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Late pg / SPD(?) sleeping help needed

5 replies

LaTristesse · 02/02/2010 11:39

Morning ladies,

I'm 33+4 now and am finding it increasingly difficult to get any sleep. I know I'm not alone in this and was just wondering if anyone else has found any magic positions / remedies which I could try...

I've been using cushions between my knees, and around my back for several weeks as I have what I believe to be mild SPD, but am finding now that I can only get comfy and nod off for about half an hour before I wake up & need to shuffle painfully into a different position.

I can't do sleeping upright or propped up as it seems to put a lot of pressure on my lower back and pelvis, and obviously back and front are out too...

Can anyone suggest anything? It's starting to make me ratty and miserable (and yes, I know it's all good training for those sleepless nights to come!)

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hoops997 · 02/02/2010 11:59

haven't got a miracle cure but just wanted to offer my sympathy, I am nearly 32 weeks and have been diagnosed with SPD, every time I turn over it takes about 5 minutes, by which time I'm wide awake then it takes me ages to get back to sleep!! Then the whole process starts again, I have been prescribed co-codomol to take if it gets too bad, I have about 6 pillows that I sleep with but nothing really helps and yes I have been told it's practice for all the sleepless nights to come.......great!!

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indigobarbie · 02/02/2010 13:28

Hi I too can sympathise and I have been sleeping uprightish since about 28 weeks due to SPD as laying on my side is just not happening and too painful! Even with the many pillows to support me.
Do you have any chairs in the house that you might consider sleeping in? Weeks ago I was so fed up of this that I nearly ordered one of those gliding recliner chairs as I was convinced it would help me get to sleep and could be used after the birth to feed baby. I ended up conserving my money and after a few sleepless nights I got comfy again.
I get the numbness in my bum but I have a duvet, a memory foam matress, a woollen blanket underneath me (yes roasting in the middle of the night but cushioning to the bottom/back) and I just last week bought a length of satin fabric from ebay and stuck that on top of all this too - to aid the sliding out of bed motion. A friend advised that when she had this she slept on an air bed, or a lilo.
I too would be interested if anyone else has advice, but for the moment this has been working for me (sort of, at my wit's end now trying to move) - but I have to add I have about 6 pillows at my back, one or two at each side and then some under my knees aswell, a total rigmaroll to get in and out of. BUT I think the pillows under my knees support the pelvis? Had to leave my bed with DP and sleep in the spare room many many many weeks ago!!
Good Luck and honestly, not long to go now.
If I hadn't been at 39 weeks then I would have liked one of these:
[http://holo-lilo.com] and maybe just maybe I would have been able to try and lay on my stomach???

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LaTristesse · 02/02/2010 13:57

Thanks for the empathy ladies - it's horrid isn't it! I spotted the holo-lilo on here last week and was considering trying it - seems a fair price to pay for comfort!

I'll definitely try the pillows under knees thing too indigo - I was wondering whether that might help with the pelvis pressure...

I'm trying to avoid moving out of bed with DH as although I'm starting to keep him awake too with my endless shuffling, he says he's lonely without me (love him!)

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RachelY · 02/02/2010 15:54

hello, for what its worth, here is my experience of spd and what works for me..
i'm 41 weeks and have the horrible spd.. physio helps, as does wearing a tight tubi-grip at night to hold my pelvis together.. also when you turn over, have you tried turning underneath (if that makes sense) instead of rolling on your back.. i now take co-codamol after suffering for weeks with paracetamol due to guilt of what impact it might have on the baby.. now i am at the point of tears without them (they also make you drowsy so i am waking up less to go to the loo)..
i start off sleeping on my back, propped up with soft cushions, but often wake up on my side with aching hips :-(
from what i can gather each spd sufferer will find different ideas to reduce the pain.. also, hang in there with hope as the pain can reduce if your little one changes position..
i really hope you find something to help..
x