Sleepless in my 9th month

[Grendalynn]

Ok - I have been tossing and turning since 11:30 PM.... Went into the guest room to sprawl out in the double bed all by myself to try to get comfortable... until DS3 found me. Went back into our bed until 3AM or so... then I just couldn't sleep. I have been here, in front of the 'puter since just before 4AM....

HELP!! Are there any moms out there that can lend some advice on sleep tecniques, ideas or rituals that have worked for you in the past? I use the pillows everywhere - between my knees, under my belly, behind my back.... you name it. I woke up last night (now 2 nights ago I guess it was technically) with the worst leg cramps ever! Had to get up and try to walk it off... With Baby#3 coming any day I would love to get a little R&R!

I am still working during the day to get things prepared before Maternity leave... I come home wiped out, especially after dinner is cooked and picked up, laundry is done, lunches are made, kids are bathed and in bed, and the house picked up - I thought that would tire me out enought that I should sleep like a rock!!??

Well .... I am going to go climb back into bed for a bit and hope to doze off for a few hours before the Schhol Morning rush begins!!?? Wish me luck!

 

[skbachand]

I have no suggestions but feel your pain. I remember those sleepless last days.(and my baby is 3!) Some say it is mother nature's way of prepping you for the nighttime feedings. Pixie dust for a restful nights sleep and getting through your busy day.

 

[bama-mom]

I don't have any advice for you, but I was right there with you just 16 weeks ago. I just could not sleep that last month or two for all the same reasons you mentioned, baby was just so darn big. I did not have that trouble with my first pregnancy. I knew I would not get any sleep afterwards, and I was so exhausted already, I just thought my body was going to shut down from lack of sleep.

It's hard when you have other kids to tend to.My doc ended up giving me a few sleeping pills (ambien) right at the end, but I think I only took one. Good luck and I hope you get some rest.

me ::cop: dh dd 3 ds 4 months

 

[alloyd1170]

I know how you feel. With DS I had the worst leg cramps and heartburn (throughout the entire pregnancy really but worse in the end). All those restless nights are preparing you for whats to come-night time feedings, etc. You also probably have a gazillion thoughts and worries running through your head which doesnt help. When that happens to me, I either tell myself mentally to stop, and if that doesnt work I grab the Ipod for some relaxing music (I found a great cd for massage background music). If it got to be an every night occurrence, I would take some Tylenol PM (ok with my dr). As long as I took that before 10 pm I was good the next day. As for leg cramps, try eating bananas (the potassium is supposed to be good for cramps) and drink lots of water. If they still hit, all you can really do is stretch them out carefully.

alison

 

[shaylahc1]

I'm surprised anyone could sleep at 9 months pregnant Between being so huge I could barely breathe and getting up to pee every 5 minutes, there was no rest for the weary at this house when I was pregnant. Starting at about 7 mos gestation I could not get comfortable no matter what I did. Giving birth was always such a relief, not just because I got a cute baby to love but because I didn't feel like an overinflated beach ball ready to explode anymore

No advice, but they do say those sleepless nights get you ready for those sleepless nights with baby

 

[barkley]

i slept like a rock with my first pregnancy, second i could never (and i was so looking forward to what i remembered as the most delicious and satisfying naps that i'de experienced the first time around).

only thing i can suggest is if you can afford it, locate a certified massage therapist who is trained to massage pregnant woman. i used one with second pregnancy and for a week or so afterwards my legs were so much better (the circulation returned ), i was relaxed and i slept.
the lady i used had me bring a body pillow so i could lay on my side (no way i could lay face down ). it was sooooo worth the $.

you may be overly tired-sometimes that happens and despite our best efforts sleep is elusive. if possible try to slow down a little you may find that by cutting back a bit your mind/body can relax enough to allow you to rest.

 

[Kahana-ri]

I didn't get much sleep during my last month either, although my snuggle pillow was a huge help. Its about $40 so I am not sure if its worth it to you for the last month, but I love that darn things so much that I kept sleeping with it well after I had DS. You can find it on the Babies R' Us website and I am sure other baby related sites.
Maybe some decaf chamomile tea will help. Look at it this way, you body is prepping you for what is about to come once you little charmer makes their debut. Good luck.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I can sympathize! At this same exact time last year, I too was in my 9th month! It really sucks and there is not much you can do. I would wake up three to four times a night with my arms and legs numb, and I wasn't even on my back.

One thing I did do (and it was my third so I was a bit more relaxed than the other two) is one night per week for the last four weeks, I took a tylenol PM before bed. It is now on all Dr. lists as perfectly safe during pregnancy, and since I was at the end, I knew it couldn't interfere with developing anything. It was wonderful and it gave me around 7-8 hours of straight sleep and with a 5 and 3 year old at home, I was like a new woman after that.

I also want to thank you for your post! If I wasn't sure about being done with 3 before, I am now. Because my first two were wonderful sleepers, and here I am with DS 10 months old and still not sleeping through the night. So if you count that last month of pregnancy, I am going on pretty much 11 months without a stretch longer than 4 hours. So like I said, I am done. Thanks for the memory jog! I hope something works for you, but if not, just remember that is nature's way of preparing us for no sleep once the baby gets here.

Andrea

 

[monorailsilver]

Can you call your OB & ask if you can take Tylenol PM?

They let me take it while I was in labor with my 2nd granted it did not make me sleep & I thought they were nuts having me take it while I was in pain. Tylenol PM did not take away labor pains.

Also could you be in the early stages of labor?

And I agree it is probably your body's way of getting you used to no sleep.

((((ELV's)))) to you (Easy labor vibes).

