I Can't Sleep

C.,
I say try and relax, I had that prior to having my son and I almost every night didn't want to go to sleep because I knew I would be up at 2am for at least 1 hour. I was always so worried about sleeping through the night.
I had a friend make me this little pillow stuffer that had Lavender in it. I used it a few times and I actually slept better...
If I am having a hard time falling asleep I even have gone to Bath and Body and purchased Linen Spray (Lavender) and sray that on my pillow and blankets and sheets.
That seems to do the trick. Just like they say that Johnson and Johnson lavender wash and lotion helps our Little ones, try using Lavender wash on yourself along with the lavender linen spray
It's better than doing the pills, and since you aren't able to use them anyway, Can't hurt to try this. Helped me.

Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

I'm sorry this is happening to you. This did happen to me and it was quite serious. You could try listening to books on tape. Sometimes they put you to sleep and even if they don't at least your eyes get rested.

You are overwhelmed and your mind/body are responding to that. Being a new mother is an important and difficult thing to be. Is it possible for you to take some time off work to slow your life down. You and your baby should be your priority right now. Is there someone, your mother, an aunt maybe, who can come to help you for a while? You can't do everything or be everything. It is not possible or even desirable. Please do not take anything (drugs or medication). Remove all caffeine from your diet. Eat three meals at regulated hours and take a warm bath every evening before going to bed. I am so sorry this is happening to you. I send good wishes your way.

hi C.:

sleep starts in the brain.... so think about the things that are bothering your sleep.....
do you worry that something might happen to your new born if you fell asleep?
are you worried about losing those extra pounds/ if you have any to lose/?
are you worried about finances? in laws?
meditate on it, and your answer will come..

remember that worrying about anything is normal; however, if it affects our sleep there is less that we can do, because we are not 100% to perform the most of our abilities...
you could also try massages, soothing teas like chamomile, warm baths @ night, and reading a good book...
also remember to keep in touch with your self and your friends... besides making some time for you and your husband......

i am a mother of three wonderful boys, and i know how demanding is to be a new mom....
most of the time we forget about cultivating our relationships that are our support system..
best wishes....... and remember that the theory of relativity, einstein said, that it came to him in a dream....
many times we forget to dream, and as einstein said...
dreaming is more important than knowledge, because knowledge has a limit....
may the stars always shine your path, and the perfume of fresh flowers always remind you of the beauty of living...
warmly,
sandy

Easy, take anything with diphenhydramine. Benadryl, tylenol pm's. My doctor said it safe for me and for baby. In fact, my doctor says most doctors are full of bull about most of the stuff they say you can't take while pregnant and breastfeeding. It will make you groggy so make sure you are able to have a full 8 hours to sleep it off. Good luck from a chronic lifetime insomniac. (valerian root and melatonin are supposed to help but never did for me.)

I had the same problem! I use to co-sleep with my baby and moved her to the crib. I also turned off the monitor and kept my bedroom door opened so I can hear my baby for night feedings.

have you tried acupuncture? it worked wonders on my sciatica and heartburn while i was pregnant. and my girlfriend gets acupuncture treatments for he insomnia. not to mention it's very relaxing!

good luck!
N.

I went through something simlilar when my 2nd son was about 7 months old, my OBGYN prescribed me Ambien at a very low dose and recommended that I take only half a pill.. it got me the sleep I needed for the first few nights, but then I woke up feeling yucky (I don't take any kind of drugs normally so my system is very easily overloaded) and the 3 times I have been in the hospital after giving Birth to my children he has also offered me sleeping pills ( I usually decline) but my point is I trust my Dr and I know he wouldn't prescribe something that would affect my child in an adverse way, hes been in the biz for over 30years, and I have been a patient of his for almost 10... talk to your OB (if you haven't already) in my experience they know what affects your breast milk better than a general practitioner, good luck!!! and from what my NP tells me you take take any tylenol products and its okay pregnant or breast feeding! So maybe try Tylenol PM!

