trouble sleeping at night

[wanderlost]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>cfmomma</b></i>

You are not alone!! I have literally gotten three hours of sleep in the past 48 hours. I can't get comfortable and I have that stupid restless leg syndrome. If I am not constantly moving my legs I get the weirdest feeling that makes me go insane. Rolling over is getting more difficult every night and my husband is getting pissed because I keep waking him up (I have never wanted to slap him more in my whole life). I wish I could you some advice that was useful, sorry. But feel free to vent and complain as much as you want, I am here!</end quote></div>


I got that when pregnant too!

 

[boxer13]

I cannot sleep either, I fall asleep okay but then I am awake around 3 or 4. I am just getting used to it I guess. However I have had terrible back pain- the pillow between the legs only helps for a couple hours- its almost better if I sleep in a chair. I don't have advice for you- but do want to add my belly is really big too!

Michelle-

 

[boxer13]

I cannot sleep either, I fall asleep okay but then I am awake around 3 or 4. I am just getting used to it I guess. However I have had terrible back pain- the pillow between the legs only helps for a couple hours- its almost better if I sleep in a chair. I don't have advice for you- but do want to add my belly is really big too!

Michelle-

 

[boxer13]

I cannot sleep either, I fall asleep okay but then I am awake around 3 or 4. I am just getting used to it I guess. However I have had terrible back pain- the pillow between the legs only helps for a couple hours- its almost better if I sleep in a chair. I don't have advice for you- but do want to add my belly is really big too!

Michelle-

 

[Scarlett81]

I think I'm getting somewhere with this-

I tried changing the sheets, and I slept like a baby. After about 3 nights, I started waking up again. I changed them tonight again, we'll see what happens. But I think I have developed sensitivity to dust mites/mite feces. Why would I develop this during preg-I have no clue.

My arsenal each night-breathe right strips, lavendar oil, chamomile/lavendar tea, vicks rapor rub, saline nasal wash. Its a production every night.

 

[Scarlett81]

I think I'm getting somewhere with this-

I tried changing the sheets, and I slept like a baby. After about 3 nights, I started waking up again. I changed them tonight again, we'll see what happens. But I think I have developed sensitivity to dust mites/mite feces. Why would I develop this during preg-I have no clue.

My arsenal each night-breathe right strips, lavendar oil, chamomile/lavendar tea, vicks rapor rub, saline nasal wash. Its a production every night.

 

[Scarlett81]

I think I'm getting somewhere with this-

I tried changing the sheets, and I slept like a baby. After about 3 nights, I started waking up again. I changed them tonight again, we'll see what happens. But I think I have developed sensitivity to dust mites/mite feces. Why would I develop this during preg-I have no clue.

My arsenal each night-breathe right strips, lavendar oil, chamomile/lavendar tea, vicks rapor rub, saline nasal wash. Its a production every night.

 

[blindhearted]

i have no pregnancy experience. I do have a condition that makes my back and joints hurt really bad and it can wake me up. Maybe u could get a memory foam topper for the bed? around 1" thick or so. belk's have them on sale every now and then. I bought one and it has seem to help me. when they are onsale u can get a $80 topper one for $30-40. JC Penny also carries them.

I also use breath-right strips. I think they work great. I also use a Vic Vapor stick, not rub. U can inhale the smell directly into ur nose.

 

[blindhearted]

i have no pregnancy experience. I do have a condition that makes my back and joints hurt really bad and it can wake me up. Maybe u could get a memory foam topper for the bed? around 1" thick or so. belk's have them on sale every now and then. I bought one and it has seem to help me. when they are onsale u can get a $80 topper one for $30-40. JC Penny also carries them.

I also use breath-right strips. I think they work great. I also use a Vic Vapor stick, not rub. U can inhale the smell directly into ur nose.

 

[blindhearted]

i have no pregnancy experience. I do have a condition that makes my back and joints hurt really bad and it can wake me up. Maybe u could get a memory foam topper for the bed? around 1" thick or so. belk's have them on sale every now and then. I bought one and it has seem to help me. when they are onsale u can get a $80 topper one for $30-40. JC Penny also carries them.

I also use breath-right strips. I think they work great. I also use a Vic Vapor stick, not rub. U can inhale the smell directly into ur nose.

