Advice for First Trimester Insomnia

C.,

Not a lot of advice, just sympathy! I used to have the same problem,and remember just getting up and watching TV, because I couldn't sleep. After I stayed up for a bit, I usually finally fell asleep when I went back to bed.

Another thing, if you can take a nap during the day, do it!!
I know you have 2 other children, but do they nap? Have quiet time? Good Luck!

C.
Mommy to Jessie, Katie and Julia
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Have you tried taking Tylenol PM? You should ask your OBGYN about it, I know it's safe at some point in the pregnancy to take it, you might just want to double-check when--also, there are both Yogic and Tai Kwan Doe (sp.?) breathing techniques for putting oneself to sleep, you might research those. Good luck. I couldn't sleep in my third trimester and it was really rough.

this happened to me too! sounds a little gross--but warm milk did the trick for me...too make it a little easier( i hate milk) i put choc syrup in to make a kind of hot choc...maybe thats why i gained so much!! either way-the warm milk got me back to sleep!! hope it helps!

are you waking up hungry? I know this sounds weird but get up eat something (chase it with a glass of milk)...then grab a boring book....really boring....wait till you start nodding and go back to bed....

Hope this helps.
E.

I had the same problem with my 3rd pregnancy and my daughter is now almost 3 months old. This continued through much of my pregnancy and about once a week or so it still happens.

I really just try not to worry about it. Sometimes I get up and read for a half hour and then I am easily able to fall back asleep and other times I just lay and rest. When I do this I just tell myself that at least I am resting. If I can I may try to take a catnap the next day.
And this seems to help regulate my sleeping for the next few days.

I am sure it is related to the hormones and being 'overtired' with so many things to do....

I wish I had an easy solution, but this is how I have coped for the past 9 months.

2 things worked for me. 1, i'd put on some relaxing music (to me, other's would think it would keep me up, but it soothed me) and 2 i would put in a movie that would ALWAYS put me out. for some reason, fight club was it for me, i knew it so well with the soothing voice of the narrator, i would pass out withing the 1st 15 minutes. now, there's other movies that could put me out too...but that was my choice. SOMETIMES if i felt i needed a nap, i'd just read (the music and/or movie didn't help during the day). reading always puts me out. hope you find something that helps.

i wish i can offer advise, but with both of my pregnancies i had insomnia. with first one the entire time. with current preg. first 4 months and one and off now.try not to nap during the day (u probably don't since u have 2 kids already) dont consume too much water before bed time (so you dont have to get up to the bathroom) if kids wake you up then its a different story.

I am also a SAHM of two toddlers. I have a 3 1/2 year old and an almost 2 year old. I am in my 2nd trimester and in my first trimester I experienced the same thing you did. I think one of the problems is that we have so much on our minds with the other two children and the regular things that happen during the day! Well, I did several things... I placed a humidifier in my room and every now and then I used a breathe right strip. I think I was waking up from typical pregnancy induced sleep apnea... But yes, when I would go run to the bathroom I would pray that I would fall back asleep. So, I would try to keep everything dark, no light on in the bathroom (except for a very dim night light). Then when I got into bed I would just stay in one spot and keep my eyes close and just empty my thoughts. With my other two (only one naps) I knew napping wasn't an option...so I also try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time. So, my body just sleeps... The other thing I can offer is that once I made it into the 2nd trimester...I am sleeping so much better! Even trips to the bathroom are less - once a night! So, it gets better. But then I know that the 3rd trimester will be back to lack of sleep...

I had insomnia through my entire pregnancy last year... just had the baby on January 15th... personally, I wasnt able to find anything to keep me from waking up (usually about 2 hours after I fell asleep) but I did find that once I was up, a cup of chamomille tea worked wonders. The only problem was that I would wake up about 4 hours later to go to the bathroom (especially for the last 2-3 months of the pregnancy), but 6 hours of sleep was better than 2:)

Hi I was advised by my dr to take tylenol pm. I also took very hot baths right before bed.

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I had the same problem, and unfortunately, it lasted my whole pregnancy. I just couldn't sleep well starting in my first trimester, but I was so tired, I could barely stand it. Around week 14 I started feeling much less tired overall, but the insomnia did not get much better (although the farther along I got, the more it was the usual discomfort of being pregnant (not able to lie on back, having to go to the bathroom multiple times a night, rather than insomnia)). Just nap when you can and try to make sleep a priority, with the help of your husband. Good luck!

Have you cut out caffinated beverages and foods? How about refined sugar? Bananas and warm milk before bed will promote a more restful sleep.

I have been taking 1/2 tab of Sominex every night since my second month (i am in my last now). Many people I know have done this and have very healthy babies. It is recomended for nausea but it is actually a sleeping pill. It's very light, it works and every doctor i have asked says it is safe. Be sure to take the blue tabs and NOT the gels, I think there is a different active ingredient. Dont take my word - Ask your doctor if they think it's ok for you to take. Good luck.

i had this problem when pregnant with my two daughters currently 8 and 5. i read a lot about it and it's just something normal that some women experience. on top of "owl-eye syndrome" as i called it - my heart would race and i felt like i wanted to jump out of my skin. it was awful.
i tried warm milk, chamomile tea, etc., etc. and nothing worked! so, i just gave in to it and tried to use the time productively...you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish at 4 in the a.m. i know it stinks but as they say, "this too shall pass..."
good luck; i totally sympathize with you.

I had it the whole way through. I sucked it up until I was almost 3 months and due to a separate health issue, couldn't take it anymore.

My Dr.'s practice which has an excellent reputation here on the East Coast, told me to go ahead an take Unisom whenever I needed it. It worked and I am the proud mother of a very healthy, smart, gorgeous 6 & 1/2 momth old boy!.

What time do you take your vitamin? If you are taking it with dinner it could be kicking in in the middle of the night, and keeping you awake. If that's the case, trying taking it with breakfast instead. If it's not the vitamin, I don't have any other suggestions. Good luck though. I know how hard it is to care for little ones when you don't get enough sleep.

Hi C.. I'm 18 weeks along and I have the same issue. I have two other kids as well (5 1/2 and 3 1/2) and stay at home as well. The insomnia hasn't gotten any better, but I've tried to keep sane by sneaking in short naps during the day. I have also found that going to bed as soon as the kids are asleep (around 8:30) has helped. Doesn't do much for having time with my husband, but it's certainly helped me function during the day. I asked my doctor about taking tylenol pm to help sleep, but they don't suggest it (they're conservative, I guess). I have heard ambien is safe after the first trimester, but again, my doctor said no. Good luck and get some sleep!

- K. :)

I had awful insomnia with both of my pregnancies and spoke to my doctor about it. She suggested Unisom an over the counter sleep aid. I took 1/2 pill instead of one and slept better. My husband was freaked out about me taking something so he called his best friend who is an obgyn in brooklyn and he checked the ingredients in his little book and sure enough it is ok to take. I took with both pregnancies and my kids are healthy, normal, they eat AND sleep. it is worth trying...