May 15 2008
Sleep? Does it exist?
Everyone tells you once you have kids you will “truely know” sleep deprivation. But what about when you are pregnant? I have not slept an entire night since week eight of my pregnancy. And I don’t mean I just get up every once in a while to use the restroom. I will wake up at 2, 3 o’clock in the morning wide awake. There have even been days when I will just get out of bed and go do laundry or walk on the treadmill or clean house (although I have to be quiet so my husband doesn’t really think I am crazy).
My girlfriend Robin did give me a “Boppy Body Pillow” and I have to say it has been amazing! At least it makes me a little more comfortable.
Someone please tell me this is normal. Better yet, someone please tell me what I can do. Aren’t I supposed to be enjoying my sleep right now because once the babies come it will be no more?
And I hear it will only get worse as I get bigger and find it even more uncomfortable to sleep. I already feel like I am walking around in a daze!
So, with that said, here is my 23 week photo. If you look close enough, notice the dark circles underneath my eyes. Guess those are the new fixtures of motherhood!
I am measuring 38 1/2 inches around my waist. If you measure the singleton way–vertically on the belly–I am measuring 35 centimeters.
DC…it’s only just begun. You look wonderful…so glowing even if you do have circles under your eyes!
Hi Dayle,
Congrats on your pregnancy. I am in week 32 of my 2nd pregnancy, and indeed both times it has been hard to get some sleep. Try not to worry about after the babies are born. Try to get some family members to help out and SLEEP when they are sleeping, even during the day. By around 8 weeks they should be able to sleep 6 or more hours uninterrupted, so that should really help. For now, my advice would be to finish drinking your 10 glasses of water before 6pm every day so you do not need to pee so often during the night. Dress lightly and maybe open a window so that you don’t get overheated which can also wake you up, and when you do get up turn on as few lights as possible so that your brain does not “fully” wake up making it difficult to get back to sleep. I hope that helps!
Hi Dayle Remember me? Mike T from San Antonio….Congrats on your future arrivals. Welcome to parenthood…I do not have any advvice for you but i am sure many moms can give you all you need….Good luck and talk to you soon……PS congrats to your husband as well for being able to sleep through your restless nights….
Hi Dayle,
Hang in there and congrats on the baby! I didn’t have trouble sleeping at night during my pregnancy, but my eight month old isn’t much of a sleeper and hasn’t been since she was born. The waking up that you’re doing now will get you ready for those 2am feedings that are just around the corner. Some advice, try to relax and do things you like to do such as movies or shopping while you can, because I haven’t been to a movie since last summer’s Bourne Ultimatum! All that goes out the window once the little one comes along. And when the baby does come and you’re feeding at night, don’t turn the lights on and don’t talk to him/her, just change the diaper (if you absolutely need to), feed them and put them back to bed!
Oh Dayle, I feel your pain. I was in the same boat with both my pregnancies. Pregnancy does strange things to your body. My insomnia with my most recent pregnancy started around 10 weeks, and I’m still suffering (he’ll be 3 in Sept. lol). However, all hope is not lost. My current doctor recommended taking melatonin supplements, and they have helped immensely. Obviously, you’ll want to check with your doctor first. The body pillow was my savior as well. Quite possibly one of the best inventions ever (I still use mine).
What everyone says is true; it’s only going to get worse. But overall, having a child is such a great experience. It’s worth the discomfort, and most of it is only temporary. Regardless of how you feel, you do look great! Congratulations!
For us, the third time is the CHARM. Our Baby Boy — who will be 2 on Thursday — has slept through the night for I’m not sure how long. You can put in to bed wide awake (as recommended) — and admist the din of bathtime — and he’s usually lying down and most of the time asleep within 20 minutes; most of the time by 7:30. He’ll have nothing to do with lying down with someone. His sisters, on the other hand … For me, it’s one of two things: wake up in their bed(s) or find one or both in our bed in the morning. Bottom line, start a bad habit and it lasts 6 years BUT the sleep does come — if you make the adjustments we did. You’ll be amazed how 2 grownups and a 4-and a 6-year-old all fit in a Queen-sized bed. But, Vince has gotten smart and opted for sleeping elsewhere if he finds us girls in one bed.
Hi Dayle,
You look great, good luck, and congratulations. 
