since i've found out i was pregnant i have had the hardest time sleeping through the night, i'm never completely comfortable. And it's not like i'm having a hard time sleeping because of an upset stomach because i haven't had any morning sickness at all. Does anyone have any advice on helping me sleep!
You need to increase your calcium and magnesium. Take a supplement before going to bed, 1000 mg calcium and 500 mg magnesium. It will help you relax. Also, you can drink a strong cup of chamomile tea, use about 2-3 teabags instead of one, with a little honey.
Definately try a body pillow! Makes sleeping sooo much more comfortable. Also, try not to drink *too* much before bed, you'll just have to pee more. LOL And I hate to say it, but sometimes that's just part of pregnancy. You've got hormones going crazy and your body is going through a lot (not to mention your emotions and pregnancy worries, etc). You've got a lot going on in your mind, too. Try a warm (not hot!) relaxing bath before bed (especially w/a little bag or make one w/the foot of panty hose and fill w/a little lavender, mmmmm) and watch the caffeine.
just wanted to say that insomnia is a pretty common complaint of pregnancy. hope you can find a way to get your rest. maybe you could try napping during the day? kathy
I think pregnancy insomnia is nature's way of preparing you for the sleeplessness of motherhood.Little babies nurse every hour or two day or night,and by the time the baby comes you are use to sleeping in weird bits when you can get it. But definately the body pillow rocks.Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!
thanks for all the advice everyone! the warm bath idea sounds very good, i used to take tea baths when i was in grade school, my mom always thought it was weird, lol, but i forgot how relaxing it was. thanks again
Truer words were never spoken, Terrapin is going through a rough time with night waking with a toddler now. I give both of you my sympathies. I used to get hot flashes and sweating and just NOT being able to sleep, (And I am allergic to chamomille ) I tried some homeopathy, but it didn't really help. The warm bath is a good idea, and Epsom salts can really help you relax (about a cup or more per bath.) On some nights I was SOOOOOO tired, and others I was tired and just couldn't sleep when I was pregnant. When is your baby due?
i'm going to the doctors on monday so i'll find out their estimated date, but what i've calculated is i'm due around october 20th...
my experience so far is that you can probably just resign yourself to not sleeping well. lol. i wake up all night because i am uncomfortable, am about to pee on myself, or am burning up.the cats also insist on sleeping on top of me... i try to take naps when i can throughout the day, but depending on whether you work, i know that may not be an option for you. good luck, and congrats on the pregnancy. my little gummibear is due at the end of may.
I had a horrendous time trying to sleep while I was pregnant with my twins, with my first son it wasn't nearly as bad, but it still wasn't a cup of tea either. I was totally miserable with my twin pregnancy. The best thing for me was laying on my left side with a body pillow, like the others said. I also put on relaxing music to help calm me into sleep. Another really good thing for me was using imagery while slowly inhaling and exhaling, visiting a place in my mind that brought me a serene feeling. For me, it was visiting a forest, imagining the smell of the cool earth, the sun shining upon the leaves of the trees, the wind swaying them gently, the sound of rushing water from the river, and just the silence of nothing but nature around me. Another place I frequented was again a forest, but during a snowfall. Everything was covered in a blanket of snow, snowflakes were swirling around me, I could hear the creaking of the trees as they swayed in the cold wind, see the ice upon their branches, smell the crisp scent of pine and simply inhale the distinctive fragrance of winter. I probably sound like a nut, but that kind of imagery really helped me out. I used it while in labor as well, and I use it to this day if I have a hard time falling asleep or I'm feeling tense. TerrapinRose is right on! I always felt that my sleepless slumber of pregnancy was a preparation of what was to come, that it was my body's way of adapting to the challenges of night-time parenting so it wasn't a shock to my system when the time came. Good luck, and I hope you can catch some zzz's. Hugs to you.
