I Need More Sleep

At 39 weeks pregnant, very few of us are able to sleep - your situation is not unique or unusual. When you are that big, even if you haven't gained anything but baby weight, your body is at its breaking point as far as workload and it can be nearly impossible to sleep. I didn't even make it to 39 weeks - at 35 weeks, I already couldnt sleep because of the back discomfort - NO position is comfortable to sleep in when the baby is displacing all of your organs, sitting on your bladder, compressing the capacity of your stomach and lungs - your whole BODY is compromised!
You also have a toddler, which will make rest even more fitful and/or difficult. Just try to rest as much as possible - you don't have to sleep, just take lots of breaks throughout the day, have a cup of tea, and try to relax. After that baby is born, you wont be able to help sleeping every time you get the chance! You'll be exhausted, and when you get the chance to sleep when your new baby is sleeping, you WILL rest. Your body will force you to sleep. So, don't stress - we all go through this. Your body is probably very ready to go as far as labor is concerned, so just take it easy and wait for nature to take it course (if you chose to have an epidural in the hospital, look forward to some good discomfort free rest. I think the only GOOD sleep time I had before my daughter was born in the last three weeks of pregnancy was when I was in the hospital with the epidural. I was suddenly in NO discomfort at all, and got a good 6 hours of sleep before I delivered - it was GREAT!).

You probably won't have a hard time sleeping AFTER the baby's born -- if the baby will let you. Good luck!

A.,

I am guilty of the same kind of behavior! If you lay down and read for a while, that might help. Grab a book or magazine and force yourself to rest. Before you know it, you'll be so tired you won't be able to help yourself. I'd choose a time to strat reading about an hour or so before you want your "bedtime" to be. I just read something that said women need 6-7 hours of sleep per night (though I prefer more!!). Congrats on your new addition, and I hope you have a smooth delivery.

I had the same problem, I usually didn't fall asleep until early morning hours (like 4-6 am ) then I would sleep until 10 or 11. Obviously that isn't an option for me this time around or you, but one thing that did help last time, was to sleep in a recliner. We had a couch that reclined, so I slept in that, and it was a lot more comfy. Good Luck, plan to have few to no visitors the irst day in the hospital, and sleep as much as you can :-)

Sorry, I wish I couldbe more help. I think it's one of the many curses of pregnnacy/motherhood. :-0

Same thing happened to me. My first pregnancy involved me deciding at midnight that I had to... clean the ceiling in the kitchen, dust all the baseboards in my house, clean the leaves of my houseplants, rearrange my kitchen cupboards, fold and then re-fold all my laundry... It was just crazy. Although I must say, the split second that baby was born and decided that she would never sleep (ever!), I could easily have laid down and slept for 3 days straight. Don't fight it. Use the time to make casseroles and freeze them or whatever. That way you won't have to work so hard after the baby comes! Good luck!!