 

[julie]

I had this problem too, haha <img src=""> I would take a shower/bath before bed, seemed to help a lot. I would lay/rest back in the bathtub with the shower head on beating down on me. In the beginning, when I could still laydown, I would do so. Got difficult pretty quickly though.

Have you tried a recliner at all? That was my saving grace for the last 2 months. I'd try the bed every night, but always end up on the recliner. I also found our "falling apart goodwill couch" to be SOOOO comfortable. The springs are broken in most areas of it, so it molded to my body. Some nights, that did the trick!

Your body does weird things during pregnancy, so developing a sensitivity to dust mites isn't abnormal...

I ditto the foam topper, I found an egg crate mattress was very very comfortable (on top of our water bed)

About sleeping on your left side. If you CAN do it and it's comfortable, great. But if it's causing you greif, don't, it's more of a problem than it's worth. The theory is (and some studies) that because the heart is on the Left side, it helps the blood flow through the vena cava to the baby. True, but sleeping on your Right side has pretty much the same effect. you just have to be careful about sleeping directly on your back because the weigh of the baby presses down onto the bed/onto you and compresses that vena cava and it can decreas blood flow to the baby. Sometimes I found it comfortable to lay on my back, have Mark scoot a pillow under my backside and butt so I was just barely tilted. Some nights it was to my Right side and some nights to my Left.
And you've seen my babies, they developed just fine. So if the sleeping on the left side is bothering you, give up the ghost. Just be careful about being directly on your back.

Sometimes elevating my legs with 2-3 pillows, and then putting a nice thick one between my legs, and then turing slightly to one side or the other and having mark put the pillow under my backside helped too. It was a different position every night.

Good luck,

 

[julie]

I had this problem too, haha <img src=""> I would take a shower/bath before bed, seemed to help a lot. I would lay/rest back in the bathtub with the shower head on beating down on me. In the beginning, when I could still laydown, I would do so. Got difficult pretty quickly though.

Have you tried a recliner at all? That was my saving grace for the last 2 months. I'd try the bed every night, but always end up on the recliner. I also found our "falling apart goodwill couch" to be SOOOO comfortable. The springs are broken in most areas of it, so it molded to my body. Some nights, that did the trick!

Your body does weird things during pregnancy, so developing a sensitivity to dust mites isn't abnormal...

I ditto the foam topper, I found an egg crate mattress was very very comfortable (on top of our water bed)

About sleeping on your left side. If you CAN do it and it's comfortable, great. But if it's causing you greif, don't, it's more of a problem than it's worth. The theory is (and some studies) that because the heart is on the Left side, it helps the blood flow through the vena cava to the baby. True, but sleeping on your Right side has pretty much the same effect. you just have to be careful about sleeping directly on your back because the weigh of the baby presses down onto the bed/onto you and compresses that vena cava and it can decreas blood flow to the baby. Sometimes I found it comfortable to lay on my back, have Mark scoot a pillow under my backside and butt so I was just barely tilted. Some nights it was to my Right side and some nights to my Left.
And you've seen my babies, they developed just fine. So if the sleeping on the left side is bothering you, give up the ghost. Just be careful about being directly on your back.

Sometimes elevating my legs with 2-3 pillows, and then putting a nice thick one between my legs, and then turing slightly to one side or the other and having mark put the pillow under my backside helped too. It was a different position every night.

Good luck,

 

[julie]

I had this problem too, haha <img src=""> I would take a shower/bath before bed, seemed to help a lot. I would lay/rest back in the bathtub with the shower head on beating down on me. In the beginning, when I could still laydown, I would do so. Got difficult pretty quickly though.

Have you tried a recliner at all? That was my saving grace for the last 2 months. I'd try the bed every night, but always end up on the recliner. I also found our "falling apart goodwill couch" to be SOOOO comfortable. The springs are broken in most areas of it, so it molded to my body. Some nights, that did the trick!

Your body does weird things during pregnancy, so developing a sensitivity to dust mites isn't abnormal...

