Inability to sleep deeply....

Is anyone else finding this?

Basically, whenever I fall asleep, I feel like I cannot fall into a deep sleep. I feel like I am always semi-conscious and it is driving me insane! If I am having a dream, I always feel like I am half awake (and am aware that I am dreaming). And whenever I wake up, I feel frustrated, because I have already been partially awake all night...
I have always been the lightest sleeper anyway, but this is just ridiculous - and its leaving me in a permanent state of frustration and tiredness....

Anyone have any tips for inducing a deep sleep?? And no I don't have caffeine any time in the PM... and yes I do usually eat right before bedtime - because I am always starving, and can't fall asleep at all if I am hungry!!

I am a really light sleeper and DH thinks that it is because once women have kids they naturally sleep lightly as they're always half listening out for someone to wake up. Is DS sleeping badly? Maybe you're listening out for him?

Have you tried some essential oils? Lavender can work well. DH burns lavender insence in our room when he is having trouble sleeping and it always works for him.

Other than that the only other thing I can suggest is that when you are tired enough, you should eventually start falling into a deep sleep very quickly - it's just a matter of how long that takes and whether you can cope in the meantime.

Oh the joys of pg! I hope you get some good sleep soon.

ETA- oh, also, what about relaxing music at bedtime? Tom's Peacebaby CD works wonders for me too!

Ambah do you exercise? I find if I have been for a good swim a few days in a row or a long walk i sleep a lot better. Also doing a few good, deep stretches before bed helps me to fall asleep. weirdly i also find the days when i have chgd bed linen i sleep really well... that fresh linen smell must do it for me ha ha!! that all said i am not sleeping so well myself right now!!!

For me, when I feel a 'restless sleep' coming on, I have a shower or bath before I go to bed...I try to have the shower/bath in the semi-dark not to wake me up too much...

But can't say that at the moment, I'm having particularly good sleep...especially because I can't sleep in my most favourite position...on my tummy!!!

Ambah, I've found using an eye mask so that I have 100% darkness over my eyes really helps when I'm having a run of light sleeping. The other thing i'm a huge advocate for is the afternoon nap, I often find I hit that deep sleep for just a short time but it's more refreshing for me than hours in bed at night doing only light sleep.

Rachel - DS still wakes a couple of times per night, but has been like this for years... so nothing new there! Although I do find it contributes to my inability to fall asleep again, because I get so frustrated at being woken up and having to argue with him in the middle of the night about why he needs to go back to sleep (he's 3.5yo LOL).

pregpan - thanks... you may be onto something there! I used to exercise a lot more before I fell pg than I do now... atm I am lucky to be making it to the gym once or twice per week. I did have a good workout yesterday, but that didn't really help my sleep... but I will try to get more exercise in, and maybe give stretching a go too...

Melanie - I need to get a copy of Peacebaby for the next bub anyway, so I may as well try it on myself first LOL. Will also try lavender incence... good idea! I'm definitely tired enough though, and that is what is frustrating me... before pg I could easily have a big nap in the arvo (of deep sleep!) and then sleep deeply at night too...

Marydean - I love having naps too, but lately they just aren't working for me... not making me feel rested at all!

Monnie - thanks for the suggestion, I will try that too...

Will let you all know how its going, thanks girls. :)

Ambah sweetheart, I so hear you and the sleep thing. Blake's sleep is still crappy - as always - plus we've had to deal with his pain from his fractured arm which he did 2wks ago, plus he's got a snotty vile virus accompanied by a fever. Sorry, I'm digressing and whinging, but I can't remember when I got a full nights sleep. I guess I'm just learning to live with it to a degree. Last night I went to bed about 11pm which was late for me, I read for about 40 mins cause I wasn't tired/knew I wouldn't sleep. DH came to bed at 12.15am. Blake stirred shortly afterwards. I got up and settled him, then I couldnt' sleep. Made cheese on toast and had a glass of cordial at 1am. Managed to get 4 good hours between 1 and 5am when Blake was unsettled again. Settled him, but then DH had to get up at 6am today for an early job interview in the city, so I didn't really go back to sleep. Surprisingly I've only had about 4.5 hours sleep (Ooh that's not good now that I actually think about it) but I feel pretty good.

I wish I had an answer to a better nights sleep. Sleep for me is usually light too. I hear everything, and have disturbingly vivid dreams which make me feel like I didn't sleep at all. Sometimes, I'll have a late shower like Monnie suggested. Thinking back to those night - apart from the Blake factor - I've probably slept better. Maybe we both can try that!

Hope you manage to find a solution.
xx