Dear Lind
Hello and welcome to Beyond Blue. Congratulations on your pregnancy. How wonderful for it to happen naturally without going through IVF. My daughter and husband spend several years and lots of money on IVF and now have a lovely daughter.
While she was overjoyed at finally being pregnant, she was anxious during the pregnancy, I think most of us take being pregnant for granted, because of an assumption that when we want to start a family it will happen. Sadly, as in your case and my daughter it didn't happen and we are left with all the questions.
Then you get anxious and it really takes away from the enjoyment of the forthcoming birth. I would suggest that after living in hope of a baby, when it finally starts to happen you immediately worry about all the 'what ifs'.
Well you have stopped the medication that helped you sleep because of its potential effect on your child. You need to understand that your body has been used to going to sleep through the action of this drug and to stop taking it is a shock to the system. Now your body needs to learn to sleep without chemical help and that does not happen overnight.
We all have ways to get to sleep and stay asleep. Here are some of mine. I meditate regularly during the day. This helps me to remain calm in general because meditation teaches the body to relax. This will take a little while and daily practice but I recommend this to help your anxiety in general. Some folk go for a walk in the late evening which is not only good exercise but also releases tension in the body.
When I was not sleeping, or rather when I kept waking during the night, my GP suggested this activity. Think of a book you have read and in your mind reconstruct the story chapter by chapter. No jumping ahead or 'speed reading'. You could do this with a film or TV program but I feel this would be too stimulating. I also meditate when trying to sleep. Then of course you need to check your diet for obvious things like too much coffee and alcohol. Tea is not as bad but can have an effect. If you like herbal teas try Camomile on its own or buy it mixed with other ingredients like peppermint or ginger. There is a wide variety out there.
Do all your big tasks in the morning and gradually wind down as the evening progresses. Even watching TV can make you tense and uptight. Instead try listening to music. I like listening to talking books because I can sit and listen without doing anything, or I knit while listening.
Mary
