Dear 3am, we need to break-up.

March 5, 2013 By 36 Comments Fat Mum Slim

Dear 3am.

Dear 3am,

We need to break-up. It’s not me, it’s you.

I know you’re lonely, but I’m just not that into you.

Yes, we used to be friends. Back in my early 20′s we’d hang out, usually in a taxi on the way home from a night of sweaty dancing and cocktail drinking. And then I slipped back into the comfort of my bed, and you were gone. Just like that.

And then there was that time I was pregnant with Lacey, and we met quite often. There was that bird that insisted on chirping all night long. I didn’t sleep much, so you and I would hang out watching Rob Mills and his quiz show {really mediocre TV} waiting for morning to come. I know you were meeting with the guy in the apartment upstairs too. I heard him go out onto his balcony and yell in frustration, “Shut up!” He was saying what I was thinking.

And now you’re back. Almost always 3am. Sometimes 2:55am. Never enjoyable. Sleep never follows after we meet. I toss and turn hoping for it, but it never returns.

I know we’ll meet again when the baby is here, but for now… I want to break-up.

Remember, it’s not me. It’s most definitely you.

Regards,

Chantelle.

P.S. Any tips for surviving pregnancy insomnia will be gratefully received. x

Filed Under: Fat Mum Slim fat mum slim
  • http://www.facebook.com/therese.hounsell Therese Hounsell

    C-SPAN always worked for me.

    congratulations!

    • http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/ Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim

      Oooh, what’s C-SPAN?

      • http://www.engleclan.blogspot.com ericaengle

        C-Span is the government channel here in the States and politicians talk for hours and in the middle of the night they play even more obscure committe hearings.
        I still wake up in the middle of the night and I’m not pregnant (my baby is 10). Your mind starts whirring and you’re too tired to get up and make the time count but you can’t slow down your mind enough to fall asleep, right? I’ve found that a talking book on my MP3 player does the trick. I start to concentrate on the storyline and I forget about worry and stresses and next thing I’m sound asleep.

  • http://www.facebook.com/annemarie.dbr Annemarie de Boer

    Congratulations! I’m sorry, I never found the cure for that… Think happy thoughts: when not sleeping at night, you will have more time to enjoy this miracle growing inside of you ;-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/bridgette.leonauskas Bridgette Czaja Leonauskas

    dim lights and book reading before bed….no TV or full light for 45 minutes beforehand….sometimes I would read in the bath – not too hot with the lights dimmed and lavendar candle. didn’t work every time but worked ALOT. good luck!

  • Tania McCartney

    Why don’t you try meditation, lovely?

    • http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/ Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim

      You know what, that is such an obvious thing – but I hadn’t thought to try it. I did with the bird incident {major fail because I was so worked up} but I think that might work. x

  • michelle barrington

    A small protein snack may help you. Sometimes the waking in the middle of the night can be from blood sugars when pregnant (it was for me). Worth a try anyway

    • http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/ Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim

      It’s when I need a toilet break and then my mind switches on and decides to think about stressy things like money.

      I love the protein tip. I’ve been munching on nuts as a snack, because everything else makes me sick. I might keep some beside my bed at night. xx

  • Michel Valdez

    My grandmother used to give me a cup of warm milk or hot Camomiletea with honey. That usuallydid the trick.CONGRATS by the way soooo happy for you!!!

  • zeitverschwender17

    Haha, this made me smile. Hope you’ll get some more sleep, I’ve never been pregnant but I am sure it’s important to get enough sleep <3 Lots of Love!

  • Michelle

    Oh I feel your pain :( currently 26 weeks pregnant and can not sleep! When I finally do I need to pee and than lie there wide awake. Looking to hear some suggestions too. Congratulations on the pregnancy!!

  • Emma

    One word Chantelle: MAGNESIUM. Can not recommend magnesium tablets enough for insomnia. Magnesium, magnesium, magnesium. That is all. Good luck x

  • Shirley

    Well hate to be a kill joy but when you in your fifties, it will return with a vengeance night sweats and insomnia have become my friend, wish they would go away.

  • Kate McMullen

    cut out all caffeine? I had to do that through both my pregnancies. One coffee, and there was no chance I could sleep :-(

  • Nat – Muddy Farmwife

    I used visualisation techniques with all 4 of my pregnancies, otherwise I would toss and turn all night.

  • Sally & The Happy F

    I would try to sleep for 15-20 mins and then I would get up an do something constructive. Trawl ebay for nursery purchases, quilt, read, pintrest. I figured that the end result would be the same – NO SLEEP – but at least I was enjoying myself.

