Will I ever sleep again..?!?

[snowboarder]

So the snowboarding family sleep sagas continue. But this time it's me who can't sleep!! Babysb has improved over the last couple of months and now usually sleeps through to 5ish...but I am awake on and off from the early hours of the morning, and totally awake listening out for him from about 4.30. Too annoying - do you think that having children means you will never have a good night's sleep again?!? Either dealing with waking children or awake worrying about them! I collapse around 10.30pm fine so it's not a hot milk/bath scenario...seriously considering some kind of sleeping pills!

[dulwichmum]

I hate to say this, but I just don't sleep deeply anymore either. I am always ready to dart into a room for a child who calls out. I am fully awake every morning by 5.30. My oldest is 8 now. Even when we have been away for the weekend without the poppets it is the same. Maybe it is how it is when you are a parent.

Although early morning waking is supposed to be a sign of depression.

[linzkg]

I also find that I wake through the evening while the little one is sound asleep! But he's a messy sleeper and moves up the cot hitting his head so I use these opportunities to pull him down again. But I would seriously consider having a massage of sorts? I find that if I've been for a treatment I sleep like a log and don't wake through the night - I wake up feeling great.

[Smiler]

hi snowboarder, I had this problem too, but can now sleep well again, there is hope!

[sillywoman]

Oldest 14, youngest 6. Went through the years of 'alert' sleeping, but now - and for the past 3 years - sleep like the proverbial log, or deeper if it's possible. It's great - think I'm making up for the 'lost years'. You too will sleep again SB - don't despair. :)

[womanofdulwich]

yes there is a honeymoon period- but then when they are older and go out and you go to bed and lie there waiting to hear them come home at midnight ( or later).;-)

[snowboarder]

Hmm. Has anyone actually tried any sleep 'remedies' or pills - natural or otherwise?

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes, we'd got back to 'normal' sleep again before the second baby came along, but now feel as if we may never sleep again - awful nights again at the moment thanks to teething and a horrible cold that keeps giving her temperatures etc. Poor little mite.

My hubby swears by Nitol, and also my doctor checked and assured me it was safe to take Night Nurse even when breastfeeding (not if co sleeping), when I had my awful chest infection last year - that knocks you out (makes you very groggy when you do finally wake up), but of course is really only for when you are sick. I suspect with you it is a case of needing to break the 'habit' after a very stressful year with baby SB's sleep, and it might be worth speaking to the doctor about it. Not sure medication is the answer because of course the question is will you sleep OK once you come off it, but maybe acupuncture, or a meditation course or something???

Hugs, M

xxx

[helena handbasket]

I put lavender oil on my pillow. I am always amazed ay how quickly my brain goes to mush and then I'm out. I've never been a great sleeper and over the years have tried many things, but nothing does it quite like the lavender.

Admittedly, I've been up long before 7 for so long now I generally fall asleep when my head hits the pillow, but I'm still often visited by the ghost of 4 am wakings past and that's when the lavender oil helps.

Works for small people too.

[melbourne groover]

Try passiflora tincture. It is not drowsy making as you can take morning and night but just calms your thought process so if you wake up thinking of things you seem to be able to just drift off again. You just take a few drops in water before bed. Can get it from health matters.

Also I have recently been counting backwards in 3's from 300 i.e. 297 294 291 etc(read this in a mag) and never get past about 250. Was dubious about this but am finding it brilliant!

[Coach Beth]

I had the same problem when my boy was younger - it's fine now he is 5 although I am looking forward to the day that I can sleep past 6 or 7am. I have heard that years of waking up early leaves parents unable to sleep in however!

My partner swears by Valendian herbal tea - he drinks a cup before bed and I've noticed that he sleeps much better.

Good luck!

[ryedalema]

SB - I just wanted to add my sympathies. I'm likewise a bit sleepless and not all of it child-led. I have carpel tunnel in my right wrist (brought on from holding babes while bfing) and it really throbs/stings in the middle of the night.

:'(

[alieh]

I have had really good luck with those Kalms tablets - can't remember if they are suitable while breastfeeding. Think the active ingredient is the herb valerian, so may be the same as the tea recommended above.

