June 11, 2009

Insomnia: Pregnancy Edition

Yes, it really is 1:30 in the morning. This pregnant woman cannot sleep. It’s my own fault because when I got home from my 3 p.m. lab appointment at my doctor’s office (20 week blood draw, 24-hour urine collection jug pick-up) I had a splitting headache. Even Tylenol (totally safe to take when pregnant, says my doctor) didn’t help.

At 4:30 I crashed on the couch. Dawson curled up next to me with his favorite “blankie” and fell asleep in my arms. It was wonderful to cuddle with The Boy Who Is Always Moving, but he was so comfortable that it felt as if he weighed a thousand pounds. His sibling must have felt it, too, because he or she (still don’t know, next ultrasound next week) was kicking like mad.

After an hour of being smothered cuddling with my boy, Doug offered to help me escape from the couch. I kissed my Doodlebug’s chubby cheeks several times and then dragged myself to the other couch and tried to close my eyes and will the headache away. No luck.

Doug made dinner and I picked at my food at first, but then managed to eat. He made BBQ’s and they were delicious, but immediately I was thirsty and proceeded to drink my weight in water. In fact, I drank so much water today that I spent most of my day in the bathroom.

At 6:30 Dawson awoke from his nap. He hasn’t taken a nap in a year or more, so at first I was worried he was coming down with something, turns out he was fully recharged and ready to rock the house.

“Mom, let’s play Transformers!” he shouted with excitement.

“Okay! I’m going to transform into a sleeping mommy, sound good?”

“No, Mom! You gotta be the one that turns into a truck.” he said.

Then he ran around the coffee table in the living room and Murphy thought it was play time and chased him, barking all the way.

The noise in combination with the headache made me want to vomit, and then I realized it was a migraine. Before getting pregnant, I got migraines quite often, mostly during that certain time of the month. This pregnancy migraine was probably only the second one I’ve had since February. Which is good news, but painful just the same.

I think Doug sensed I was miserable because he told me, “Why don’t you go downstairs to the family room. Lay down on the couch in the dark and I’m sure you’ll feel better in no time.”

I took his advice. We live in a bi-level home and the lower level is much cooler. The shift in temperature made my sinuses open up (damn rhinitus of pregnancy) and I could breathe better. I grabbed a blanket and pillows and sank into one of the sofas. I must have fallen asleep shortly thereafter, because I woke up at 12:30 with the urgent need to pee.

And now I’m wide awake. I don’t even know what time I fell asleep. I do remember hearing Doug tell Dawson it was time for bed, but I’m sure I was drifting in and out of sleep. I think I went downstairs at 7:30-ish, so I’m sure I slept at least 4 hours.

Tomorrow morning is my 20-week doctor’s appointment and I’m nervous because we’ll be going over test results, blood pressure, weight check, etc. I’m sure all is well but I have a tendency to worry. I blame genetics. My mother is a worrier, too.

Blogging this late at night is like a glass of warm milk. Suddenly I’m just tired enough to go back to sleep (or at least try). Good night, y’all. Or, Good Morning?

Posted by Dana @ 1:49 AM • Pregnancy