I can't sleep at night :(

[Twinkle]

I've been a night shift worker for about 10 yrs but have been off work since about half way through this pregnancy.
I'm now in my 38th week.
I thought my sleep/wake pattern would have sorted itself out by now but noooooo...
I'm often still wide awake at 3 or 4 am.
Then I need a catch up sleep in in the mornings and or afternoons.
I've tried to go without day naps but I get so tired.
I don't know if anyone has any suggestions, but I needed to have a vent its so frustrating.
I find sleeping during the day when there is noise and movement going on around me is much more restful.
I can drift off to sleep at night if I put the tv on, and that worked earlier in the pregnancy when I spent many nights sleeping on the couch with the tv on.
Hubby can't sleep with noise/light and I need my bed at this stage, so I lay there awake then feel guilty for snoozing during the day.
I'll speak to my GP, maybe I'll need a sleep specialist or something to help turn my body clock around.
Angie.

[mummycloud]

Hi twinkle,

It's probably a blessing in disguise having that weird sleep pattern. Your baby will probably have the same one.. lol
Most people who have always had a normal sleep pattern find that they can't sleep at night when they reach the 38th week of pregnancy.
So long as you can get lots of rest (doesn't have to be sleep), before the baby arrives, you should be ok. Don't bother trying to get a normal sleep pattern now, because once bubs is here, it will be all out of wack again. ;)

[madvoice]

Don't feel so alone, I was like that in my last weeks of pregnancy. I was up at all hours of the night and it drove me absolutely insane. I really don't think its to do with being a shift worker, I think it has more to do with the hormones your body is producing and how uncomfortable we feel being that far along. Once bub arrives though, you'll be sleeping every chance you get for the first few months :)

[Funkychicken]

Last night I had the best nights sleep (no waking at all!) for about 6 weeks. The answer-sheer exhaustion. I have had a huge week which culminated yesterday in our school market which I have been helping coordinate since March. Many long days over the last week and a full-on 12 hrs yesterday and I got my great nights sleep. Let's just see if I can repeat it tonight!
PS I dont recommend anyone spend week 35 of their pregnancy doing what I did this week.
---------------------------------------------------
Sal-4 wks to go!

[JanetF]

Sleep dep. is so awful. I'm sorry you're having a rough trot. Insomnia in various forms is normal in pregnant women and some people think it's your body training you for regular nightwakings. There are some gentle options which won't impact on your baby such as acupuncture, massage or homeopathy. You could talk to a naturopath too. I hope you feel better soon :)

[Twinkle]

Thanks for the words of support Ladies :)
I guess right now isn't the time to try to switch my body clock around, we'll see what happens when Twinkle gets here ;)
Angie.