I have found that I wake up during the night alot, even though my son mostly sleeps through. Some weeks better/worse than others. I think it is just a fact of being on high alert because he still does occasionally wake and I'm never really sure what the night will hold. I do find that if I can break the insomniac cycle by sleeping a night in the spare room with earplugs (and DH on duty), that can really help.

[Moos]

snowboarder, I too have been there and to reassure you right at the start, it's worn off and I now sleep normally again.

At the time of feeling insomniacal (is that a word?) I went to the GP who gave me some excellent advice: no naps, no lie-ins, but try to go to bed at the same time every day, and stick to it. Well, no lie-ins was a bit too much when Mr. Moos offers at weekends, but otherwise I did stick to it, and it really helped.

Good luck... sleep will return..

[bawdy-nan]

YoyUpu will, one day, have sleep and it is wonderful. Even more so after years of jittery waking...

In the meantime I used to find that valerian tea worked a treat and without that heavy feeling when you do wake up.

[apenn]

My husband sometimes suffers from insomnia. I bought his some Dr. Stuarts valerian tea and the stuff works a treat. There are lots of sleepytime teas out there, but I think Dr. Stuarts has the highest valerian content. I'm sure you can also find valerian tablets.

-A

[EDmummy]

Oh poor you, SB. I remember this so well. I have never been a good sleeper so having children tipped me over the edge at the best of times. What eventually helped me was just to stop worrying about not sleeping (this took me quite a number of years to develop and slipped back after No. 2). I still wake about 8-10 times a night (only one or two of those induced by the children, at least one induced by the birds outside my window or planes). I used to use a mantra (meditation), I also used to design my "dream house in my dream location" but I never, ever thought about 'not sleeping'. I am now able to wake up and drift off relatively easily, even when a fidgety 4 yr old climbs into bed around 5am.

Keep strong.

[barrybrains]

Valerian is not OK whilst breastfeeding unfortunately. Just checked the packaging of my tablets. They do work pretty well though. Passiflora may be OK, best to check with a doctor.

[apenn]

Thanks Barrybrains - I didn't know that. Good thing my husband stopped breastfeeding. ;-)

[woofmarkthedog]

SB

I just don't sleep so deep anymore unless the children are at Grannies

"Vespers" tea is good but it can leave me a bit "woooooosy" in the morning

No pills though, that path nearly did for me many years ago

If you are really struggling cut out the caffeine ( it genuinely hurts though ) completely for a while & yes even that first morning one

I know it's hard but it does work

The Dog

[snowboarder]

Hmm - this is not sounding good. Don't drink coffee - the odd cup of tea but not every day so not a caffeine thing. Can't try the kalms/valerian stuff as still b/f the little monster. Never have naps or lie ins. Hubby reckons good old exercise will do the trick (but he would sleep through an earthquake). Am currently trying lavender oil on pillow and bach night rescue remedy and chamomilla...Tried the counting trick and got down to zero - argh!!

Still. Baby sb slept till 7am this morning!!! So it's not all bad....Thanks for all tips though!

[alieh]

Great news about 7:00 am! Honestly the insomnia will pass, but it might take a number of weeks. It is just that your body isn't used to getting long stretches of sleep anymore and so you're jittery. I still rarely sleep right through without waking at all, but generally am able to go back to sleep pretty quickly now.

[sparky74]

It does get better - well just a bit anyway - 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 - probably get 1 full nights sleep a week. One of them always seems to wake up and want cuddles or to get into our bed! Oh the joys - would you change it? No.

[snowboarder]

sparky74 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> would you change it? No.

Umm...Seriously? Yep, but hey....

[busymum]

I've never been the best sleeper, especially with baby number 1, it must have been all the stress, although it didn't seem that stressful at the time, but it is such a big change, becoming a family.

Anyway for what it's worth, the way I cope with periods of stress and insomnia is to remind myself it is just a phase and that it will pass (and it always does) and this calms me down, rather than get all worked up in the middle of the night which just wakes you up more. So just remember 'it's only a phase'.

I also use ear plugs. They sell the good ones that actually work, at the chemist near the Palmerston on Lordship Lane.

Also, have you ever tried relaxation tapes? This is going to make me sound like a bit of a nutter but I sometimes still listen to my hypno birthing relaxation tape. It totally knocks me out!