Mommy Sleep Issues

what tiffany says & also the ‘ole

what’s it called? isometrics? when you lie there and start with your toes and tighten them up, then release them, then your legs, knees, thighs, butt, stomach, hands, arms, face, etc…

I’ve had the same problem. I find I get a lot done on the computer (and this website!) in the wee hours. Have you tried a combination of pain reliever, antihistime, and decongestant for the baby’s teething? Oh, and also Hyland’s teething tablets…all at the same time? That combo has been the only thing that’s really helped for us with teething. It’s so awful, I really feel for you. I have also noticed that if I just go to bed and lay there, it’s better than getting up because then I’ll for sure be up for the next two hours or until the next time he wakes up crying. Those relaxation techniques sound good, too. My insomnia hasn’t been as bad the last month or two. It seems the more he wakes up, the more insomnia I had, also being worried about things getting worse and what was I doing wrong, etc. But in between teething bouts when things were a bit better I would be able to sleep in between his wakings.

I have to laugh because when I first read Tiffany’s post I thought she said “daily medication” instead of daily “meditation” and I guess that’s another way to go too…. but I’m sure we’re all trying to avoid that. It’s probably the meditation that will keep us away from the medication! haha (And I didn’t think it sounded like you, Tiffany, so I read it again and realized what you really wrote!)

Hope you can get some sleep soon…..

I do things like avoiding caffiene after 2pm, taking a warm bath before bed, running an air purifier in our room (the noise helps me for some reason), etc.

For a backup, I have a prescription for Ambien and I also take Benadryl on occasion. I tend to only use these if I know I need have a good night sleep.

Anne wrote: I have to laugh because when I first read Tiffany’s post I thought she said “daily medication” instead of daily “meditation” and I guess that’s another way to go too….

Sometimes I WISH!!! But we’re a cosleeping family so no meds for mommy and daddy, it isn’t safe.

Several years ago, I read this article in Peter’s Men’s Health magazine about sleep issues. They had a suggestion that has really helped me, it’s basically a breathing meditation. You focus all of your attention on your breath while saying to yourself “I breathe in” in the inhalation and “I breathe out” on the exhalation. I think the idea is to keep your mind on relaxing your body instead of whirling around with thoughts. Alternately, I like to count backwards from 100 while visualizing the numbers, it’s sort of the same thing.

When I was pregnant, I found a copy of this DVD http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product.asp?product%5Fid=91-0228 on a really good sale and picked it up thinking, what the heck. I never did the yoga on it but one of the guided meditations is a body-focused meditation like what Laura described above. I used to do it every night, I had such a hard time sleeping when I was pregnant. We had a small tv/dvd player in the bedroom and I have NEVER made it through the whole video. It puts me to sleep every time.

I have always been a light sleeper, but would sleep through the night if there was no noise. My son would feed every two hours for the first 2 months of his life. I would have to hold him upright for an hour after the feeding, which would leave me one hour to sleep – needless say it took me an hour to relax enough to fall asleep and just as I’d close my eyes -he’d wake up. I swore it was some sick twisted ESP thing or something. My son is two and a half and JUST started sleeping through the night (because he takes Pepcid AC at diner instead of Prevacid). Even after your child stops waking up in the night, you’ll still keep waking up (and not being able to fall asleep), but you find it’s much nicer when there’s no screaming. I suggest a very early bedtime (for the first year of my son’s life, I went down at 6pm for the night!)

I took zoloft for a very long time…..then went off of it and I will caution you although no dr will admit this, the withdrawal effects of it are horrendous. if you decide to go the way of medication for you ask about other options. in the mean time, try melatonin, its a natural sleep aid, my 6 year old takes it.

SORRY I was just trying to help.and it is safe otherwise I would not be giving it to my 6 year old as directed by his doctor. and zoloft is also not recommended while pregnant or breastfeeding, but docs prescribe it anyway.

Aidansmom792006-3-19 10:4:49