Hello Crisy,

The best way to get you out of tension is to take a root of valerian either in drops or in pills. It is absolutely natural, pure herb would not affect you in any way except bringing benefit of relaxation. By the way it helps child to stay calm and sleep well. Natural food or Vitamin stores is your source. I came from country where herbs are the answer to almost everything.

Best regards,
I.

Hi C.,

Have you heard of MonaVie? I started drinking it about a month ago and now sleep very well at night. It is all natural and has 19 different fruits in it. It is great for kids and nursing mothers. It is worth trying since it won't have adverse affects with you nursing and will help build your sons immune system. Let me know if you are interested in trying it.
Congratulations on the new baby!

I have suffered from insomnia for years, especially after the births of my two girls. The number one thing that has helped me is to take a calcium magnesium supplement, and as hard as it is to get the time, regular exercise is the key. Also the healthier my diet the better it seems. The number one thing really is the magnesium. It's good to get it with vitamin D so your body can absorb it better.

Hope that helps!
W. O.

Hi C.,
I love homeopathic remedies and use them quite often with great results. There is a book titled "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that has a few pages on insomnia and some natural rememdies. If you have a Vitamin Shoppe or health food store in your area you can go in and take a look at it. As always, check with your doctor first before trying anything! If you haven't already, you might try a warm glass of milk before you go to sleep.
Blessings,
T.

C.,
I suggest you try Acupuncture, I have an acupuncturist in my office that is great and she treats insomnia patients regularly. It definitely can't hurt to try, and its much safer than a drug alternative. You can always call my office if you have any questions
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L.

Hi C.,

My name is D.. I am a doula and yoga teacher. I also work in the field of Ayurveda. I often work with clients who cannot sleep. From an ayurvedic perspective ( a whole medical system from India) It is recommended to review your eating habits for starters. Are you eating long after sunset? And/ or are dinners your largest meal? Try to to eat around sunset, eat light like some steamed veggies and rice; save your largest protein rich meal for lunch. Undigested food in the body during the night is taxing on the body in the long run. Around noontime is when our digestion is most charged and ready to metabolize the biggest meal. If you get hungry later in the evening, try the good 'ol warm milk(or milk sub.) remedy and add a pinch of nutmeg- a classic ayurvedic sleep aid.

Lastly, how is your breath. In the evening, night and early mornings when you want to sleep, spend a few minutes noticing your breath. Focus on breathing smoothly, unstrained and deeply in and out through the nose. Classically it is recommended to start off your bedtime on the right side and focus on the breath moving through your left nostril. These are some natural ways to calm and soothe the mind & body that might be helpful. If you find a yoga or chi gong teacher who works deeply with breath take some classes with him or her. I wish you the best of luck. I am conneted with many mamas in my community and I can see that it's a lot of work yet super rewarding. I plan on one day joining your team. Many Blessings! D. D.

Try camomille tea and honey, try to listen to relaxing music, a steam shower with eucaliptus oil drops in the steam. Pamper yourself go get a massage and have you husband help you. Don't regret what you didn't do in the past, I'm a first time mom of a 20month old baby and I wish I knew about mamasource before. My mom already left us and could't ask her for any advice. I'm 38 but feel young and had a miracle in my life which never though it would happen to me to become a mom. I tryed for 15 years and love every moment soo enjoy life and your son.

Hi Chrissy. Try no caffeine at least 6 hours before you want to sleep. Also, leave the TV off. Maybe read a book or take a bath. Chamomile tea is also soothing.
Do some yoga and DEEP breathing exercises. As you inhale--count all your blessings and things you are grateful for. As you exhale blow out all the negative.
Congratulations on being with your sweethaert 22 yrs. and enjoy that precious baby of yours!!
K.
San Leandro

Have you heard of MonaVie?
Highly nutritious fruit beverage full of anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. Most drinkers experience more restful sleep and better mental clarity right away. It fills the nutritional void that current american diets offer. Safe for chldren and lactating or pregnant mothers. You may contact me for more info and a complimentary bottle. ###-###-####
~N.

