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Monday, April 11, 2011

Insomnia

Actually, a more realistic title for this post would be something along the lines of "Restless Sleep" or "Unsatisfactory Sleep," but neither of those titles would do the poor quality of sleep I'm experiencing right now the justice it deserves.

I experienced the same kind of 3rd trimester restlessness when I was preggo with Norah, so this is not unexpected, and I think it's typical for many pregnant women in the 3rd trimester to toss and turn.  For me, an example's night's sleep often adheres to the following routine:
  • Feel tired and like I'm ready to sleep, but after shutting off my light and my Nook, I can't seem to find a comfortable position, which I only get the choice of two -- right or left side.  (Which, supposedly, you're only supposed to sleep on your left side, but if I sleep on my left, I face Jerry.  And, I don't like facing Jerry if he's facing me.  Call me a terrible spouse, I don't care.  But I don't like to sleep facing him when he is facing me.  So, the only way  I feel comfortable sleeping on my left is when he too is sleeping in on his left.  Why?  Because I feel as though I'm inhaling his exhalation, and that, frankly, feels like warm, stale air.  Which, in turn, makes me feel like I'm suffocating.)
  • Usually, during this uncomfortable shifting back and forth -- accompanied by the necessary re-adjustment of supporting pillows and kicking Scooter out of my way -- I also end up complaining to Jerry to shut his reading light off (he tends to stay up later than I, and even though he reads with a tiny book light, it still bothers me -- as you can deduce, at this point in pregnancy, I am nothing but a joy).
  • Finally, I fall asleep.  Although, sometimes, I make the choice to move out to the office to sleep on the couch in there -- being able to lean against a firm back is nice, and our office couch is comfy, but ultimately, I like being in my bed, so this choice has to be preceded by a great deal of discomfort first.
  • From there on out, I will typically wake up every 2 hours because I have to pee, and when I wake up, I also feel thirsty, so I drink water (thus perpetuating the pee cycle -- it's a Catch 22).
  • Or, as was the case of last night, I am awoken at 2 am by Scooter standing on the edge of the bed retching.  That dog can never puke at a convenient time or in a convenient place.
  • Morning arrives sometime between 6:15 and 6:45 when we hear Norah in her bedroom going, "Hi!  Hi!"  And as it is with any alarm, whether it be child or bedside clock, I am always at that point where I am seemingly the most comfortable and most deeply asleep, so the chirp of "Hi!" feels like a disturbance from what is finally satisfactory sleep.
People argue, anecdotally, that the reason Nature gives you poor sleep in the final months of pregnancy is because you're being prepared for the interrupted sleep that you have to get used to with a newborn.  But, this is baloney.  Even with the restless nature of the sleep I'm getting now, all I do is briefly wake up, and then I'm back to sleep; even when I get up to pee, I barely open my eyes.  Now, with a newborn, there's usually a lot more awake time with the whole business of getting up, nursing, changing a diaper, etc, so I'm not deluding myself by thinking that this sleep now isn't better than what I'll get in a few months.

Still, I think Nature could cut the preggo a break in anticipation of the poor sleep the mother of a newborn is about to get.  How about some good Zzzzzs now before the real sleep deprivation begins?

12 comments:

Heather said...

I always thought was such crap about "training you in" on sleep deprivation. Just let me sleep while I can! During my last trimester, I was typically at the office at 3:30 in the morning working for a few hours because I couldn't sleep so I figured I might as well work.

Marlene said...

I also HATE to sleep facing Mark if he is facing me. We end up arguing over who has to roll over if we end up in tat positon. :P

ihaverun said...

I decided those things happen so the shock of getting less sleep during that newborn phase is easier. At least that is what I told myself both times =)

I hope you get some sleep!!

Julie D said...

Oh blah... sorry! Do you get naptime? That could help.

Erin said...

Ryan and I switched sides of the bed last time so I could sleep on my left side (I am naturally a right side sleeper) and I was closer to the bathroom. We aren't quite there in this pregnancy but it's getting closer.

I don't get the light thing because I can fall asleep with a spotlight on me.

I haven't been sleeping well and I have a long journey ahead of me. At least you are reminding me of the joys to come and that you don't get used to them your second time around.

N.D. said...

I just despised that lack of sleep and laying in bed tossing and turning. I would have rather been up all night w/ a baby than that, right?

Agate Lake Girl said...

I too cannot sleep face to face with Jon. If he rolls over to face me, I immediately turn away. And we're in a king so he's not even that close to my face, but I still feel claustrophobic!

Jon and I tried the switching sides of the bed thing when I was pregnant but it was too weird to be on the wrong side of the bed. :)

Lee said...

I cannot face Jason in our bed either. And I'm always getting mad at him for having the ipad on. He claims that I can't see it with my eyes closed, but I can!

MNFirefly said...

That's why I enjoyed naps when I was pregnant.

The Boring Runner said...

I HATE sleeping face to face with my wife. I don't know what it is either, but I am always on the clear other side of the bed - you know, giving her the 7/8th's of the bed that is rightfully hers. ;)

Unknown said...

I totally hear you on the facing your husband thing. Pregnant or not, I just CAN'T sleep that way!

Krissy said...

This sounds like I could have written this, well not as clever & whitty as you write but you get what I mean. This post is just so true! Sleep is total crap in that last trimester & I hate when people say it's mother natures way of preparing you for life with a newborn!!