https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:32:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798837 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 12:49:04 +0000 alphagam84 2798837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take a Unisom! Totally safe during pregnancy and a complete sleep saver for me when I have pregnancy insomnia. It's the only way I'll sleep and the dr said it's fine to take every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798802 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 11:32:07 +0000 periwinklebee 2798802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Magnesium oil - or a lukewarm bath in Epsom salts (which are the same thing) - works wonders for me, especially during pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798797 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 11:11:47 +0000 jennlin821 2798797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Try putting your phone under your pillow. I do this because I couldn't sleep with headphones in and DH can't hear my book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798707 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 01:20:25 +0000 lamariniere 2798707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sometimes happens to me and then I'll be awake for hours not able to go back to sleep. I try not to go on my phone and sometimes I manage to fall asleep by just laying still and letting my mind drift. Otherwise, I try meditation/breathing techniques. If those things don't work, then I'll go on my phone and try to read looooong articles that are slightly boring. I haven't tried listening to podcasts, because I don't usually keep headphones close to the bed, but I've definitely fallen asleep listening to them before, so I think it would be a good idea to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798702 Sun, 21 Jan 2018 22:49:55 +0000 Eminthevalley 2798702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I listen to podcasts, usually about cooking. Nothing too exciting. It helps occupy my mind so I don’t worry about the sleep I’m losing. And I don’t have to turn on any lights. A 45-60 minute podcast is the perfect length for me. I’m the same, up around 3 most nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798699 Sun, 21 Jan 2018 22:10:28 +0000 delight 2798699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always wake up around 3-4 and have a tough time getting back to sleep. I always switch rooms and go to the guest room so my tossing and turning doesn’t wake DH. Some nights just the change of bed helps. Sometimes I even make my way to the couch for a new environment. I often do deep breathing and some relaxation mantras I learned in prenatal yoga. If that fails then I just try to count in my head. Often though, I just end up lying there until the alarm goes off. So frustrating. I feel everyone’s pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798357 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:49:40 +0000 peaches1038 2798357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flip over in bed so that my head is at the opposite end where my feet were. It totally works </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798338 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:01:55 +0000 shabang 2798338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: @MamaCate: @jennlin821: @petitenoisette: @nana87: @DesertDreams88: Thanks all. Appreciate the commiseration and tips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798259 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 12:50:42 +0000 DesertDreams88 2798259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually get up, have a snack and some water and read the news on the ipad with a blue/white light filter app on, then go back to bed after about 45min - an hour. I think it's a "reset" like @MaryM: said. </p> <p>If this happens for 2-3 days in a row, I will take a Benadryl to help me sleep before going to bed, and that will knock me out well enough and help me re-establish better patterns. </p> <p>Also, no caffeine after about 7pm for me. It affects your body for up to 4 hours I read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798254 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 12:15:15 +0000 nana87 2798254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had a doctor suggest melatonin, and when I've taken it I've noticed it definitely keeps me groggier/helps me fall back asleep and sleep deeper. I stopped taking it when I got pregnant, but maybe you can ask your ob if it'd be okay? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798248 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:57:13 +0000 petitenoisette 2798248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: I feel you, having similar problems over here, also pregnant. These days I go to the bathroom, even if I don't feel like I have to go I feel like it helps, and if I am feeling hungry I get up and have a bowl of cereal. I had to do that a lot in the first trimester. I know phones aren't supposed to help but if I can't sleep if my mind is racing sometimes it does seem to sort of reset my thoughts and allow me to relax and sleep. A book would probably be better for this though! If it's really really bad, sometimes I will even take a benedryl, I think that probably helps more placebo-wise than anything but it does seem to help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798224 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:04:44 +0000 jennlin821 2798224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I listen to an audiobook! </p> <p>I use audible, and I use it to fall asleep every night, and if I wake up during the night. By putting my phone under my pillow I can hear the book but DH can't. There is a sleep timer, so it will shut off after a set time. </p> <p>I find this is better than TV, because there is no blue light keeping me awake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798221 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:02:27 +0000 MamaCate 2798221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: I have this problem from time to time but not a ton. Sometimes turning on a podcast on low volume gives my brain a low level of stimulation to distract itself from whatever I am ruminating on—but fluffy things, not politics. Sports is usually my go to.</p> <p>The other thing I had a supervisor suggest that I use from time to time is deep breathing and sending positive energy to people—so i think of someone I care about and try to send them positive or healing thoughts. A little out there but again helps me get out of my head. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798217 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:55:54 +0000 MaryM 2798217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to "reset" and see if that helps. </p> <p>I'll use the restroom, get a drink of water, and try going back to bed. If I can't get back to sleep, I try to think of something I can do in low light. At 2 a.m. this morning, I reorganized our medicine cabinet. We had a ton of lose receipts to file with taxes, so I put them all in a folder and put the pill bottles back into a basket neatly like they belong. </p> <p>Some nights I'll get up and read. I try to read an actual book if it's the middle of the night to avoid light from screens. </p> <p>Sometimes a snack will help - usually cereal (I'm in the third trimester and think sometimes, I'm just hungry) </p> <p>Sometimes nothing works and I just sit up until DH gets up to go to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798212 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:46:52 +0000 shabang 2798212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: List-making might actually really help me. That's a great suggestion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798210 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:44:55 +0000 looch 2798210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had/have this issue, and what I noticed is that I have to adjust the time I go to bed. I tend to front load on sleep, and when I sleep too many hours, I have this problem. The magic number for me seems to be 9 hours of overnight sleep. 8 isn't enough and 10 is too much and causes these middle of the night wakeups for me.</p> <p>Also, I am a big fan of getting things out of my mind and onto a piece of paper. I keep a notebook of lists. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798207 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:41:24 +0000 shabang 2798207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I'm sorry. It doesn't help that my mind has a running list of all the things I need to be doing, but I don't really have energy in the middle of the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798205 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:39:11 +0000 shabang 2798205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: The caffeine is something I should watch. I've given up coffee while pregnant (it was making me sick), and I do occasionally have an afternoon green tea, but it doesn't seem to be on the nights this happens. Although, I just remembered that I had chocolate last night before bed, and maybe the caffeine in that is throwing me off - eliminating that may help, thanks for mentioning it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798203 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:36:43 +0000 shabang 2798203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Wow, I'm so sorry. That's a whole different level of insomnia. I've tried the deep breathing exercises too, but that's never helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798196 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:29:43 +0000 bhbee 2798196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugggggggh pregnancy insomnia. The worst. </p> <p>I also usually give up after about an hour and often i try to read if i need to do something. I have an old b&amp;w kindle with a low backlight that i figure is a little better than a phone screen or having a light on. But it doesn’t always put me back to sleep, sometimes just passes time. I also definitely can’t have even a little caffeine after lunch when pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798194 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:24:04 +0000 Anagram 2798194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: I struggle with insomnia, but mine is the falling asleep part. Once I get to sleep the first time, I have very good odds of going back to sleep after a wakeup. I have had nights--recently!--where I didn't sleep even 1 minute and I still had to go to work and be a parent the next day.</p> <p>So, my insomnia routine varies. I usually spend a good part of the night trying to sleep while my anxiety about not sleeping builds. I try not to turn on lights or any screens since I'm afraid that send the wrong signal to my brain. Sometimes I try taking an antihistamine, or I have some leftover pills from my last illness that were to help me sleep (they are an antihistamine AND an anxiety medication together!), but I only use those in "emergencies" because I only have like 2 left.</p> <p>I try deep breathing exercises.</p> <p>Sometimes I cry. haha. sad face.</p> <p>Sometimes I say F it, and I go the the living room and watch tv.</p> <p>If I've made it to the 4-5 am window and still haven't slept, then I start making the coffee and get in the shower. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798193 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:23:34 +0000 JLC53 2798193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: I could have written this post myself. I usually wake anytime between 1:30am and 3am. That was my son's feeding time. Toss and turn until 5ish. Alarm goes off at 6am. It is not every night, but the majority of nights. If I don't get up between 1:30am and 3am I am usually up for the day at 4:30am. It is awful and I argue with my body everyday to just sleep. I am exhausted.</p> <p>The only tiny thing that helps a little is I kick my husband out to the spare room and sometimes I will fall back asleep quicker. He is a snorer sometimes... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-sleep-2#post-2798190 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:18:22 +0000 shabang 2798190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've found that if I'm woken up around 2am/3am, I can't fall back asleep until 5am (when the alarms start going off...) I've been like this since I had kids, but it's worse now that I'm pregnant again. I'm a super light sleeper and DH is a very heavy sleeper, so obviously I'm the one that always hears the kids when they wake up. </p> <p>I usually just lie in bed and try to fall back asleep for at least the first hour, but I've also gotten up to do stuff around the house, or started browsing on my phone. Regardless of whether I lie there or am active and despite the fact that I am exhausted and yawning, I can't seem to fall back asleep until 5. I know the phone wakes people up, so it's rare that I do that (but it doesn't seem to change me getting back to sleep or not). </p> <p>Do you have any tricks for getting yourself back to sleep? </p>