not sleeping...insomnia? I think I am really losing it.

Okay, so DH was gone last night and I had the babies to myself. DS woke at 12:30 (not usual for him at all) and I fed him and put him back down. I COULD NOT go back to sleep. It took me until 3:30 to fall asleep and then DD woke me up at 4:30 and then I drifted off again until 5:30 etc... and up for the day at 6:45. Anyway, I was exhausted this morning and laid down to take a nap when the nanny got here and I could not fall asleep then either. I don't even have anything on my mind - except for falling asleep. It is starting to freak me out. I try not to think about falling asleep but it is like my mind stays hyperalert and my body is resting. KWIM???

I posted about this a few days ago (and really appreciated all the getting back to sleep advice but nothing seems to work) but that was only about not being able to fall asleep in the early am hours...now I can't fall back asleep, ever. Please tell me that just a couple nights of not being able to fall back to sleep does not = insomnia. I am terrified that I have forgotten how to fall to sleep. Now I know how DD feels when she is laying in her crib fighting sleep so much.

Please tell me you have been there before and I will remember how to fall asleep again eventually. Please tell me this is not insomnia - more like momnia...

Amy

*I made an appt. with my ob/gyn on Monday so maybe we can talk ppd. but I seem to really be fine, albeight tired, when I am awake (except for your normal crying spells during the pre-nap screamfest).

 

:hug99: I was JUST trying to explain this feeling to DH this morning. The boys both have colds but Jack's is really bad, he had a fever of 102 last night and I was just worried about him the whole night. Well thank god James slept pretty good because Jack was fussing literally every 15 minutes. I would get up, soothe him back to sleep go lay down, fall asleep and then he would be up again. Well I have gotten pretty good at being able to fall back to sleep, it took a while but I learned. Well after getting up about 10 times last night for Jack, James woke at about 5:00 to eat and while I was feeding him I could actually feel my body release something to kick me into that hyperalert phase, I totally lost the drowsy sleepy feeling that lets me go back to sleep. IT SUCKS, after that there is nothing I can do to fall asleep, so I just get up and drink a bunch of coffee and start moving. I hate it though, it's like I can't even blink my eyes are wide open and my whole body is just rigid. I just try and remember that this feeling isn't going to last forever, I'm not going to die (even though it feels like it sometimes) and hopefully tonight will be better. Hang in there I wish I had some great advice about getting back to sleep but other than just laying there with my eyes closed for an hour which is all the time I have to sleep I havn't figured it out yet. As you can tell by the jumbled mess I just typed, I am pretty tired too so I feel you sister.

 

No advice, just commiseration. I was up at 2:30 (for no reason), babies were up and fussing off and on for about an hour from 3-4. I finally put Henry in the swing and let Ellie baaah it out (her version of crying). I tried tried tried to fall back asleep, and finally drifted off around 5:30 when I had to get up at 5:45 to get ready for work! UGH!

Maybe you'll find this funny, but I was laying their tossing and turning and thinking of your previous post. I tried counting, I tried praying....nothing! Hopefully your upcoming vacation will "cure" you!! Suzi

 

I went to my regular doctor and got a mild sleeping pill. People couldn't believe I was taking sleeping pills after the babies were born. Everyone was just like "Aren't you just tired enough to fall asleep?" ... But I wasnt. When I finished feeding them, I would be wide awake. And just lay there thinking about how much sleep I was missing while waiting to fall asleep, and how they would be up soon and it would just snowball into complete anxiety.

My doc gave me a low dose sleeping pill. It worked really well at helping me fall asleep, but it didn't knock me out at all. There were a few times I took it and went to sleep within 15 mintues ... and then a baby would wake up. I was still able to get up and take care of them and I didn't feel like I was going to pass out. It was just enough to get me back to sleep.

I know a lot of people don't like medicating themselves, but it was a life saver for me!

 

QUOTE(caba @ Oct 23 2007, 02:30 PM) [snapback]463228[/snapback]
I went to my regular doctor and got a mild sleeping pill. People couldn't believe I was taking sleeping pills after the babies were born. Everyone was just like "Aren't you just tired enough to fall asleep?" ... But I wasnt. When I finished feeding them, I would be wide awake. And just lay there thinking about how much sleep I was missing while waiting to fall asleep, and how they would be up soon and it would just snowball into complete anxiety.

My doc gave me a low dose sleeping pill. It worked really well at helping me fall asleep, but it didn't knock me out at all. There were a few times I took it and went to sleep within 15 mintues ... and then a baby would wake up. I was still able to get up and take care of them and I didn't feel like I was going to pass out. It was just enough to get me back to sleep.

I know a lot of people don't like medicating themselves, but it was a life saver for me!


That would be fabulous, just to even have so that I know if I needed it it was there. Do you mind sharing the name of the pill? I think I end up being anxious that I am never going to sleep again.

