can unborn baby affect dad's sleep?

[Ginger]

this might seem like a very silly question, but here goes...
i know all the hormones etc. have been seriously affecting my sleep. i wake constantly throughout the night and usually wake very early (about 4 or 5am) and lay awake for an hour or two. lately though, this has been happening to dp. he gets tired much earlier than he used to and wakes up super early and is wide awake well before his alarm goes off. this never used to happen to him. he also reckons he's been having really strange vivid dreams (as have i). was just wondering, is it possible for the baby to be affecting his sleep patterns by us being in the same bed together? i know it seems really stupid but i just can't see any other explaination as to why he is sleeping so badly atm. has anyone else experienced this problem? would love to hear similar stories....

[PinkPalace]

Gracie - i have heard of sympathy symptoms. I know DH got back pain and forgetfullness when i was pregnant. It was quite funny actually that it was happening.

Perhaps his sleep is less settled if you are tossing and turning or getting up to the loo to pee every 3 hours (i know i was).... I believe it is a very tangible possibility!!

Dont worry he will catch up on his sleep when bub is born... lol they seem to be able to sleep through the night of bub crying and you getting up to feed... lol

[Adnil]

I know it's affecting my DH - but that's because he gets kicked out into the spare bed LOL!!!

But seriously, I would think just the emotional adjustment could be enough, esp with the dreams etc. It's a big thing for him to adjust to.

[Liz]

Yeah, if you're not sleeping as well as normal, they can pick up on that and not be as rested themselves, and it's perhaps keeping him in a dreamy kind of sleep instead of the zonked out deep sleep too. DH used to get kicked by the baby lol if I was leaning up against him.

I too have heard of sympathy symptoms.. some men get terrible morning sickness! I was hoping DH would have sympathy labour pains - but no such luck LOL.

I agree that the upcoming 'change' could affect his sleep too.

I hope you can both get some good sleep before the baby comes! All the best

[JordieC]

I have absolutely no idea if it is true or not but last night after attending a great birthday party (my husband was quite intoxicated!), my baby would not stop kicking. My husband had been doing all these crazy moves on the dance floor and I swear that's what our baby was doing all night while I was trying to sleep! ha ha Maybe they do pick up on behaviours!

[Adnil]

LOL Jordie!! That's a classic!

[Ginger]

well, i don't know what's going on with him, but last night i got up to go the toilet a couple of times and both times he was already awake just lying there. it's so weird!! even our dog's not sleeping as well as she used to and the other morning came into our room at 5.30am jumped up onto dp and vomited on him!!! it's like the whole house has gone crazy and is preparing for this baby!!
princessmya- he's been getting chronic lower back pain as well!! it's all just a bit too crazy if you ask me...

[August]

Dont worry he will catch up on his sleep when bub is born... lol they seem to be able to sleep through the night of bub crying and you getting up to feed... lol

Thats hilarious princessmya, and I'll take your word for it as I'm yet to find out for myself! Congratulaions too on the happy and safe arrival of your little one.

And your story too Jordie!

Gracie
I dont think this question was silly at all. DP and I noticed our sleeping habits changed almost immediatley upon getting a BFP. I usually fall asleep and dont wake til morning and DP too, but now, 35 weeks later, its more than normal to be awake and get up a few times a night. For awhile there DP was really missing out on sleep and finding himself so awake he got up for awhile, he has seemed to remedy this now though...hmm, I'm thinking back to what Princessmya said ha ha.

Anyway it has been like this from very early in the pregnancy and I definatley believe it is natures way of conditioning us for life with a newborn. This is obviouly our first bub, next time around I'm sure we'll know all about it!!

DP and bubby will 'play' some mornings, I'll wake up and he'll tell me he's been feeling him kicking for the last hour. He'll also get a kick in the back too if I'm lying behind him and the baby moves which has woken him up before. It's so cute! Mind you I've got a big boy he is already well over 6lbs at 35 weeks and he likes to make himself known (he would of been a big one if I werent being induced in 2 weeks).

All the best to you and DP!!

[kungfubecca]

We definetly had this as well.

In early PG, he was feeling nauseous and getting little crampy pains in his abdomen, I had nothing!!

He does wake up now, but I think that's because I am restless, and tossing and turning sooo much, Plus I snore more now than I used too.

Now that I've finished work, and the sleep is getting harder, I have been getting up and going to watch telly in the lounge so I don't wake him up

[~*Niadalla*~]

Dp has restless nights along with me. He gets woken up everytime I attempt getting out of bed, probably because it is a 5 minute job! lol

Also the dreams, I think it is a subconcious thing. My DP has a few crazy ones every now and then.

I am glad my DP is havign a few restless nights! look what I've had to deal with the last 9 months! lol

good luck with ur pregnancies girls!!

[sconeonamission]

I've notice my dh is sometimes awake at night when I wake up (at least one of the times I wake anyway). He had the vivid dreams about the baby and each time I'd tell him my dream about the baby, he had dreamt about the same sex baby that I did! Pity tho, that dreams don't tell you the gender of the baby, we've had dreams about both!