Hi C.,

I spent my childhood with insomnia. I tried all the remedies from working out, taking good supplements, drinking chamomille tea, reading, accupunture etc. I found sleeping on a magnetic sleep pad and magnetic insoles in my shoes and a magnetic eye mask helped me with my sleep challenges. I also started using a product called Osteo Denx that helps to supports bone health that helped dramatically. That is safe for pregnant women along with lactoferrin and jadegreenzymes. It sounded pretty crazy for me at first and I did not believe it would help me and I was wrong. I was first introduced to this technology when I was 39. That was 10 years ago. I will never give up my pad. My granddaughter sleeps on a pad also. She is 6 years old. She has slept through the night since she has been on it from birth. It made life easier for all us.
For more info go to www.nikken.com/ninamarie

Are you you sure that you do not have Sleep Apnea? You might ask your doctor to have you tested for sleep apnea. I had this and it was not diagnosed for two years, woke up several times during the niter would not be able to go back to sleep for hours sometimes. Doctors don't ask about this but it is pretty common, you can search google for sleep apnea to learn more. Can happen at any age even in teens. Best of luck!

I developed a severe reaction to caffine and had sleep problems. I eliminated caffine and the problem resolved itself. This included coffee, tea, chocolate and sodas. Hope you find a solution and get some sleep!!

I did that with 2 of mine, too. I have been taking flex oil & fish oil for a little tendonitous in my elbow......I was surprised that it helped me sleep. It is kind of a deeper sleep. What about just focusing on breathing....maybe you can take a little bynadryl? I would ask your doctor first.
Good Luck to you! It will pass! :O)

you might want to try Tylenol PM's they did the trick for me on the nights i couldnt sleep while i was breastfeeding. My Doctor told me that was all he could give me or sugest for me to use, because i was breastfeeding my youngest, stephen. it never had a efect on him, n it relaxed me enough to sleep. even though i am no longer breastfeading, i still use it on nights that i cant sleep...

What about a hot bath, then have your husband rub your back (or feet) while you are in bed. When my son was a couple months old it was hard to sleep (even when he was asleep). i wanted to make sure he was okay so i would get up and check on him.

Hi C.~ Whew, sounds like your body systems are in hyper-drive. I am an older mama (had my son at 44). Without a doubt your Endocrine system (the glands like pituitary, pineal, adrenals, thyroid) are most likely very depleted, hence the feelings of exhaustion...I don't know where you live as I have many suggestions, ideas and reccomendations. I will say this Sleeping pills will only further tax your body's systems. Please feel free to contact me.

Hi! I use to suffer with insomnia greatly, but all the over-the-counter sleep aids made me feel drugged. I started taking a product my fiancé uses/sells called Sleep Tite. It's a natural herbal product. It doesn't put me to sleep, but it sure helps me relax enough to fall asleep and helps me sleep deeper. Maybe your doctor could look at the ingredients and approve it. Your doctor can find ingredients and interactions in his/her Physicians Desk Reference book under WIN products. It's available online from www.nutritionshoppingnetwork.com under the category "optimal health". I love the stuff and hope it works for you too. My fiancé will send you samples if you want to try it. - C.

Dear C.,

I understand your issue totally. I have found a fruit juice that is exceptionally high in antioxidants that is proven to help 95% of people sleep better and have better energy. It is called Monavie and is a blend of 19 organic fruits. The reason it helps so much is that it is full of phytonutrients that provide your body assistance in fighting off all the toxins. I know of many people that have experienced much better sleep because of it, including myself. The best thing is that it is only fruit and will not harm you or your baby. Feel free to email me with any questions.

