I'm having a bad time with restless legs/body/mind. At 16 weeks I already seem unable to be comfortable.

[McPhee]

I've got one of these long body pillows, tried lavender pillow mist, warm drinks, shifting position numerous times. But no matter what I do I cannot get in to a position in which I don't feel like I'm squashing baby I know at only 16 weeks, this really doesn't bode well for the rest of my pregnancy.

So what I am asking I suppose, is how are other coping with getting proper rest. And what are you doing to help sleep.

Same problem here with restless legs! I find the only the only thing that helps is to be physically tired so bounce on a gym ball, walk the dog in the evening, do some exercise.

I've not long ago come back from a walk, but because It's so cold I was only gone about 20 mins. Also, I've been indoors all day, so obviously like you said I'm not physically tired.

Nearly every night I'll get in to bed and my body suddenly goes 'right, time to stay awake' The legs go ten to the dozen, and I end up winding myself up in to a state

Is bouncing on a ball ok at this stage of my pregnancy?

I have restless legs too - especially in the evening. The only thing to relieve them is to go to bed and try to truly relax. Best to go early - before DH gets there so I can take up all the space I want to get properly comfortable. Sometimes I have taken to the spare room so I can toss and turn / get up all night without bothering him.

From my first pregnancy I recall being uncomfortable fairly early on. I think broken sleep is part of the trials and tribulations.

Have you put your long pillow between your legs? It kind of pulls your bump upwards a bit iyswim?

Yeah I've been doing that justlemonade, but in my head I'm still squashing baby. I think I need a new mattress as well. This one suddenly feels very hard

My friend was saying she used to sleep on her tummy until quite late on in her pregnancy, but surely that can't be good.

I feel massive at 16+2 and could not sleep on my tummy for fear of squashing baby too!

Maybe a stupid suggestion, but try to make sure that everything else is as comfortable as possible - eg your sheets fit well, your pjs aren't annoying, you're warm enough. Just that if you're finding sleep difficult, you don't want to be waking up for any reason other than the baby.

Honestly don't worry about squashing baby. Your body is clever and it wouldn't let you lie in a position that harms the fetus (third baby here, so not complete novice )
Unfortunately some form of sleep disruption affects practically every pregnant woman. It is true that the more you work yourself up, the harder it is to go to sleep so the key is to relax but that's easier said than done!
As I said the only thing that helps me is to be physically tired and if I can't fall asleep I tend to get up, go downstairs, pot around, go on MN, then try again. Usually mange to sleep fine afterwards.

I'm 16 weeks today, and also feel massive. Actually, from the side I could easy get away with being 5/6 months

I did attempt to lay on my tummy a few nights ago just to see what it felt like, and well baby was wriggling so I moved quick smart

I've just been digging around and have found some champneys pillow mist. My bedrooms going to smell like a harem tonight

And why is it, you seem to be able to sleep perfectly well in the morning, when you're meant to be getting up

I got really bad restless legs during the earlier stages of my pg - you'll be pleased to know it passed! - and found that a freezing cold shower just before bed worked absolute wonders

I have always suffered from RLS but nothing like what I got early on in my pregnancy. I can say it disappeared at about 18 weeks, thankfully, and I only get a twinge now and then which goes away fast.

During that time, I begged for answers too, and one of the things I read about was to stand on tiptoe and hold it for 5 seconds, doing it 5 times. Hold on to something if you need to.

I found it really worked. Have a try?

I got restless legs during both of my pregnancies and the only things that helped were marching round my frontroom in a clockwise direction (I know..?) and bouncing like a maniac on my ball. With both though I had to be really vigorous - I had to really stomp my feet or bounce as hard as I could. Good luck - its a bugger...

I've suffered with RLS all my life, in pregnancy it's unbearable.

I get my DP to stretch my legs, while im lying down, one at a time, footballer style, over my head. It helps, it really does.

Also try lying on your back, with your legs crossed as though your a child sat on the carpet at storytime - it stretches the hips.

When I was younger, I used to sleep with my legs up the wall.

It's weird because I've just woken from a nap and it didn't happen at all. Yet come tonight when I'm trying to settle, it'll be a different story

I've just brought a mattress topper in the hope it may help me, even if it's just a little bit.

Thank you for all your tips!

I hate that feeling.

See if you can borrow a boy toddler or a dog, if you don't already own either... I have the former and he bounces off the walls if I don't take him for a run each day. I burn off so much energy just keeping up with him generally that sleeping just isn't a problem this time! Zzzzzzzzz

I normally have a boy toddler during the week, but I'm on sick leave at the moment because of pains and sickness. Maybe I'll just go buy a dog

I am 34 weeks tomorrow and RLS has gradually been getting worse, although for me I think it's a bit of a vicious circle as it's worse when I'm tired but I'm tired because the RLS is keeping me awake!! Went out with friends last night and fell in to bed exhausted at 11.30pm....4 hours later I woke my hubby up with my pitiful sobbing because I was still awake because of my sodding legs! Off to bed now and am going to get hubby to massage my legs as a friend recommended this helped. Fingers crossed!

I;m awake, sodding legs and no one to massage me here

I'm awale too.... At 16 weeks I wasn't so bad but bloody hell am I making up for the restless legs now!

I have been poorly this week so not really been out of bed and I'm just not physically tired. Grrr!

Awake ^ even. Though I do sort of resemble a whale at the moment

I know what you mean. I'm meant to be on rest due to sickness and pains in my tummy, so even getting to sleep is no joke. Actually staying asleep seems quite something else. I've now told myself the longer I stay awake, the better chance I've got of being tired enough to close my eyes

My restless legs improved when i upped my salt intake by eating a pacj of cridps a day. No idea why it worked! Will look it up and get back.

Also sleep on side with pillow between legs..!? As well as with a wedge cushion under tummy supporting bump and another behind so dont roll backwards! No. there was no room for hubby! :-)

Thanks yummymummy, I'd be really pleased to hear what you have to say

Oh my word! Just realised how absolutely shocking my typing was above! That'll teach me to try and type on mobile with child hanging on one arm!!! Sorry!

In midst of sunday roast but on the case later!

Thank you

My mum seems to think me wearing tights to bed will help

I had/ have restless legs - midwife recommended drinking tonic water before bedtime - the quinine in it is a muscle relaxant (apparently). I also get my DH to firmly massage my lower legs, especially calves just after I've got into bed.