So sleep deprived. . .

[waldorfknitmama]

I know there was a thread like this earlier, about not being able to sleep! But I didn't see any *remedies* for insomnia.

I cannot for the life of me get any good sleep I go to bed when my little babe goes to bed, about 8:30pm, then fall alseep easily. get up to pee around 12 fall back asleep pretty quickly, then at 3am I have to pee again, and I literally stay awake until ds wakes up around 7. by 10am I cannot function at all, then by naptime (if he naps) its usually around 1ish and I sleep fine with him for 2ish hours. So I just want some good sleep! Is this how everyone else is? And what are you doing for it? I took unisom last pg and that helped okay, but other than that, yoga, or meditation I don't know what to do!!!

[MamaSong]

Have you tried getting up and having something to eat? That helps me go back to sleep. I know the Unisom helped a good friend of mine, maybe trying it for a couple nights to see if it helps and you can make up for some lost sleep?

I feel for you Mama, I have had a few nights where I can't go back to sleep and I am a total wreck the next day - and feel much sicker when I don't get enough sleep.

[Luv2bemommy]

Take a warm shower, read a book and drink some chamomile tea.

[JenInMpls]

How about some homeopathic Calms Forte? Available at co-ops or Whole Foods... maybe even Walgreen's by now since they are carrying more and more homeopathic remedies.

[Sunshine_Amy]

The nights that I can't sleep are due to poor digestion and associated discomfort from gas, etc. It's not a lot of discomfort, but it's enough to keep me up. So for me, I've had to be careful not to eat a meal within a few hours of bed time, because I can't digest it in time for bed.

One trick I've been using is I've inclined the bed slightly so that the feet at the head of the bed are a couple of inches higher than the other end. (I stuck a 2x4 under the top 2 legs). This slight incline allows me to digest much, much better while sleeping, reducing gas and discomfort enormously. Gravity seems to be an important part of good digestion, it's made a big difference. I think I don't wake up as hungry either. My body seems to make better use of whatever is still in my system from dinner.

Incidentally, I've also read that the slight incline will reduce dark circles under the eyes. A nice benefit in its own right.

[StarMama]

Sleep is hard for me as well, but on nights I just can't sleep I take a benadryl since its safe during pregnancy and get at least 4 hours of decent sleep. My carpel tunnel is flaring up again badly and I wake every 1-2 hours with one arm so asleep I can't feel it (and ow when it starts waking up!). This at least knocks me out enough that I don't wake constantly for awhile.

[magpiedee]

Unisom has turned out to be my answer for this exact problem. I was so sleep deprived that I actually woke up one day crying, muttered, "Please, can't I just sleep? Why won't you let me sleep? Just a few more minutes... please... please..." which really confused my toddler.

My problem was getting to sleep at night-- I would lay down at 9:30 and not fall asleep until after 1, and then DD wakes up at 6:40. Now I take half a Unisom around 9, and i've had 3 nights of straight sleep with pleasant dreams. I wish I had known about this during my last pregnancy!

I know natural answers are best, but I am desperate, and my midwife says it's safe, so i'm sticking with it.

[amandaanne]

I would also suggest Calms Forte. I have recommended it to several people (one person was hooked on Ambien) and it has worked great for everyone I know who's tried it. It's pretty cheap and no side effects. Definitely worth a try!

[waldorfknitmama]

Thanks so so much mamas for the replies!! I have heard of calms forte for children, is that the same thing? and is that safe? I assume yes, esp. if unisom is safe! Anyway Argh, I am so tired I wonder if getting up at 3 means I'm hungry ? My tummy usaully growls by then and by the time I get up I HAVE TO EAT! Maybe I should tr some protien like cheese b4 bed. I just don't want to get up in the middle of the night, turn the lights on, make somehing to eat, eat it, brush teeth again an go to bed! Argh, I will try the remedies you all suggested!!

[waldorfknitmama]

Also I read in the dr. sears pregnacy book, that a lot of moms sleep much like newborns do during pg, kind of in preperation. Makes sense!

[_betsy_]

Is there something specific troubling you when you wake at 3, or is it just the "I can get X hours of sleep if I fall asleep right now" idea? If there's something that pops up in your head and you're worrying about something which is keeping you awake (even if it changes every night, is moer than one thing, etc.) write it down so you can mentally tell yourself you'll take care of it in the morning.

Try not having an alarm clock visible if you can help it. Try white noise. try moving to another spot to sleep (sometimes I can't sleep in bed but go right out with no trouble on the couch).