Thanks,
Amy

 

Some nights I get this wind of energy around 9pm and I am like a cleaning madwoman :huh: I have tried to get into bed by 10ish because I need the sleep since the kiddos get up early but if I have trouble falling asleep I take a 1/2 of Tylenol PM and it works like charm for me. I am still able to hear the babies over the monitor in the middle of the night and able to get up if I have to and feed or console without being a zombie. But my husband on the other hand will pass out from it and there is no waking the dead!! But I thought I would share what works for me.

I have had plenty of nights where I am just laying there after getting up in the middle of the night and I have been up since 5:30am and I should be exhausted, but I am not. Glad to hear you have a Dr. appt. It never hurts to talk about your feelings to them. Hope you get some rest soon.

 

I just had to post this..I am totally the opposite. I am getting anywhere from 1 hour to 6 (only occasionally averaging 4 hours). The funny part about this is when I have to wake up at 3:00 am for a feeding I fall asleep and am feeding his/her ear or cheek. Not that I want insomnia I just wish I could be in between. I have a toddler so I can't take a cat nap when the babies are sleeping during the afternoon. So I've been sleeping straight up on the couch while we watch the Wiggles and my toddler yells " wake up mommy" about every 5 minutes.

 

I can definitely relate, and I have had the inmomnia for about a month now. It drives me crazy! Have you had your thyroid checked lately? If not, I would ask your OB to have it tested. It can sometimes cause insomnia if it is on the overactive side.

 

QUOTE(iluvpugs @ Oct 23 2007, 03:06 PM) [snapback]463291[/snapback]
I just had to post this..I am totally the opposite. I am getting anywhere from 1 hour to 6 (only occasionally averaging 4 hours). The funny part about this is when I have to wake up at 3:00 am for a feeding I fall asleep and am feeding his/her ear or cheek. Not that I want insomnia I just wish I could be in between. I have a toddler so I can't take a cat nap when the babies are sleeping during the afternoon. So I've been sleeping straight up on the couch while we watch the Wiggles and my toddler yells " wake up mommy" about every 5 minutes.



HILARIOUS! My toddler does the same thing! Those darned wiggles are always waking up Jeff, so my guy thinks it's so funny to wake me up too! Now I make him watch Max and Ruby or something mellow so he won't wake me up!

Amy...I sure hope you get some sleep soon! I had major insomnia while pregnant, and ambien helped a ton. Definitely talk to your ob!

Reyna

 

QUOTE(ahmerl @ Oct 23 2007, 02:32 PM) [snapback]463233[/snapback]
That would be fabulous, just to even have so that I know if I needed it it was there. Do you mind sharing the name of the pill? I think I end up being anxious that I am never going to sleep again.

Thanks,
Amy


I believe it was called sonata.

 

I am going through this now that the girls are usually sleeping through. I can not get to bed before 1am!! UGH... and then I am up at 7 and dozing on the couch until 9 sometimes snuggled up with the 3 yo!! I wish I could go to bed at 8:30 and sleep through too!! LOL

 

I have no trouble falling and staying asleep, but my eyes are WIDE open at 6:00 every morning now. Doesn't matter if the babies are awake or not. By 4:30, I've hit the wall, though. I can't nap either because of our 1 year old...so, that probably helps me fall asleep at night. But, I do remember when DS1 was a baby, I had insomnia BAD and it was related to PPD. I was so tired and depressed during the day, I spent probably 90% of it on the couch.

I can tell you that unchecked PPD only gets worse, so it's probably good that you're going to talk to your doctor. During my pregnancy with the twins, I took Ambien. It was great. I didn't have any issues falling asleep and never woke up groggy.

 

Going trhough this too. I cannot believe it either as I'm a single mom and have no help in the evenings, a VERY rude neighbor who loves to blast his rap music , girls getting up 2 times a night - maybe getting 4 -5 interupted sleep a night and work full time. And yet this past week - I go to bed around eight pm - I just LAY there - can't get to sleep - yet I am so exhausted. I'm thinking what is wrong with me???? But unlike you, I have chalked it up to SO much on my mind. I think this is very common - with new moms etc. as there is so much we do - it's hard to "turn off" even though we are SO exhausted. and yes - It is probably like an overstimulated baby that won't fall asleep. thanks for pointing that out as I will have a little more patience with my girls at 3am. hope you get some rest soon!!!!!

 

I had this happen too.. I was so anxiety ridden about not sleeping I could not sleep. I almost had a panic attack one night. I thought for sure it was PPD
Now at 6 months when I get up I can lay back down and fall back asleep almost immediately.
I just want to encourage you that you do what is best for you.
Take care

 

I have no advice, just total compassion! Mine are 1 year now and I still do not sleep well. I feel once I got pregnant, my sleeping nights were over. I am such a light sleeper now - it STINKS! I am up all night sometimes and the moment I finally fall asleep, one of them wakes me up. I feel for you!

Let us know what the doctor says.

HUGS to you...

 

A small glass of wine does the trick for me. The effect on breastmilk is minimal as long as you practice some moderation!