So I had insomnia (sleeping 4-5 hours at most) for three weeks. Keep in mind, I have a toddler and a full time job. The last couple of weeks I have congestion which is adding to the insomnia- and the little sleep I do get is restless b/c I can't breathe. My doctor says insomnia is normal. But this congestion. *Urgh*

Anyone else going through this? Need sleep. Need to breathe. *yawn*

I had insomnia for the first few days, it's better now though. I normally wake up a lot during the night. I compensated by trying to steal away some power naps during the day. Even 15 minutes helped. :hug Hope you find some energy soon.

I have really, really bad congestion right now. My allergies are acting up and I can hardly breathe at night. I find that using those breathe right strips help (they look kinda funny though). As far as the insomnia, I totally feel your pain. I have chronic insomnia and have had it since I was very young. Sucks.

Mine is kind of weird. I fall asleep easily by 9 p.m. but when I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom I tend to not get back to sleep very easily. Last night it took me two hours.. yuck..

No congestion and no insomnia (yet). I had horrible insomnia while pregnant with DS.

I bought some of those nose strips and had such high hopes but unfortunately no dice. Still can't breathe! I even tried to sleep in that almost sitting uncomfortable position that some of us end up doing the THIRD trimester but that didn't help either. :(

I am pretty wiped out by early evening- but until DD goes down (which recently been after 9!) I can't go to sleep. So I am out like a light by 10pm- then I wake up around 2-3 am and that is it.

Anyway, insomnia aside. I read somewhere that this severe congestion might be caused by a candida over growth??? So weird it would coincide with the pregnancy if this is true.

I took Benadryl one night thinking it was maybe allergies and it didn't help.

Congestion can be a symptom of pregnancy. I tend to get it as well.
http://www.pregnancy-info.net/rhinitis.html

Can you use nasal sprays while pregnant? Those strips do nothing for me but a good drip free affrin squirt and I can sleep even when I'm really really congested.

I'm having terrible insomnia...I woke up at 2:30am and didn't back to sleep until close to 5...and my alarm goes off at 5:30am. Good times. I had an acupuncture treatment yesterday and she even used some new points to help sleeping...hoping that kicks in soon! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Congestion is normal. You know, it will probably last your whole pregnancy too. Has to do with the mucous membranes swelling up inside your nose. I have it too - those nasal strips help a lot at night :)

*HUGE hugs* - don't worry. XXX

Also, though they don't have it on the list of "fine" medicines over here (there's not much information about Afrin or other med like that at all in pregnancy over here, though I've heard doc's OK'ing it at an appointment), Afrin has been researched in the UK and found to be alright in pregnancy as long as you don't take excessive amounts, when, in the later pregnancy stages it can cause an elevated heart rate in babies. Other than that, it's fine. I did have to take some last pregnancy and my mother had to with all five of hers, or she'd never have been able to breathe! I can recommend the no-drip severe congestion with menthol, because it lasts a lot longer, so you can use a minimal amount.

Also I have been told that Neti Pots work fabulously too, so I think I will be cutting between the two this pregnancy. It's awfully hard to grow a baby if you can't get any oxygen! :)

You may try some saline spray right before bed to clear everything out.