Try more exercise during the day - a nice evening walk as a family is a great way to talk, relax, calm everyone down and prepare the toddler for sleep as well as yourself.

try not to overdue it during the day. The more chaotic my days, the less likely I am to sleep.

HTH!

[heatherh]

DH bought me a body pillow for Mother's Day - it's helped a lot but not sure that would work w/ a LO already in bed with you. Maybe just a pillow between your legs - you want your top hip, knee, and ankle aligned.

I'd also keep a snack by the bed. I slice an orange before bed every night then leave it on the nightstand. That way I can smell them (helps w/ nausea) and if I get hungry, I just eat a few slices real quick. They dry out a little by morning, but still totally edible. Crackers work, too.

[_betsy_]

Oh, also, really be careful about what you are eating and drinking as far as caffeine intake - it's not just in coffee and tea, but soda, chocolate and other places too.

I'm sensative to it, and one Diet Coke will keep me awake for 3 days. Forget a cup of coffee, I'd be awake for a week!

[Sage_SS]

Originally Posted by naturalmamaof1

I know there was a thread like this earlier, about not being able to sleep! But I didn't see any *remedies* for insomnia.

I cannot for the life of me get any good sleep I go to bed when my little babe goes to bed, about 8:30pm, then fall alseep easily. get up to pee around 12 fall back asleep pretty quickly, then at 3am I have to pee again, and I literally stay awake until ds wakes up around 7. by 10am I cannot function at all, then by naptime (if he naps) its usually around 1ish and I sleep fine with him for 2ish hours. So I just want some good sleep! Is this how everyone else is? And what are you doing for it? I took unisom last pg and that helped okay, but other than that, yoga, or meditation I don't know what to do!!!

Alright, I'm going to assume you live in the western hemisphere for this answer.

Over here we sleep in circadian sleep cycles, meaning we need 3 hours of sleep to fully recharge. 6 hours of sleep a night is ideal, physically speaking.
You're getting 2 x 3hr. sleeps a night, amounting to 6 hours. So you are getting enough sleep at night. Our bodies slow down between 1 and 4 pm so if you're getting a nap in then its doing your body good.
Is it possible that you just feel worn out? I spend most of my day feeling worn out, but I can't sleep.

I hope you feel better soon!

[magpiedee]

Huh-- if 6 hours is ideal, then i'm some sort of mutant! I become a rage-filled, depressive, exhausted, clumsy harpy on just 6 hours of sleep a night. I've read that everyone has their ideal sleep requirements, ranging from 7 - 9 hours. My ideal night would be to sleep from 11:30 to 8, but it's just not in the cards. DH is a psychologist, and his feeling is that you're always better waking after a solid 90-minute sleep cycle, no matter how much sleep you actually get. I really miss waking at my own pace, instead of bursting up when I hear, "MOMMY!" through the monitor, generally at 6:40am.

[JenInMpls]

Originally Posted by naturalmamaof1

Thanks so so much mamas for the replies!! I have heard of calms forte for children, is that the same thing? and is that safe?

Homeopathy is safe for everyone. If it's the wrong remedy for your symptom, it just won't do anything. There is a Calms Forte for adults too (here's the web page) but if you can't find it, just try the Calms Forte for kids. It's the same stuff and if it's the remedy you need, even the lower dose that's in the kids' version will do the trick.

I have to throw in that I was having trouble sleeping too - our son would come into bed with us around 4 every morning which woke me up, and I couldn't get back to sleep - so I took to going to bed in our guest room. I hate not sleeping in bed with my partner, but I like that I can sleep all night now.

A good protein source before bed is warm milk. Has lovely soothing properties. A little raw honey stirred into that not only sweetens it but throws in some good digestive enzymes plus the carbs in the honey help tryptophan enter your brain which can help to make you sleepy. Since I can't stand any warm drinks right now, I always eat some yogurt before bed... plain whole with some maple syrup thrown in.

Some sleep-inducing vibes for you :

[waldorfknitmama]

Ohhhh Thanks guys so much for giving me great advice! Actaully last night was one of the better nights! I slept pretty soundly until 7:30! I went to bed at 9, so I slept pretty good, I did have to pee twice but fell asleep easily after each time! I think what made the difference was I ate a ton that day! I went to bed feeling pretty full so I wonder if what's keeping me up is hunger! I will stop by the co-op today (it's grocery day anyhow!) and get some calms forte.