Help me sleep....please

[BrassicaBabe]

So, I'm 25 weeks pregnant with twins and I'm having trouble getting comfortable at night.

I've got a dream genie thingy pillow and a v-shaped pillow but I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be putting them to feel the effect!

Clearly I can't lay on my tummy. If I lay on my back, where previously I was most happy, I cannot breathe! (Generally considered a good habit to sustain! ) Which leaves me sleeping on my left side or my right side. Whatever I do with these pesky pillows I end up with agonising pain in the hip on the bed.

Any tips would be gratefully received. Another 13-15 weeks of this is going to drive me bonkers!

Thanks

[tinkerbug]

When I was pg with DS I had a v-shaped pillow. I lay on my side, one end under my bump and the other tucked between my legs which I found quite comfy... HTH!

[DomesticGoddess31]

Hi BrassicaBabe, I'm 26wks and I find the following most comfortable...laying my sausage shaped pillow down under the covers parallel to me, lying on my side facing pillow and then either lifting top leg over and resting on pillow with lower leg also resting on pillow further down if that makes sense, or the same but also with lower leg under the pillow too so pillow is between legs IYSWIM. my pillow is long enough that i can also use it to support my bump a little bit in this position, but I don't find I need bump support yet.

I'm guessing you could do this with your dream genie?

My sister bought me a little wedge pillow for when bump does get bigger so this might be worth trying for you?

I think the aim is to take as much weight off your hip as poss.

[upyourdiva]

The only way I could sleep was by putting various pillows between my knees, under my bump and under my feet.

[PrincessScrumpy]

I have a v-shape pillow which goes between my knees and I end up cuddling the top. I'm 16w+4 with twins so may have more problems in 10 weeks time. I think having our memory foam matteress helps - maybe you could try a memory foam topper (lots cheaper than buying a new mattress).

The advice I was given was a pillow between the legs to lift hip into correct position and one wedged under bump (but I didn't find it comfy to do this with dd1) Get dh to help you get into a good position by passing pillows and helping put them in place.

Good luck x

[LittleMilla]

I am now 38 weeks (with just the one!) and keep on waking up with pains in my shoulders...depending on which side I'm lying on. An extra 2.5 stone bearing down on my normally petite frame!

I've had a spare duvet under the bed for a while now due to SPD. I think it helps. Given my time again, I think I'd have invested in a memory foam topper as princess suggests.

Aside from that, just get as many SOFT pillows as possible to wedge in various places. I say soft because i've found that the harder ones are useless and can actually hurt bump (mine is v.v.v.v.v.hard most of the time).

Good luck x

[jenga079]

I'm also 25 weeks, but just with one, and DP laughs at me every night: "it looks like you're building a fort". I have a full length pillow which lies next to my left side, I lie on my side with my leg hooked over it, then DP wedges a pillow behind me after he's finished heavy breathing in my ear to stop me sleeping spooning. It works for a few hours until I have a daft pregnancy dream and chuck the whole lot around the room. Then the whole process starts again. Luckily I have a patient DP and a very comfy king size bed.

Sounds like the mattress might be your problem. Could you get another layer between you and it? (mattress protector? Duvet? Memory foam topper?)

[Perpetuallypregnant]

Im 36 weeks and Im another pillow wedger. I just surround myself with pillows and cushions wedged all over the place! I also have SPD and restless legs so sleeping is a bloody nightmare to be honest.

Ive struggled since 28 weeks or so, so I feel your frustration. My tips are to avoid drinking much before bed, lie down and read a book until you feel tired, try not to nap too much during the day (it helps if im exhausted when i go to bed).
Probably nothing unique here but hope it all helps.

Xx

[Joannezipan]

Hi i'm 30+5 and I had this really badly a couple of weeks ago. I found the only thing that helped me was a pillow mountin much to DH's amusement! I have 4 up against the headboard of the bed and then i can wedge my shoulder and bottom arm in amongest them and support my head. As you end up with your weight on your bum it doen't make your hips ache as much. I still have to wake up and awap sides a couple of times in the night, but it is better than it was. I also find that swinging the top leg over a pillow and wedging the bump between the matress and the pillow so i would roll onto my front if the pillow wan't there also helps sometimes, as does hugging a pillow across the boobs to keep the top arm up so that doesn't go dead. With all these pillows i dread to think what will happen when it gets really hot at night! :o If it gets really bad the only thing to do is take some time off and nap when you can. I also found threatening violence against anyone who told me it was "good practice for when the baby comes" made me feel better too. While pointing out to them that when the baby comes I won't have to work from 9 til 5:30 and can sleep when I have the chance! I hope you feel better soon, and I did find it got better after a while.

[BrassicaBabe]

You guys are geniuseseseses

We have a memory foam mattress in the spare room. Ok, so it's a double instead of a kingsize and for some reason it's about a foot deep making the bed very high, but we dragged it through to our bedroom anyway. (The curtains in the spare room are crap)

I slept like a baby (apart from the obligatory trips to the loo of course )! So I thank you!

DH didn't like it much, but he'll come round and when he does I'll buy a kingsize memory foam mattress from ebay, which are quite reasonable.

thanks again!