 

[TDS373X]

Although not recent I so feel your pain dd was due 7 yrs ago yesterday and then didn't arrive until 2 weeks after that. I thought I was the biggest fish in the sea!!! It was hot. I was huge and could not sleep for very long at all and the only place I could even do that was my living room sofa with my body pillow. You're almost done hang in there your new mouseketeer is about to appear. Happy thoughts for an easy labor.

 

[helenm29]

Congratulations on the new baby! I hate to say this but no, I don't have any major tips for you. My last pregnancy I had twins and there was absolutely no way to get comfortable in my 9th month. I guess the only thing that used to help was to sleep in the reclining chair! Just hang in there...it'll all be over with soon! Helen

 

[suffolkprincess]

My OB was very concerned that my lack of sleep was taking a toll on my health and might compromise my ability to labor well, so she prescribed Ambien and I was told not to take it every day, but only every other. I took it once, slept, went to work next day and started feeling awful in the afternoon, went to get checked out, was sent home, and went into labor that night-- I needed that one night of sleep I guess so that I *could* go into labor! The ambein worked great and had no ill effects at all.

 

[NotUrsula]

I found that sleeping in a recliner chair was the most comfy thing I could do.

 

[ceiligh1]

I didnt have any leg cramps or heartburn so I cant give any advice on those. But I did have trouble sleeping. I found that instead of the guest bed our couch was actually more comfortable to sleep on. It is nice and wide plus has an ottoman that is the same height and very soft. I would sink in and fall asleep and stay that way. Of course if I try to sleep on it now i wake up and go up to my bed. Also since my son dislocated on of my ribs while I was preg. with him I found that I could only nap in the bathtub. Warm water helped with the pain and i was able to relax. Just make sure your DH checks up on you, no going underwater to sleep.

 

[ekball]

Oh how I remember those days - weeks - so very well.....

One tip, and this won't help you sleep, but it will keep you entertained while you are not sleeping. The last 2 weeks of my last pregnancy (last Summer) I was up every night watching a terribly trashy reality show called "The Villa". It's a show from the UK and runs on RealTV (or something like that....can't remember because I haven't seen it since then). I was sucked in on those nights/mornings when I couldn't sleep. Total trash, but entertaining nonetheless (in a sick sort of way). Sorry, I know, I'm no help.

On a more serious note, as a previous poster asked, could you be in early labor or close to it?? For both of my pregnancies this was a sign that the "end" was near! I spent the last week-2 weeks up A LOT, then had a serious day or two of nesting with both (washing curtains was the worst it got), then LABOR! I wish I'd known about the Tylenol PM - I think I'd call my doc to ask about that.

Hoping you get some rest soon! And Congrats!!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Here is one list I found for safe to sleep medicines during pregnancy:

I normally do not take medications very much at all, but I was so sleep deprived and also had bell's palsy for the last six weeks of 2 of my 3 pregnancies, and had to tape my eye shut at night with drops in so I needed to keep it shut for a while. The Tylenol PM helped for both problems!


http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/isitsafe/1486462.html


Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

Here's another (as always, ask your Dr. but out of 4 different OB's I had, every single one said it was fine)


Medications Safe to use during pregnancy

Antacids: Alternagel, Amphogel, Maalox, Mylanta, Nexium, Pepcid, Riopan, Rolaids, Tagament, Tums, Zantac.

Antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Augmentin, Ceclor, Cleocin, E-Mycin, Erthromycin, Keflex, Macrobid, Metronidazole, Pencillin, Zithromax.

Anti-Gas: Mylicon, Phazyme.

Anti-Yeast: Monistat, Mycelex, Gynelotrimin, Terazol.

Cold Medications: Afrin Nasal Spray (saline only), any throat lozenges, Benadryl, Chlortrimetron, Dimetapp, Robitussin cough syrup, Sudafed Sinus, Allegra, Beconase, Claritin, Claritin D, Zyrtec.

Constipation: Citrucil, Colace, Fibercon, Metamucil, Milk of Magnesia.

Diarrhea: Immodium, Kaopectate, Lomotil.

Hemorrhoids: Anusol, Preparation H, Tucks.

Iron Supplements: Ferrous sequels, Chromagen.

Pain Medications: Darvocet N 100, Tylenol #3, Vicodin, Tylox, Tylenol, Tylenol PM, Tylenol Extra Strength.

Sleeping Medications: Unisom, Tylenol PM, Ambein.

Topical Agents: Calamine lotion, Cortaid Cream, Neosporin Ointment.

Miscellaneous: TB Skin Test, Flu Shot, Perms, hair color (after 14 weeks), Pedicures, Emetrol, Sea Bands, Unisom B6.

 

[needabreaknow]

My doctor has said in the past that Tylenol PM is safe during pregnancy.Granted they don't want you to take it nightly, but I've taken it if I had a sleepless night the night be fore to ensure that I get a good nights rest that next night. My doctor said 3-4 times a week is safe. Check with your dr first though!

 

[Grendalynn]

Just checking in again and noticed there were some posts that I had not seen - Thanks a bunch for all of the help and ideas. Especially the list of medecines that are OK to take. I may do a Tylonol PM night one night this weekend to be sure that I dont have to get up for school with the kids... I have been sleeping a little bit better of late - there was a spell a week or so ago that I just could not sleep for all the money in the world. I also broke down and bought a great big body pillow to straddle and menuver (sp?) during the night. Maybe now I am just sooo tired, my body has not choice but to sleep. Its not great sleep, but I'll take it!

 

[snugglepeas]

the only thing that worked for me was sleeping on an air mattress it was like heaven for me it got rid of any pressure points that the mattress pushed on.