You poor thing…I feel your pain. I remember the sleep deprivation of pregnancy being the ultimate irony in parenthood. It happened to me in both of my pregnancies as well. One thing I did was utilize my “non-Sleeping” time to fantasize about what life will be like, fantasize about what my babies are going to look like, and how they are going to be. I remember my doctor telling me that Unisom is safe to take during pregnancy, however I would check with your doc first. There are also herbal teas that are supposed to help, but mostly you are probably not sleeping well because your body is changing so rapidly, and you are uncomfortable. I used to make my husband rub my feet, and belly and forehead until I could fall back asleep. I’m sure your husband would do anything to help you too.
Dayle,
Congrats! When I was pregnant, I had no troubles sleeping either. I had a big body pillow to help me. The worst was when I got so big it was hard to move in bed. You start doing the 6 point rolls.
No matter how tired I got once my son was born, and getting up at 11,2,and 4, I always told myself that this is not going to last forever and savored every moment.
Even with my pregnancy, my sister told me she didnt remember what it felt like when the baby kicked…I asked myself how could you not rememer that….but its true. Love every second of your pregnancy, every moment of your babys first months….next thing you know, they are 2.
I love being a mom!!
Good luck!
Becky
Dearest Dayle,
I have no pearls of wisdom to impart on you as my daughters were born consecutively and not concurrently…ha ha. You’re having twins and that’s enough to keep anyone uncomfortable and getting up constantly. I’m sure you’re body is getting you ready for those ‘midnight’ feedings x 2. Somehow we manage to keep going. Do take Michelle’s advice and sleep whenever the babies do. You’ll always have laundry and dirty dishes….sleep is a precious commodity, so get it whenever possible. I’m sure there are eager grandmother’s who will help you out …. take advantage of it……sleep, get your nails done, go for a walk…….without the babies.
I’m enjoying the mommy blog even though my babies are 12 and 20 now!
Hi, Dayle! Congrats on the pregnancy! How exciting to be having twin girls! I’ve never been pregnant, so I can’t give any advice on that, but I saw that you mentioned that you have a concern with dark circles under your eyes. Have you ever tried a concealer called Well Rested by Bare Escentuals? The way to describe it is pure magic! It’ll look great on camera, too. It’s extremely affordable and you can get some at Nordstrom in Park Meadows Mall.
When I was PG with my twins 8 years ago, I would make a nest of pillows, 2 body pills and other regular ones to brace my body. Sleep was still difficult but easier. Good luck, you look great!
Congrats on the twins! When my wife and I found out we were having our twins (that was almost six years ago now), we were ecstatic and scared. It’s amazing that you can have two polar opposite emotions at the same time and actually be OK with it.
Sleep is an issue throughout the pregnancy and the first year or so. Your body is changing physically, emotionally and chemically so it stands to reason that your sleep might be a little “off”. Just do the best that you can and try to understand that yours especially is not an easy task.
After our children were born, we had the idea that we both should be awake for the nightly feedings. My wife was unable to breastfeed, so there was plenty that I was able to help out with. We quickly found out that between the feedings, me working and her trying to take care of our girls neither of us was getting enough quality sleep. Our compromise was shift work. My wife would wake up when I left for work. She would put in a full day with the kids while I had a full day at the office. That evening, we would eat dinner as a family and shortly afterward I would go to bed. She would remain up and awake until about 1:00am when she would come to bed and I would get up.
It was an odd schedule, I thought, but it allowed each of us to get an uninterrupted six hours of sleep. And since there is nothing on the television at 3:00am, there wasn’t much else for me to do other than wash bottles (buy 12-16; a whole day’s worth) and make another batch of formula. Since we weren’t breastfeeding, we would typically make formula in a pitcher so that we could make all of the bottles at once.
One last piece of advice that we did, since you will be sleep deprived but may not know it
Make a binder with little forms that you fill out so you know when each child was fed, changed and medicated last. It can be confusing to try and remember which child last had what, let alone being able to communicate it to your spouse as well.
Good luck and have fun! They will grow up faster than you think.
My doctor prescribed Unisom every night for morning sickness and it helped me sleep.
Hi Dayle,
Actually, I think that pregnancy prepares you. I think that you go through your sleep deprivation during pregnancy so your semi used to it once the baby/babies arrive. Your body is working in such mysterious ways and this is one of them. Sorry to say that it doesn’t get easier but nap when you can.