Advice needed on sleeping please!

[lou19]

Does anyone have any advice re sleeping positions? I am 30 wks pgt and have been using a V shaped cushion which has really helped with supporting my bump, but I just can't get comfortable with my neck and shoulders when I'm lying on my side. Really I'm more comfortable lying on my back, but that's a no-no because of the whole vena cava thing. Is there a special cushion I can get for my head that will make things better, or any other tricks?

Thanks in advance!!

I have a long side sleeper pillow which supports my legs and upper body as well as my bum. I then have supportive pillows under my head - make sure they're high enough & supportive enough to keep your spine aligned.

Hi,

I know how you feel I am 36+6 weeks and Im really stuggling to get comfy in bed. I always just used a normal pillow to support bump but it is no use now! I find my hips ache from being in the same position for long periods.
Also moving in bed is starting to become an issue so Im affraid you have it to come!
Mothercare do a maternity support pillow, I havent used it but it looks like it will suooprt you sholders etc as well as you bump, its quite expensive but if it means getting a good nights sleep it might be worth it!

www.mothercare.com/Dream-Genii-Pregnancy-Feeding-Support/dp/B0011EV79C/sr=1-1/qid=1283162798/ref=sr_1_1/279-1323530-4761635?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=79267031&mcb=core

I know you aren't supposed to lie on your back yet no healthcare professional has ever told me this. My mum was horrified when I told her and basically said do whatever you need to be comfortable and stop worrying ( can you control how you sleep- really?) Anyway I used two big bolster cushions on either side and slept on my back but on a sort of slant. So I wedged myself in effectively. With any old pillow between my legs. good luck!

I'm not a great sleeper normally and pregnancy just makes things worse for me!

I had a dream genii last time and DH is about to get it out for me from the attic again today (I'm 27+1 with DS2). It really helped me to sleep. I used it mainly on my left side and then flipped it over when my hips ached too much to stay on that side any longer.

The pillow is expensive and it might not be worth it for the few weeks you have left (but it might be if you are desperate!) Even with the pillow my quality of sleep was pretty poor by 36 weeks.

I found that sleeping on the sofa was often my only option towards the end of my pregnancy. I would lie on my side using the back of the sofa to support my back and the dream genii to support my front, changing sides after a few hours.

I also used to sleep semi-sitting with 2 or 3 pillows behind my back in bed and the dream-genii under my knees.

If you are already on maternity leave then cat napping in the day may help a bit.

Having a bath about an hour before going to bed works wonders for me too.

I read somewhere that the no-sleeping-on-back thing is a white elephant - apparently, it became an edict following a study of women who were in labour and given epidurals. They were on their backs and couldn't move, and their blood pressure dropped and some had difficulty breathing. Hence it was decided it was dangerous for pregnant women to lie on their backs. However, what the verdict failed to appreciate was that firstly epidurals cause a drop in BP anyway, and secondly, these women couldn't move voluntarily as a result of the epidural. For normal women lying on their backs, if you were asleep and your BP dropped/breathing became uncomfortable, you would naturally wake up or change position. I wouldn't worry about it. Personally, I start out sleeping on my side and then always wake up on my back, and everything seems fine. I refuse to spend £40 on a pillow - seems like another way to screw money out of pregnant women's insecurities to me!

Agree about sleeping on your back - I often wake up on my back and don't worry about it.

I'm most comfortable sleeping on my front so I have a problem there!

Sleeping on your back is only a problem if you find it a problem - ie get dizzy, breathless etc - then you need to move. But if you are comfortable then do it!

Minimarmite, my mum keeps telling me she slept on her front right through pregnancy, apparently you just need an arm down each side of your bump. I've tried this though and my arms just go dead, lol.

I'm 35+1 and cant sleep for any longer than about 45 mins at a time, and thats poor quality sleep :( I lie on one side with my many pillows, but wake up with pain in my hips and back, plus now I have CTS as well and can find nothing to do with my hands that makes it better.

I do sleep better on the sofa, as I put my head up on the arm and my back is supported by the back, but this hurts my back and neck if I do it for long periods.

PS I'm one who actually cant sleep on my back, it makes my sciatica bad and does make me dizzy

nattiecake do you put a pillow between your knees? I have found that makes a huge difference. I can't sleep on my back either, I can do it for about 5 mins and then I get breathless.

My Mum keeps telling me that too nattiecake! The nearest I get is leaning as far over towards my front as I can hugging a pillow and raising my knee. An arm either side just wouldn't work for me my bump is enormous (again)! Perhaps I could carve a hole in the mattress!