Learn how to cure pregnancy insomnia. So you can “sleep before the baby gets here!”
My Pregnancy Insomnia
These past three or four weeks I have been getting ZERO sleep, and for once it’s not entirely Noah’s fault. Bryce gets to take a lot of the blame, this time it is pregnancy insomnia. I am so uncomfortable! Not as uncomfortable as I was when pregnant with Noah, but pretty close. Luckily, this time I haven’t had the same hip problems, Bursitis, but between hormones and all around body aches, it’s been pretty bad.
I have always had a light case of restless leg syndrome, movie theaters and me do not mix, and when I’m pregnant it gets bad. That means every night when I lay down to sleep my ankles, knees, calves, back all start to ache. A large part of this is directly due to the pregnancy, but I’m quickly realizing that it’s also mental. So I have come up with a routine that seems to be helping.
Step 1: Warm Bath!
Yes there are lots of warnings of baths while pregnant, and that’s why I said warm NOT hot. I take a warm bath that lasts no longer than 15 minutes. The most important thing is that your body temperature not rise too high. If I feel like I’m getting too hot then bathtime is over. The warm water is great for easing my body aches and relaxing me.
Step 2: Herbal Tea!
I have found this herbal tea that I am loving. I’m not sure, once again, if it’s the actual herbs, or mental but hey either way it’s working. I usually sip on this before and while I’m in the bath. If I drink it right before laying down I have problems.
Step 3: Reading!
This has always relaxed me. I am trying to stick to books on parenting and such, because I know if I get lost in a good plot I will stay up extra late unable to put the book down. This would obviously defeat the purpose. And, my dad just gave me his old Kindle!! Yeah, no more reading books on my iPhone!
**Once I am out of the bath the iPhone gets put away. I have read countless articles that the screen and light emitted by the phone and other electronic devices is stimulating parts of your brain that make it near impossible to fall asleep. The kindle is old and doesn’t light up, so I don’t seem to have this problem.
Step 4: Aveda Blue Oil!
Aveda Blue Oil is awesome. Eric picked it up one time after a hair cut and we have been hooked ever since. I just rub a little on the back of my neck and between the aromatherapy and the tingling sensation it is very relaxing. Not sure what’s in it – not sure I care, it works.
Step 5: Moisturize!
After my bath I make sure to use lots of lotion. My skin has been super dry and this can be iritating when you are sleeping. I had some Mint Bliss™ Energizing Lotion for Feet & Legs by Mary Kay that I received as a gift when Noah was born. This stuff worked great, more help for sore feet and calves. It’s awesome!
Step 6: Yoga! Yoga! Yoga!
This has helped so much! I do a very short routine on the floor in the dark, mostly because Eric is already asleep. I took about a 30 minute prenatal yoga routine and modified it with my favorite stretches to where it only takes about 5 – 10 minutes. The most important part to me, aside from the stretching, is taking lots of deep breaths and trying to calm my mind.
Once I finish the yoga it is straight into bed with my body pillow. It has only been recently that I have put all of this together, but it is awesome. It only takes me about 30 minutes from start to finish and I have been sleeping like a little angel. That is as long as my little angel sleeps. 🙂 While this is all pregnancy centered, it’s actually a great routine for anyone who is having trouble sleeping! If you are, hope this helps!!
-Tracy (35 weeks pregnant and Noah is 20 months old!)
PS – There are affiliate links included in this post. I have not received any compensation for writing this post, nor had any contact with the makers of these products, I just really love them! 🙂