G.
____@____.com

Hi!! I have been there. There is an all natural product you can find @ the health food store called MELATONIN. It is what your body produces on its own. I have given it to my children after Summer breaks to get them back in their routines. Of course ask your pediatrician about the breastfeeding but I was told it was safe for my kids so you should be fine. You should take it about 30 minutes before bed. Hope it helps. =)

D. N.

I am so sorry to hear this. I too have had problems with post-partum insomnia and acupuncture, lavendar salt baths, camomile tea have helped. also NO caffeine or eating late and some yoga too. all fine while you're breastfeeding. good luck!

Hi C.,
I have a now 2 1/2 year old and what worked for me was taking a natural soy protein shake by Shaklee. It's healthy for you and baby, I also experienced more production of milk when breasfeeding. You might also want to try Gentle Sleep Complex by Shaklee....Safe and Natural in pill form!
Learn more at www.shaklee.net/natural_family_products
Good Luck!

hi there and congrats on your new baby boy!!
When I get insomnia, I drink Camomile tea.. I buy the "sleepy time" tea. it's by celestial .. it's a green box with a picture of a sleeping bear on it.. anyway, I drink this about 1/2 hour before I go to bed.. Also, I read that you shouldn't just get into bed , you may want to first dim the lights and try and relax. If anything, besides homormal adjustments, sounds like maybe you are suffering from a bit of stress.. ? and of course the more you stress about not sleeping the more you can't. I have also had luck with a meditation.. you might want to buy a cd that you can listen to right before bed. Anyway, hope this help... good luck to you :)

hi C., I'm sorry about your insomnia! It looks like several people have already recommended deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Such breathing exercises helped me with severe insomnia in the weeks after my second baby was born. But in the long run, taking it a step further helped even more -- Kaiser offers a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction course that is also open to non-Kaiser members. This course teaches mindfulness based meditation, which has helped many people with stress and insomnia issues, without having to rely on any kind of supplements. I highly recommend it. Good luck!

Hi C.. I know for myself, caffine and evening exercise had to be cut out of my life completely. I started exercising in the morning or mid afternoon, nothing past 4pm for myself. Caffine in any form was banished. I started a different routine for myself once I had my son. Evening bath/shower, after he went down, I'd read a book or watch TV, anything that would relax me. And soon, I found myself yawning and heavy eyed. There are occations that I still have difficultied, like righ now since my Tony isn't home I have difficulties sleeping all together. My neighbor told me she couldn't sleep when they tried co-sleeping w/the baby. So if you're doing that, try w/out him/her with you. I hope this is helpful.

T.

Some supplements are great and some are basic such as magnesium (taken at night is better); GABA is a wonderful one (look it up on line) will relax you and help to sleep.
It also could be an early premenopause; for this one, nothing better than "omega woman" from nordic naturals (omegas and primrose oil ) I take it, my mom and friends take it and it's an amazing solution for any symptoms (pre and menopause).
I would not recommend antidepressants, those are a huge hook; I've known some lives that have been devastated for taken these horrible drugs (one of my best friends, among them).
Try all the natural stuff first.
Try to read the Bible or Holy books while you're on your bed (this puts me to sleep right away).
Good luck.

Well I have tried over the counter meds, etc.. also. But what I found is Mona Vie juice. 19 fruit juices that is very high in antioxidants and the fruit blend (either organic or grown wild thruout the world)The juice gives you your 5-9 servings of your fruits/veggies recommended doses. I have never slept for more that 1-2 hours at a time since I have had my kids. Now, oh my gosh - I have more energy than ever before. I slept and I wake up rested. It is just to great tasting and benefical for your nutrition.
good luck - R. ###-###-####

When I came home from the hospital & didn't sleep a wink for days I called the hospital & talked to the nurses in the delivery ward & they told me taking Benadryl was safe for breastfeeding moms. Benadryl worked miracles for me, letting my mind relax so I could sleep.

Call your dr & ask if you can take Benadryl.

Good luck, I know no sleep is agony & having to work on top is impossible.

The same thing happened to me with both of my pregnancies. I think its an adrenaline surge post partum. For me it lasted about 2 - 3 weeks post-partum and then after that it got better. Good luck and just hang in there. I used to go down stairs and color (sounds crazy) but I read that it helps using the artistic side of the brain to calm down.

