I am 5 months (exactly) and haven't gotten a full nights sleep for weeks now.  It's something that happened with my last pregnancy as well but not until month 7.  My doctors think it's stress or maybe that I am making it up.  I am exhausted and lost. 

Does anyone know why this is happening or has it happened to anyone else?  I feel like the only woman on the planet that this has happened to, thus the lack of a reason from the docs. 

I am so tired I am afraid to drive for work anymore and my kids/husband probably think I am bipolar by now.

Any help/advise is helpful.

Thanks

Christie

I sure don't think you're the only woman on the planet who has experienced this.  My wife is about 23 weeks right now and is having some trouble sleeping.  She falls asleep okay, but she often wakes up around 3 or 4 a.m. - sometimes because she's really hungry.  One thing that has helped her get more comfortable in bed is to use LOTS of pillows!  Have you read the Sleep and Pregnancy article?  It makes it sound like your problem is perfectly normal - your body is going through a whole lot of changes right now. 

sleeptight    

I did read it.  Since I am in the 4-6 month range, sounds like from the article that I should be sleeping better right now.  I am having all of the symptoms listed in the third trimester.  I think that is why the docs are so baffled.  I don't think I am having that surge of progesterone that I am supposed to be that makes me sleepy.  At least that's what the docs say I am supposed to be going through right now.

My pattern is that I either can't fall asleep (bed time is anywhere from 2-5 am) or that I, like your wife, wake up at 2am and can't go back to sleep.  I'm not hungry though. 

Is your wife able to get back to sleep once up?  If so, how's she doing it?

Maybe it is stress.  Doesn't make it better though.  The only thing I can eliminate from my stress life is my job.  The docs are reluctant to take me off because it's so early. 

Thanks and I hope your wife starts sleeping because it's only going to get worse in the third trimester.

Is your wife able to get back to sleep once up?  If so, how's she doing it?

No, I don't think she has any secrets for getting back to sleep. Often she gets out of bed and does something else for an hour or two until she gets sleepy again. 

I have a recommendation. A friend of mine invented this maternity bed called the belly bed.

I am not sure if will help in this particular situation, but it has done a world of good for other women who had trouble sleeping, mainly because of the limitations of putting pressure on their stomach.

This portable, inflatable bed has a space for the tummy to fit in. It can be packed in a bag and taken on trips, even used in a pool.