Anyone Else Ever Had Pregnancy Induced Insomnia?

Updated on December 26, 2008
L.L. asks from Buffalo, NY
15 answers

Just wondering if anyone has dealt w/ insomnia during pregnancy. This is my second pregnancy and I do not remember it being this bad first time around. I typically go to bed between 10:15-11:15- and have been waking up between 4:00-4:30 b/c I have to pee and am then WIDE awake!! By the time I fall back to sleep my husbands alarm is going off and our toddler is waking up. On nights when she doesn't sleep well, I hear her cry a couple of times, have a hard time getting back to sleep and then wake up again around 4:30 and can't sleep- I have 7 more weeks of pregnancy and am hoping for some sleep suggestions or maybe just to hear that someone else has been here!

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So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone who has shared their stories!! Please keep sharing if you have not already! I guess it's like any other part of being a mom- just knowing others are dealing with the same thing helps you to get through it. I just got back from holiday travels and did not sleep well the entire time we were gone- but am hoping now that I'm back in my own bed I'll sleep better...I'll also talk to my doc next time I'm in...

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B.P.

answers from Boston on

Hello,
Mine got so bad that I had to take AMbien. My OB/Gyn gave it to me and said it was safe for the baby. It helped me so much. Good luck!!

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D.M.

answers from Springfield on

I am currently 13 weeks pregnant, and I had that problem a lot in the beginning - I'd wake up anytime after 3am to pee then be WIDE awake, and not drift off until hubby was getting up!! I was already exhausted to begin with, so that certainly didn't help. It seems to have tapered off for me, though. It still happens occasionally, but not regularly. I would just try to sneak in a nap during the day, and that helped too.

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G.T.

answers from Boston on

YES. I had horrible insomnia and now that my DD is one years old I STILL have it. I am so used to my sleep being distrubted by having to pee, being uncomfortable, to having a newborn, then all kinds of infant sleep issues that now I have a sleep issue! I still nap when my daughter naps - well - at least lay down. I hardly ever fall asleep.
I hope it gets better for you!
I am looking forward to responses you get!

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N.S.

answers from Hartford on

I feel your pain.. I have it pretty bad was up from 2am-4:30am this morning wide awake I had it with my daughter too in the last month or so of pregnancy but this time around I am already experiencing it andI am only in my second trimester.

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L.M.

answers from Boston on

L.,

I had the same problem. I took Tylenol PM for it. Of course it isn't easy when you already have a little one you might need to get up with but maybe your husband can help out for a couple of weeks so you can get a bit more rest before your little one arrives.

Good luck and congrats,
L. M

P.H.

answers from Boston on

I had it too, but no one wants to hear about anything unless your have morning sickness! lol I lived in th hot bathtub every night to help me fall alseep..I an over the counter sleep aid recommened by my Doctor called Sleepytime or something. They have herbal things now and lavender seems to help alot too.
I did get over mine, I hope that helps..ooh and try that baby bath sleepy thing that has lavender..that could help you too!

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

I had terrible insomnia my whole second pregnancy. No fun. My OB said that I could take tylenol PM about once/week before bed to ensure one good night of rest. Another OB (for a friend of mine who had wicked insomnia for all three of her pregnancies) gave her the OK to take benadryl every night before bed. It really helped her. You could check with your doc about either of these options.

good luck!

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K.B.

answers from New London on

its your body getting ready to be up at night with your little one. I used to be up form 11pm to 4am
good luck

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T.D.

answers from Boston on

Oh my goodness yes! I carried my second, my daughter, very high under my diaphragm and could not lie down without feeling like I was suffocating. I really did not sleep much for the last trimester which then carried right over into the baby days. She is 10 now and I still struggle with insomnia but I have a great doctor who has never given up helping me find something that works. I know you can't take it now, but I finally settled on Lunesta for those times when I don't sleep for a couple nights in a row. For now, you can try the natural remedies like if you are wide awake when you get up to pee, have a glass of warm milk. Avoid caffeine, which I am sure you are already doing. Try propping yourself up a bit in bed if you think you are having the same problem I did with not really feeling like you can breathe very well. Hang in there. Talk to your doctor, he or she may also have suggestions for you, but this is not unusual for the end of pregnancy at all! Enjoy your new blessing.

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M.K.

answers from Boston on

I had horrible insomnia during my first pregnancy, not nearly as bad the second time round. I didn't find a solution, but the good thing was I got more sleep AFTER the baby was born, even with night feedings, etc.

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A.C.

answers from Boston on

I had it with my first pregnancy and not my second. It sucked big time but it did not last the whole pregnancy. I think it got better toward the end (when that growing baby really sucks all the energy out of you and your body finally gives in to its need for sleep)! - Good luck.

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H.Z.

answers from Boston on

Absolutely! I had it throughout all my 3 pregnancies. I started taking Tylenol PM or Benadryl (both have the same active ingredient). They are both approved by my OB and they work magic. I can still wake up to care for the kids, go to the bathroom, and whatever else comes up, the beauty is I can fall back asleep when I stumble back into my bed. Sleep is key to sanity (or at least that is my belief.) So that is what worked for me.

Happy sleeping and happy holidays!!

H. Z. (5, 4, and 18 month old boys)

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S.R.

answers from Boston on

Hi L.,
I am currently 8 months pregnant and having terrible insomnia. It started towards the beginning of month seven. I am either asleep around 11, up between 4 and 5, or I'm up until 4 and sleep until about 7 a.m. It is brutal, but normal. I used to wake to pee, now I wake because I'm hungry. A good rule of sleep hygiene is that if you aren't asleep in 15 minutes after you wake, get out of bed and do something. This is my first pregnancy, so I figured I may as well get used to waking at odd hours and I get out of bed to have a meal and turn on the morning programs until I get drowsy (usually never happens), or if I'm up late I read until it makes me sleepy. Personally, I wouldn't recommend taking anything chemically since the baby will get drowsy,too, but do try Sleepy Time tea, without Valerian root or Chamomile maybe after you put your toddler down for bed and see if it doesn't make you doze off earlier in the night. These work for me. Good luck!

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D.K.

answers from Boston on

I had it withmy last pregnancy 6 years ago, hate to tell you this but it has nver gone away. I have been living with it since. Ive talked to drs about it but theres not much they can offer especailly when you are pregnant. Hang in there and try to relax and hope for the best!

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S.M.

answers from Boston on

Yes, yes, yes!!! I'm going through the exact same thing right now and also cannot remember it being quite so bad in my previous pregnancies. My schedule is about the same as yours - though, for the past week I've been up from about 2-5. It's actually comforting to read yours (and everyone else's) stories/thoughts/advice. Hang in there L. and know that someone else out there is awake with you :)

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