Hi,
I would recommend that you get a second opinion--that is some pretty severe insomnia. I have had postpartum depression myself (I have 4 month old twins). I currently take Zoloft (an antidepressant) and am still breastfeeding. In talking to many people, I was told that Zoloft (and other antidepressants too) is completely safe to continue breastfeeding.

If you don't think that that will work for you, or your doctor wants you to try something else that isn't safe for breastfeeding, maybe you can pump extra during the day and have your partner or a family member give the baby a bottle so you can get some extra sleep.

I hope that helps somewhat.

Have you tried Melatonin? It is a natural sleep aid made with things the body produces. You can research it on the net and ask your doctor. I have researched it, taken it myself and give it to my son. There is no groggy headedness in the a.m. and it is completley safe for kids.

Hi C., Ever since I started drinking MonaVie, I started sleeping much better, and it gives increased energy. It's a delicious blend of 19 fruits, including the acai berry. I'm located in the Peninsula if you're interested or want more info, email me at ____@____.com luck.

I bought, in Borders, a CD by Emmett Miller & Steven Halpern called Letting Go of Stress. I'd leave my discman on the bedside table, plug one earplug into my ear, leaving the other one free to listen for baby & play it. I never got past the first track as it was so good at relaxing me & putting me to sleep.
For questions about drug safety for pregnant & nursing mothers, consult this website: http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp
You can also call them. They have the most up-to-date information.

Good luck,

K.

I had similar problems, though I thought it was work stress, my son was already a year old when I was noticing it. I have been taking melatonin and that helps some. I don't know if it is safe if you are still breastfeeding etc. but you can buy it without a prescription.

C.,
I experienced the same thing for months after having my baby (he's almost three now)---I went to the Dr. many times and they kept saying it was normal but I insisted that it wasn't so finally I saw a sleep specialist. She ran some tests and discovered my thyroid was out of whack! I took some thyroid medication and began sleeping normally! Also, I only had to take the medication for a few months because my thyroid began to return to normal. Apparently, thyroid problems are common post partum symptons. So, you might want to check it out. I am pregnant again right now and my doctor is already testing my thyroid (so far,so good) but I will be ready for it after birth because I don't want to go through that again! Not sleeping is the worst!!
Good luck to you!!! And congratulations on your little one!
----C.

HI! I'm also a "late mother" at 38 with my first baby boy(he just turned 1)! I am having the same problem! I'm not breatfeeding anymore because I went back to work after 6 weeks and found it too difficult, so I take the Tylenol version of a sleeping pill without the Tylenol part on the weekends! It helps, but I still hear every little noise from my son's nursery, so it is not too strong! My husband also works nights, so I'm it at night! I still have yet to sleep 8 hours through, but I'm hoping by the time he's 2! Good luck! I'm right there with you!

I also get insomnia sometimes. Recently I went to bed at 10pm, only to be still awake until 3:30am and up at 6am exhausted. I never had the problem before children. Now that I have two little ones (3yrs and 10 months), I realize that for me, there is just something about being a mom that causes general anxiety...always something that needs to be done or something about your little ones to think about. When I have been up late at night, there is not usually anything specific that I can point to that causes me to be restless. Even when I do sleep during those occasions, my sleep is not very deep and I never feel rested. What has worked best for me is exercise. I very rarely ever have the problem when I have regular physical exericise. I don't even have to hit the gym...just a fast walk around the neighborhood a few times a week helps a great deal. I am also a little older (34) than many moms and think it is that much more important to work our bodies a little. I know it is difficult to find time and/or energy. I have even resorted to getting up earlier to get out and walk before my husband leaves in the morning. I know it seems contrary to getting more sleep, and is very difficult to manage sometimes, but I feel better during the day and sleep better too. I convinced myself to try it by saying "I am already tired, a little more is not going to make much difference in terms of being tired, but it might actual help." Hope that helps...and congrats on the new baby.