I ditto the foam topper, I found an egg crate mattress was very very comfortable (on top of our water bed)

About sleeping on your left side. If you CAN do it and it's comfortable, great. But if it's causing you greif, don't, it's more of a problem than it's worth. The theory is (and some studies) that because the heart is on the Left side, it helps the blood flow through the vena cava to the baby. True, but sleeping on your Right side has pretty much the same effect. you just have to be careful about sleeping directly on your back because the weigh of the baby presses down onto the bed/onto you and compresses that vena cava and it can decreas blood flow to the baby. Sometimes I found it comfortable to lay on my back, have Mark scoot a pillow under my backside and butt so I was just barely tilted. Some nights it was to my Right side and some nights to my Left.
And you've seen my babies, they developed just fine. So if the sleeping on the left side is bothering you, give up the ghost. Just be careful about being directly on your back.

Sometimes elevating my legs with 2-3 pillows, and then putting a nice thick one between my legs, and then turing slightly to one side or the other and having mark put the pillow under my backside helped too. It was a different position every night.

Good luck,

 

[Scarlett81]

Yes why else would I be posting at 5 am? sigh.

Tonight however I am wheezing in this one little spot about 2 inches below my throat. I really think this is allergies now. Maybe I should post this in the adults section to get further advice. I remember some saying they had allergies.

I've given up sleeping on my left side Julie. Actually the main reason is I hurt my left bicep-I pulled it really bad-the pain was so bad the other day I was crying. So to sleep on it was too ridiculous. Like you said, Im sure the baby will be fine whether mom is on the left or right side. I look at it this way-is it better for me to sleep on that side and lie awake, or to get more sleep and feel better? Obviously the latter is better for the baby.

btw-I think I might have felt the baby moving while I was lying awake a few moments ago. I felt about 6 almost tap-like feelings in a row. But I'm not sure. It was more to my side than center belly. Who knows..?!

Pray that I fall back asleep!!!!!!

 

[Scarlett81]

Yes why else would I be posting at 5 am? sigh.

Tonight however I am wheezing in this one little spot about 2 inches below my throat. I really think this is allergies now. Maybe I should post this in the adults section to get further advice. I remember some saying they had allergies.

I've given up sleeping on my left side Julie. Actually the main reason is I hurt my left bicep-I pulled it really bad-the pain was so bad the other day I was crying. So to sleep on it was too ridiculous. Like you said, Im sure the baby will be fine whether mom is on the left or right side. I look at it this way-is it better for me to sleep on that side and lie awake, or to get more sleep and feel better? Obviously the latter is better for the baby.

btw-I think I might have felt the baby moving while I was lying awake a few moments ago. I felt about 6 almost tap-like feelings in a row. But I'm not sure. It was more to my side than center belly. Who knows..?!

Pray that I fall back asleep!!!!!!

 

[Scarlett81]

Yes why else would I be posting at 5 am? sigh.

Tonight however I am wheezing in this one little spot about 2 inches below my throat. I really think this is allergies now. Maybe I should post this in the adults section to get further advice. I remember some saying they had allergies.

I've given up sleeping on my left side Julie. Actually the main reason is I hurt my left bicep-I pulled it really bad-the pain was so bad the other day I was crying. So to sleep on it was too ridiculous. Like you said, Im sure the baby will be fine whether mom is on the left or right side. I look at it this way-is it better for me to sleep on that side and lie awake, or to get more sleep and feel better? Obviously the latter is better for the baby.

btw-I think I might have felt the baby moving while I was lying awake a few moments ago. I felt about 6 almost tap-like feelings in a row. But I'm not sure. It was more to my side than center belly. Who knows..?!

Pray that I fall back asleep!!!!!!

 

[jjflash]

I'm guessing someone can give you some more specific advice, but there are some things you can do to minimize your allergies -- particularly if you think they're primarily dust mite related.

1. case your mattress and your pillows. You can get these products online or you may have an Air and Allergy store locally (your allergist or pulmo would probably know).

2. Get a high-quality filter for your heating and air conditioning system and change it regularly. We get ours cut a case at a time by an allergy store in town so they are precise fits, but you can again locate these on time. We actually change ours every month in theory because this guarantees that we have it changed by the three month mark.

3. Wash your sheets at least weekly and do this in as hot a water as the sheet can tolerate!!

4. Obviously carpet is a no-no, but if you have it, make sure that your vacuum cleaner has a Hepa filter and that the carpet is vacuumed regularly. You should not be the one doing the vacuuming if at all possible. There is also a product called Dust Mite and Flea Control that you can sprinkle in the carpet which is safe for pets but is supposed to kill dust mites. I haven't used it since we don't have carpet, but I have a friend who does and she seems to like it. There is a similar spray which can be used on couches and things, but again I can't personally vouch for it.

