HELP NEED SLEEP REMEDIES!!!!!!

[motherofan18month]

Okay, so i am 5 weeks and haven't been able to sleep for the last 5 days! i know that you are supposed to lay on your left side but no matter which way i lay i always start cramping. the only way i can get any sleep at all is if i lay up against the headboard with pillows propping me up...sorta like being on bed rest! another problem is that i have developed sort of a cold (congested,headaches,eyes hurting from stuffiness,cough) i have coughed so much my ribs hurt! i can only take Tylenol and Sudafed  and neither has helped in the past 4 days...is there any remedies for helping me sleep........i need sleep :( !!!!!

[Diane1003]

In terms of sleeping you're early enough that you can still sleep on your back if you need to.  Try proping one side - put a pillow under your hip of something if you're concerned about sleeping on your back.  I did that towards the end of my preg and it worked - the pillow under one hip.  In terms of the cold/sinuses - ever hears of a Neti Pot?  I used one and have had success - I'm nursing and don't want to take any drugs and the neti pot worked great. Best of luck and congrats!

[motherofan18month]

Thanks Diane......i will try that here in a few minutes but been lying down for 3 hours now and still cant sleep...uuuggghhh!!!!!!!!!! any other remedies will be greatly appreciated!!

[sweetangel7]

You are VERY safe to sleep on your back at this point...my doctor told me that it was okay until like 16w...the problem is with your uterus getting so large it weight cuts off blood supply from a major vein...your uterus and baby aren't heavy enough yet to cause this problem.  Sleep in any position you can.

I don't know how you feel about medication but I was also told you can take Benadryl (which makes you drowsy and can help you sleep...)  Check with your doctor and or a pharmacist though...your doctor might not agree with mine.  I never took anything except for one tylenol during my pregnancy so far because I don't like the idea of meds while pregnant.

[Melissa0116]

Maybe you should try the natural pill called melatonin.  My son and I use it to help us relax and sleep.  I would probably check with a doctor to see if it is ok to take.  They come in 3 mg tablets and are found in the vitamin area in your local supermarket or natural remedies area.

Hope this helps.

[martikadragoon]

Also if none of that helps. Benadryl and Unisom are safe during pregnancy. Unisom is just another formulation of benadryl. (compare the names, Dyphenhydramine and dyphenhydrinate HCL)

Melatonin helps me sometimes. :)

[motherofan18month]

well, still couldn't sleep last night so after a busy Saturday i came home and slept from 2pm-8pm and im still tired... getting ready to head to bed again but at least i did get some sleep while DH & DS had fun building a stand for our new fish tank. my doc. told me i could take sudafed when i was preggo with my son but i'm not sure if that has changed in the last 3 years.......but i bought some anyways and plan on calling the on-call doc. in the morning before taking it.........i also asked my mom if she had ever given us benadryl as kids to make us go to sleep and she said she tried but it just had the opposite affect on me & my 2 younger brothers.......so i would hate to take it now and be up all night long....LOL.......gonna go catch some zzzzzzzzz's

[KellyA74]

Sleep however you're comfortable...At this point, it doesn't matter...sleep is more important.....And also, unless you have a problem with it, you can take Unisom or Benadryl while pregnant......If you're worried just call your OB to confirm, but I took Unisom off and on the whole time and it really helped......Good luck!

[martikadragoon]

Mother~ With children it's completely common for benadryl to cause hyperness. but it usually changes as you become an adult or teen. However.... with TJ it puts him to sleep. They give it to him to make him sleep sometimes when he's agitated at the hospital.

I say give it a try early on in the evening that way if it puts you out you can still get some sleep, and if it doesn't.... you'll have taken it early enough that you should be able to lie down within a few hrs.

[worriedbabe]

i hope you get some sleep!!!