I also had insomnia. The answer: YOGA. Even when you are sleepy, in the middle of the night, tossing and turning does nothing. Get up and do yoga. Benefits are incredible.

Another thing to support your sleep is milk thistle. It is a gentle, liver cleansing, herb that is also good for baby and milk. It has the added effect of promoting restful sleep. It is a subtle herb, very gentle. Do your research before you take it, dont just take my word.

Peace, and may you be blessed with sleep. T.

My doctor advised it was safe to take a small amount of Benadryl to help me sleep while I was pregnant and nursing, I would just take a half and it seemed to help. You might want to see what yours says about that.

Hello C., I am an acupuncturist and I often have patients try homeopathic remedies such as Chamomilla. I would suggest you stop by your local health food store or whole foods and check out some of the remedies. They will not effect your child and can often also be taken by infants and children. Read the label for dosage.

The other suggestion would be to get some acupuncture treatments. Good luck and hope this helps. D. Parker, L.Ac.

Try melatonin it is all natural pill and you put one under your tongue 1/2 hour before you go to sleep and it really does help. I take one every night and it doesn't give you the groggy feeling like a tylenol pm would.

Hi C.,

Tey visiting a chiropractor that also specializes in nutrion. He/she can most likely suggest a diet and/or supplements that will help.

L.

Hi,

I agree with Linda's post. I also took a Mindfulness Stress Reduction class at El Camino Hospital. One of the things they have you do is listen to a CD with guided meditation, the first of which is called the Body Scan. The Body Scan puts me to sleep every time I listen to it! It is very relaxing. I think it's awful that others have posted comments trying to get you to take drugs or sell you something. Having said that, the Mindfulness class is a bit pricey but I'm not gaining anything by telling you about it. I'm just speaking from my own experience. I haven't listened to it, but I know that one of the Mindfulness Class teachers has a CD for insomnia. Here's the link:

http://www.mindfulnessprograms.com/mhs-insomnia.html

One other thing, if you try out the body scan CD, I would edit out the chimes at the end so they don't wake you up.

-H.

Hi C.,
Congrats on your new one! I, too, was not sleeping well in the beginning. The one thing I would do, was read when I couldn't sleep. Sometimes it made me drowsy and I'd fall asleep with book on my face and light on. But I didn't do anything other than that, and finally just was so tired I slept. Keep up with the breast feeding too...thats supposedly makes both mom and baby tired. Good luck!
A.

I usually take 2 Benadryl when I am having trouble, it's not adictive. But I do't know how it would affect breast feeding.

C.

Oh boy, can I relate! I've had problems with insomnia since puberty, and it's just horrible when pregnant and yes, nursing. I'm currently pregnant with my second...so am dealing with it now too. I've gotten the okay from my last OB (first pregnancy), current OB and also my primary care physician to take Benadryl. My baby's pedi. was also okay with it. I'm allowed up to 50mg per night. There's a dye-free version too. Of course if you can a) get approval to take it, and b) get away with taking only 25 or even 12.5 mg. all the better. I did talk to my girlfriend who is a pharmacist about it and she confirmed that it was fine (a class C if I remember correctly--and if that means anything to you). Sure, in the ideal world you would not take any medication, eat a perfect diet, avoid all caffeine and alcohol, etc. as it does all pass to your baby through your breast milk. But for me, I simply couldn't function without the Benadryl induced sleep and giving up nursing was never an option for me. Being over-tired day after day is not good for you, your baby or your sweetie. If the Benadryl freaks you or your Dr. out, maybe you can pump enough to give that at night even a couple nights a week so that you can take it and sleep to 'catch up'--maybe on a weekend so your honey can get up for the night feeding(s) and give him the bottle while you get some deep, uninterrupted sleep.

Good luck to you! And I'm due around my 37th birthday, and yes, I wish in many ways I had done this earlier too (just celebrated 17 years with my collage sweetie)!