Difficulty Falling Asleep

Hi there,

As it's 3am while I'm writing this while my family is sleeping peacefully (but I'm not) I can certainly relate. In fact, my baby is 11 weeks, too!

I liked your reasoning that perhaps you were "alert asleep" and thats why you were waking. However, I can reassure you- my baby is not sleeping more and more, so perhaps that is not the issue. I also worked out yesterday, and got my 30 min of activity (plus playing with my 3.5yo). I'm going to look into the prolactin insomnia that SB described.

I do find that the teas from Celestial Seasons Sleepytime Vanilla or Tension Tamer help me to reenter the drowsy state. It's not 100%, but it helps. I also try and look at it as "me" time, which makes my wakefulness almost ok.

Best regards & sleepy thoughts!

Try yoga and or meditation. I have a pm yoga dvd that is specifically targeted to help you sleep. I also have a meditation dvd that puts me to sleep every time- even though that's not the point of meditation..... I think it's called John Kabbet? I can look it up if you're interested. Oh- acupuncture can also help. Good luck!

I don't have any good suggestions other than to exercise during the day (a 20 or 30 minute walk around the neighborhood or whatever) could help. Be sure not to exercise in the last couple of hours before bedtime--exercising gets your blood pumping, and afterward will actually make you more awake for a while.

Also, if you're drinking any caffeine, cut it out altogether.

For me, reading is a good way to wind down, so I read for 10 or 15 minutes before I go to bed. Maybe taking a bath is relaxing for you? Or try a cup of chamomile tea (if you like tea) or a warm bath or some deep breathing exercises to help you to relax.

Benadryl is safe to take (for you; check to see if it's safe to take while breastfeeding if you are nursing, because I don't know about that), and can help make you sleepy. It's not addictive and is inexpensive & over the counter.

Hyland's Calms Forte!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was recommended by my home birth midwives, and it helped calm my mind so I could sleep. It's natural, so I wasn't groggy or anything like that, and I was still able to wake up in the middle of the night if my son needed me. HIGHLY recommend you try it, and hopefully it'll work as well for you as it did for me!

The only medication approved to take (sleep aid) during pregnancy are those containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl). It is the active ingredient in products like Unisom, Tylenol PM, etc. Ask your pediatrician to be safe.

I've not slept well for years - literally about 10 years. So, I have to take something each night. Benadryl barely touches me. I take a medication I was prescribed during chemo for nausea, and it helps me shut my mind off enough to get a few hours of rest. It's very short-acting, and I have no problem waking when needed.

You will get lots of people telling you to take melatonin because it's natural. Check with the pediatrician first. It's not FDA approved, so there is no regulation over its preparation, and the quality will vary from brand to brand.

Good luck! I hope you're able to get some rest soon.

I had the same issue after our second child was born. It didn't go away by itself, so it was not just a hormonal balance issue for me. Do talk to your doctor. Stress and/or depression can cause insomnia. That was the case for me.

I had this same problem with my son. It can be absolutely miserable. Then to make it worse, I would find myself dosing during breast feeding sessions. My doctor said that prolactin (???it's been a few years, I may have the hormone name wrong) levels are higher in pregnant and nursing women and that can cause insomnia for some women. I asked why I got sooo sleepy while actually breastfeeding and he said that another hormone is released that help relax and keep a mother still while breastfeeding...add that to no sleep and cuddling with a a warm little baby and you doze. I didn't want meds so it was suggested to lay off caffine and sugar and try some sleepy time tea. Unfortunately, I just had to wait it out. It took me three solid months(maybe four) before my body seemed to adjust. I breastfed for over a year. Hang in there mama.

You might see if you can take Advil PM, it works for me............but............I am guessing your mind just won't shut down? If that is the case, find you're "place" in your brain.............I know it sounds dumb, but it works.........think of someplace where you would sit and be completely at ease..............maybe in a park you know well, sitting on a beach.........where ever you choose, hear the sounds...........if you are on a beach, look at the water, hear the waves hitting the shore, hear the wind making the palm trees bristle, feel the warmth of the sand on your body...........and just bask in the moment............pretty soon, you'll be out like a light.........

If that doesn't work, get the advil PM's!!! Make sure they are ok for you first of course..............it may take a bit to find your place, but it really does work, you can also try putting on some sleep music on a dvd player or finding music on your tv to play.........that can help as well...

Gool Luck, and as a Mom, I don't think after your first child is born, you EVER get to many good nights sleep in a row.........I hear the dogs sneeze, scratch their ears, I think it is programmed into us!!

Take care.