Sleeping problem?

Question

I just receintly went back to work after having a baby. As a result, I'm extremely exhausted. I'm so overly exhausted that I am so worked up about falling asleep that I actually keep myself awake. My baby wakes up several times during the night and then I have to get up at 5:30am to go to work. Everynight I make a point of going to bed early (8-9pm) with the hope of getting caught up on my sleep. I end up lying here until at least midnight unable to fall asleep. The longer I lay here the more upset I get, I end up crying and wanting to pull my hear out. It's like a visous circle. I can't function like this. I'm sooo overly tired and a terrible mom when I'm like this. I'm just desperate to fall asleep and I feel like I can't. Has anyone ever experienced this. How can I break the cycle? I never had any problems falling asleep before I started working again. It's totally psychological I'm sure. I'm seriously going to go insane if don't get a good night sleep. Any suggestions?

I've tried moving onto the couch, chamomile tea, warm milk etc. I don't want to take any medication as I'm breastfeeding.

Answer 1

Lots of good information here:

http://www.well.com/~mick/insomnia/

Answer 2

With a new baby waking up several times a night and you trying to work, no wonder you are exhausted. Can you get your mom or someone to help take some of the load off, even for a day or night. Make an appointment and get a complete checkup to make sure you are not anemic. You really could use some help with the baby and everything. Talk to your family and friends about help and make that appointment with your doctor.
God bless

Answer 3

I have this problem too.

If I am over tired I can not get to sleep and if I have to wake up for something I can not go to sleep.

It seems that you have both And for some people when they get home from work they run around getting dinner and half a dozen other things that they get themselves so hyper there will be no way that you can fall asleep

It might help to make the meals ahead of time and freeze them and that way you can get some one else to put it in the oven and give you a chance to unwind

Is it possable to lie down when you get home from work even for half and hour

I went to a sleep dr and he told me not to go to bed until later and if I could not fall asleep in 20 to 30 min's for me to get up and do some thing the more I said to my self I have to get to sleep right now or I will only get X amount of sleep I would not sleep And if I got up it took my mind off it and I would relax and go to sleep faster then if I stayed in bed

Another thing that helped me was to get ready for bed before I needed to and then read for a while something relaxing and that did not make me think and not watch tv

Because if I did my routine it would wake me up even if I was tired before I started by the end I was wide awake

And to form habbits and do it every night and that way after awhile when you start the night routine your body will say ok it's time for sleep



If possable can you use a breast pump and make a couple of bottles for the night and get your partner to take the baby a least for one feeding and that way they get the bonding experence as well

devolpe good sleep hygiene (or habbits) so the only thing that you do in bed is sleep or sex

I know right now you are very busy going to work and running the house and looking after the baby And we have the presure to be supper women but sometimes we need to ask for help

I hope some of this will help And remember to look after yourself you will be no good to any one if you run yourself into the ground you deserve some you time

Answer 4

By the way you are not going crazy, you are just hyper sensitive to your baby's needs, and so you sleep with one ear open. That way you do not get the sleep you need. IT DOES GET BETTER, AND YOU ARE A GOOD MOTHER!!
1. Melatonin 30 minutes before bed, will not hurt baby
2. Exercise 1st thing in the morning, helps you to sleep at night
3. Books on tape or cd, listen as you go to sleep. you will not get caught up in not sleeping as you want to know what happens next. Since you will miss much as you will doze off whether you expect it or not, listen to the same book several times. Best thing is to choose books with an interesting reader. My nephew, who has long suffered from insomnia, started listening to Jame Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, and found the voice very soothing, I like books read by southern readers myself, likeYa Ya sisterhood, and Icy sparks.

Answer 5

Make sure you aren't taking caffeine during the day to try to stay awake.
Ask your doctor about melatonin. It occurs naturally in the body when the sun goes down and helps one sleep. Your pregnancy may have disrupted the production of melatonin. It is available at any drugstore or Wal-Mart. The 300 mg size works best according to studies.
Also ask your husband for a foot massage.

Answer 6

Take some time off if you can. Short term disability at work (66% of your salary). My sister in law is currently going through the same exact thing with the same exact feelings. They did classify hers as a form of post partum depression. You just need some time. Having a baby mixes up your hormones. I stayed home with both of mine until they were 18 months old.

Answer 7

For one, avoid lying in bed hoping to get sleepy. It rarely ever works and just gets you used to lying in bed awake.

Try relaxation, deep breathing or other behavioral techniques for getting to sleep.