Insomnia
After Mini was born, insomnia crawled into my bed and refused to leave for more than a year. She nagged me night after night and I hated her. She is a maddening creature. I slept an average of four hours a night, weighed 120 pounds (I’m 5’9”), and worried about my moodiness, which was at an all-time high (or, more accurately, low). I reduced and rearranged my caffeine intake. I timed my last bite of food and last sip of drink before bed. I exercised. I experimented with different foods and teas. I learned and practiced insomnia-specific relaxation exercises. When desperate for sleep I took Xanax or Ambien. Somehow I pulled off the mother gig with attention and patience. What cured my insomnia? Pregnancy. I’ve slept through the night (ha) since October, with a “bad” night here and there (quotes signify that today’s bad nights are nothing like yesterday’s). I hope it’s not the only thing that’ll keep her away, or we’re going to need a bigger house.