    Other than that I would do a visualization/mediation type thing where I would get a memory of something enjoyable that I had done recently, a picnic, and outing to the beach etc and try to mediate on that. Sometimes it would lead me into a dream state about that memory and into sleep/dreaming.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jo.walsh.946 Jo Lewis

    You just brought back memories of me doing laps around my yard trying not to wake the rest of the house. My MIL was staying and helping out as I was so ill and sleep was never around for me either.
    I hope 3am buggers off for you soon. xx

  • http://twitter.com/CoastCath Catherine Forbes

    Dear Chantelle, every night at 3am countless Mums (and some dads) get up to check their child’s blood glucose level. For a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, this is something that we must do to keep our children safe and ensure that they wake up the following morning. For me personally, I have done this now almost every night for the past 9 years. So, when you wake at 3am, do not feel alone. Know that you walk with many other amazing women – the 3am Club.

    • http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/ Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim

      You know who I’ll be thinking of on my next wake up, don’t you? Thanks for the dose of perspective, and big hugs to you. xxx

  • Kate

    Chantelle – wow never realised so many others suffer the same thing! It used to frustrate me no end. A friend was into these meditation CDs when I was pregnant the last time and so I gave them a go and found they worked really well (and nothing else had till then). In fact I will never know what happens at the end of the recording as I have never successfully managed to stay away to hear it (goodness knows I might have been programed to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia, aka Zoolander). I could try and email you the file for your iPod if that’s any help (but might be technologically challenged with that as I am not entirely sure it’s possible!). xKate

  • http://www.facebook.com/belindadocwra Belinda Docwra

    That pesky 3am. I tend to have those type of sleepless nights in batches. I find I’m too tired to even pick up a book, let alone concentrate on reading it. Same goes for the computer and if I start watching TV I will end up being over stimulated.
    It doesn’t always work but having a talking book or a couple of podcasts on my phone helps me eventually drift back to sleep for a few short hours, which is better than nothing.

  • Julie

    I am sitting here feeling oh so smug and happy with myself. I am almost scared to write this….but finally at 15months, Jarvis has slept through the night for the past week. Yes Seven glorious nights of uninterrupted sleep.

    I was done with 3am, so I suggested he visit you.

    http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/

    • http://Www.singlemomagain.com/ Singlemomagain

      ahhahaha that’s funny

  • MomWith aDot

    Loved this letter to the 3 am guy. He’s been seeing me too….. On and off for about a week now. Both my kids are sound asleep in their respective beds. But still…. Thank you for reminding he isn’t as much fun now as he used to be ten years younger :) LOL! A habit I gotta get rid of soon. Cheers! Lovely blog.

  • Roz Bannan

    Getting up usually works for me, no TV, computer, phone or other electronics, these only stimulate you. I do something quiet like read or even fold washing. If I can’t get back to sleep I rest and not stress about the lack of sleep.

    There is a few apps for your phone that may help

    http://mashable.com/2010/06/24/iphone-better-sleep/

  • http://www.facebook.com/goodwingreene Gigi Greene

    Chantelle…
    May I please share this?
    It fits so many of us, within my family… As well as some of our girlfriends…
    I know it will make everyone smile!
    Please do let me know…

    • http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/ Chantelle : Fat Mum Slim

      Of course! Please do. x

  • http://emhawker.blogspot.com/ Emily

    Find the single most boring book you can and get cracking! Hope it passes soon. x

  • Georgia Louise

    Pretty sure you can use Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, there is one especially for sleep otherwise just standard one works beautifully. Good luck G

  • Sheree Kershaw

    I read this post and giggled – but more like a sleep deprived insane giggle, but I tell you what reading this and then Catherine’s post … I am so very glad I now know I am not alone! What is up with 3AM … Why … 3AM …

  • http://twitter.com/garydlum Gaz

    I know the feeling every night and I’m not pregnant :-(

  • janine

    one word…sex….

  • Melissakay

    I LOVE THIS BLOG POST… i too suffered in the past with the pregnancy woes of insomnia.. i used to watch that show Alias when I was pregnant with my son…. oh how I don’t envy you and hope it passes quickly! ;)

  • Erin

    Camomile and lavender tea xx

  • http://Www.singlemomagain.com/ Singlemomagain

    How about I don’t fall asleep until 4 am, that’s who I’m trying to leave… Insomnia sucks, mine is due to a heavy mind but insomnia none the less…. Good luck trying to kick 3am’s a$$! fight the power & gain sleep