Sleep tips!

[justhayley]

Hiya I'm 21 + 4 with my first and this week have found it really difficult to sleep. My hips are sooooo sore, they are aching and stiff and I can't get comfy. I'm usually someone who sleeps on my belly, obviously can't do that, & apparently sleeping on your back restricts babies oxygen and sleeping on my sides is agony - short of sleeping upside down on my head I'm out of ideas.

Anyone got any tips - do those giant pillows that look like giant bananas help? Not sure what they are called, think they go between ur legs and under bump or something!

I'm exhausted and am like a zombie at work!

Thanks Hayley xx

The giant banana shaped pillow was rubbish, but a small banana shaped pillow underneath my waist, just above my hip helped me... And another pillow between my legs... And another pillow supporting my back... Pillows everywhere...

If you have quite severe pain in your hips at this stage of your pregnancy you might want to speak to tour midwife/GP because I imagine it may get worse as your bump grows.

Unfortunately IME sleeping does get very difficult as pregnancy progresses mainly because you spend most of the night wanting to wee.

I've the same problem. I'm trying to sleep on my left side but often wake up on my back.

Are you rolled forward enough, so that you're lying on your thigh, rather than your hip bone? My yoga teacher pointed out that i was lying on my hip bone too much (because of leaning too far back) and that I should roll forward a bit more to rest on my thigh.

A pillow between the knees helps and the next thing I'm going to try (at a friend's suggestion) is a duvet under the sheet, to add some padding. Not much room in the bed for any extra pillows, so if this doesn't work we'll be looking for a new, softer and larger bed

Thank you both, my DP isn't home tonight so I'm going to surround myself in pillows and will try tip myself forward and see if that helps.
Iv got dodgy hips and joints in general - I have shallow sockets apparently and can pop my hip in and out, my knees also dislocate :( don't worry I'm no longer popping my hip out on purpose - it was my drunken party trick in my early 20s lol. May see if I can see a pysio again because I think your right it will only get worse as I get bigger

I have a long pillow, not banana-shaped, that I wedge between my knees and run up along my front when I'm pregnant. It allows me to sleep on my side (I'm usually a back-sleeper). I love it and take it with me on trips, etc.
As a starting point, try a pillow between your kness and a pillow hugged to your chest as you sleep on your side. It can really lessen the load on your hips and back. Good luck! It's horrible not being able to sleep.

I would also recommend a pillow between your knees, I wake up in agony if mine falls out of position during the night.