Gah! Can anyone help me get comfy?!

[firsttimer78]

Hi everyone,
I'm 32+3 and increasingly suffering from heartburn, esp at night. The last few nights have been particularly bad (I'm eating rennies like nobody's business!) and it's getting harder and harder to find a comfortable position to sleep in! If I lie down (which is most comfy for back/bump) the heartburn gets worse and have had acid reflux a few times (nice), but if I prop myself up with pillows etc my back and what remain of my stomach muscles get sore! Anyone got any positions to try, or am I destined to another 8 weeks of flopping around like a beached whale?!
Ta!

I had this and it was horrible. I think lying on the left and on a slight slope (so prop yourself up on cushions) helped a bit, instead of propping yourself on your back. Also I had to eat close to bedtime but avoid things like dairy which triggered it. You need to make sure most of your upper body is elevated, not just your head.

Also worth trying gaviscon before bedtime?

35 weeks, pillows under mattress! and gaviscon x

No advice really - just listening in as I am suffering too. I have pillows stuffed all around me at the moment - one wedged under my bump, one at my back, one between my knees, but i am still not comfortable and my back still aches. I am not even as far gone as you yet! Only 26 weeks but back is killing me.

Thanks for the advice ladies. Husband is about to be sent up the loft on a hunt for more pillows!! Is gaviscon better than rennies? I hate the chalky taste of some indigestion tablets so have been eating the soft chews that are just like softmints - DH isn't far away from heading off to a different room thanks to my midnight munching on them!

You can get gaviscon liquid. Much easier! So neck some before bedtime :)

rennies are total crap compared to gaviscon - trust me - Gaviscon is what you need!

Hi

I've been prescribed Gaviscon Advance, which is even better than the normal Gaviscon - works absolute wonders honestly. I also get my doctor to prescribe the peppermint version which is much nicer than the original aniseed flavour.

In terms of position in bed, I find it most comfortable on my left hand side with my shoulder kind of propped up on my pillow, so not completely upright, but in a raised kind of position.

My pg may as well have been sponsored by Gaviscon! Bottle by the bed, and don't bother with measuring spoonfuls - a good swig is best! Unlike Igglybuff, some dairy seems to help me (hot drinks and choc pre-bedtime make it so much worse though, sadly!) so a glass of milk or even better, ice-cream, helps calm things for me. Oh and sleeping with pillows directly under my bump but NOT under the top of my ribcage/boobs - the heartburn gets sooo much worse if upper half of me squished!

My mum suffers bad acid reflux and she was advised a wedge pillow or to stick a couple of books under the top half of the bed - might be good if you're already sleeping with loads of pillows!

Same situation here. Am 34 weeks and should have shares in Gaviscon. Good job you can have it on prescription!

Have to lie on my left with a very squashy pilllow under my bump but not boobs too. l Have one at my back and one between my knees. Find that i get pins and needles if i'm in the same position for too long so have to lollup around roll over 20 times a night. This is in addition to flayling (sp) around trying to get up for a wee 50 times a night. I'm poor DH is exausted!

Chocolate milk does wonders for my heartburn - well, I choose to make it chocolatey (with Nesquik) - I'm sure milk would do just as good a job but doesn't taste as nice!!!

Not heartburn but can empathise with discomfort. I am getting bugger all sleep at the moment as I am so fucking uncomfortable, and DH has been mostly on the sofa for weeks for his own sanity. I must have had about 3 hours sleep last night, I ache all over.

Sorry OP, this is your thread! I've no advice as heartburn is the one pregnancy symptom that seems to pass me by luckily.

Right, I'm going to give Gaviscon a go! Found that using my v-shaped pillow at my head helped last night - not sure why because head wasn't raised much more than with the other ones I've tried.

MB - moan away, I've got lots of other aches and pains I can join in with! In particular, LO seems to enjoy practicing xylophone on my (formerly cracked) ribs - ooyah!

Yes my LO is jabbing me in the ribs all of the time too - I just poke her back.

My DH went out last night to get Gavisgon and Rennies and I probably took far too much of both, but I was desperate. The Gaviscon is vile - aniseed is my least favourite flavour.

My heartburn was really only bothering me in the evening before but now it is ALL DAY. I may give up eating.

daisystone - eurgh, mint Gaviscon all the way, I accidentally got the aniseed and think the heartburn might have been bit more bearable! Mint Gaviscon Advance from the pharmacy counter is great and should give you some relief for a few hours anyway (having some now ? just had loads of pineapple to try and convince LO to make an appearance, nightmare heartburn!)

i didn't get heartburn but had usual two pillows for head, two pillows propping me from behind (sleeping on side)and 5ft long mternity pillow along my front, which I curled round, under bump, between legs....think it cost me a tenner on ebay and soooooooooooo worth it