5. Dry mopping or dusting the hard floor surfaces every other day or so can make a huge difference over just the normal cleaning.

6. Get stuffed animals and books out of your bedroom if they are there.

7. I'll be impressed if you succeed at this one, but keep all your clothes in drawers or your closet and keep the doors closed when not getting them out. Supposed to help a lot, but I always seem to have clothes lying around the bedroom!

8. We can one of the large new non-ozone/non-ionizing air purifiers from Brookstone for Christmas, but I really haven't seen much effectiveness of this.

 

[jjflash]

I'm guessing someone can give you some more specific advice, but there are some things you can do to minimize your allergies -- particularly if you think they're primarily dust mite related.

1. case your mattress and your pillows. You can get these products online or you may have an Air and Allergy store locally (your allergist or pulmo would probably know).

2. Get a high-quality filter for your heating and air conditioning system and change it regularly. We get ours cut a case at a time by an allergy store in town so they are precise fits, but you can again locate these on time. We actually change ours every month in theory because this guarantees that we have it changed by the three month mark.

3. Wash your sheets at least weekly and do this in as hot a water as the sheet can tolerate!!

4. Obviously carpet is a no-no, but if you have it, make sure that your vacuum cleaner has a Hepa filter and that the carpet is vacuumed regularly. You should not be the one doing the vacuuming if at all possible. There is also a product called Dust Mite and Flea Control that you can sprinkle in the carpet which is safe for pets but is supposed to kill dust mites. I haven't used it since we don't have carpet, but I have a friend who does and she seems to like it. There is a similar spray which can be used on couches and things, but again I can't personally vouch for it.

5. Dry mopping or dusting the hard floor surfaces every other day or so can make a huge difference over just the normal cleaning.

6. Get stuffed animals and books out of your bedroom if they are there.

7. I'll be impressed if you succeed at this one, but keep all your clothes in drawers or your closet and keep the doors closed when not getting them out. Supposed to help a lot, but I always seem to have clothes lying around the bedroom!

8. We can one of the large new non-ozone/non-ionizing air purifiers from Brookstone for Christmas, but I really haven't seen much effectiveness of this.

 

[jjflash]

I'm guessing someone can give you some more specific advice, but there are some things you can do to minimize your allergies -- particularly if you think they're primarily dust mite related.

1. case your mattress and your pillows. You can get these products online or you may have an Air and Allergy store locally (your allergist or pulmo would probably know).

2. Get a high-quality filter for your heating and air conditioning system and change it regularly. We get ours cut a case at a time by an allergy store in town so they are precise fits, but you can again locate these on time. We actually change ours every month in theory because this guarantees that we have it changed by the three month mark.

3. Wash your sheets at least weekly and do this in as hot a water as the sheet can tolerate!!

4. Obviously carpet is a no-no, but if you have it, make sure that your vacuum cleaner has a Hepa filter and that the carpet is vacuumed regularly. You should not be the one doing the vacuuming if at all possible. There is also a product called Dust Mite and Flea Control that you can sprinkle in the carpet which is safe for pets but is supposed to kill dust mites. I haven't used it since we don't have carpet, but I have a friend who does and she seems to like it. There is a similar spray which can be used on couches and things, but again I can't personally vouch for it.

5. Dry mopping or dusting the hard floor surfaces every other day or so can make a huge difference over just the normal cleaning.

6. Get stuffed animals and books out of your bedroom if they are there.

7. I'll be impressed if you succeed at this one, but keep all your clothes in drawers or your closet and keep the doors closed when not getting them out. Supposed to help a lot, but I always seem to have clothes lying around the bedroom!

8. We can one of the large new non-ozone/non-ionizing air purifiers from Brookstone for Christmas, but I really haven't seen much effectiveness of this.

 

[cfmomma]

I've been awake all night, not one bit of sleep. I feel your pain! How many weeks are you? I felt my son kicking around 14 weeks, you may feel it later because it's your first pregnancy. My boy loves to kick me on my left side, I don't feel it in the front at all. His head is on my right side and feet on the left, it feels and looks so weird when he stretches out!! You can do this, your baby is worth it, hang in there and know that I'm out there not sleeping either!