MW gave me a bedtime routine. One cup of my decaf RRL tea and a banana, then my Floradix, Valerian, Pepcid, Cal/Mag, and Prenatal Vitamin with two Tums before bed (for calcium, since I can't have milk).

I didn't conk out, but I slept. I only got up twice to go pee (which is AMAZING) and I feel rested.

Finally.

Thanks so much for the support, everyone.

That's great news! Sleep can make such a difference; I hope it continues to work for you .