Tossing and turning all night

[surreyhillsmumtobe]

I just wondered if anyone has any tips for getting comfortable at night other than lots of extra pillows etc? I'm 37+3 now and last night's sleep was worse than ever, must have been to the loo 5 times and was so restless. Thought things might be getting started as woke up with period type cramping and lower back ache but both have continued on and off all day so now thinking this could go on for some time! Keen to try anything to have a more restful night tonight!

no advice but I sympathise - am only 20wks and already finding it impossible to get comfortable at night, am dreading getting to your stage!

Although if the cramping is still going on, you might be in the very early stages of labour? in which case you definitely need to try to get some rest while you can!

I am with you, 38+2 here, dead and restless legs, uncomfortable bump, loo every hour. Finally got to sleep at 4am.

I can completely sympathise. I'm 27+2 and already i can't sleep. In the last week I seem to be falling apart with sore hips, back, knees and awful restless legs. My poor DH is a snuggler and the poor man can't get any sleep either as whenever I turn over I flatten him! Really hoping that it wont be like this all the way to the end!

Thanks ladies - I'm struggling to know whether the cramping/back ache means things might get going in the next few days or whether I should just ignore it as it might go on for weeks! Either way I just wish I could go to bed without the sense of dread I have knowing it will be uncomfortable and then just as I get comfy I'll need the loo. Feel so bad for DH as I toss and turn and then clamber back into bed after my loo trips trying to get the pillows back in position. I also find that when I get out of bed for these night-time wanderings I am so stiff, I have to do a comedy pregnant lady slow shuffle to get going...

I feel your pain, 36 weeks and waking up all the time for a wee! Found that I'm more comfortable without the extra pillows and just spent most of the time re-adjusting the bloody things! I'm still working so most annoying when I feel I could sleep for England in the mornings just not at night when I need to. Also getting the stiffening thing, get it at work to when I've been sitting at my desk too long.

And, the worst thing about night times is the aching down there.. I'm sure I can actually feel my bones being pulled apart - tmi I know but it's bloody painful!

I am getting to this stage of uncomfortable-ness at 35 weeks. My sister says reflexology is really good for a better nights sleep. Pricey I know, but I am planning it for my 37+ weeks treat once a week - and secretly hoping it will bring on labour too!!!

Hot bath before bed. X

I feel your pain! 37 weeks tomorrow and going through the same stuff. The comedy pregnant lady shuffle, the weeing, the aching and the dread of knowing you're going to have a crap night's sleep?

Do you wake up and just wish it to be morning? I used to love sleep and wish I had a few more hours in bed...now just finding night times the most frustrating thing ever.

Swear I'll punch the next person who says to me that it's just your body getting you ready for the sleepless nights with the baby!

Sorry, I have no help or advice to give but I very much sympathise. Best of luck with the final stint! So nearly there...

Going through it here too. Things that I've found have helped:

1. eating some protein just before bed. Stops you waking up with hunger.
2. doing some leg (hamstring/calf etc) stretches before lying down to stop cramps/restless legs.
3. listening to something very calming and trying to just let your mind go blank. I find if I lie there tossing and turning, I just get more angry and frustrated.
4. DH has a separate duvet, this means I don't wake him up and don't have to worry about waking him up when I'm spinning around.

Hope that helps!

Me too!

35 + 3, hugely uncomfortable and keep waking poor DH up. Also have a stinking cold (cheers DH) and an excruciating pain in my left hip which I've had for days and just won't go away.
Have been off work for 6 weeks due to an appendectomy, but am meant to be going back in the morning for the final 2.5 days before my mat leave! Actually don't know how I'll cope with so little sleep (its been days) and the hip pain!

Completely sympathise with dreading bed time, I just know I won't be able to sleep for more than an hour before waking up

Hope you're all drifting off by now..

See, now I'm worried 25 weeks and already my sleep is crap!! Finally kicked DH into the spare room to see if him not being here helped, but it didn't really, just gave me more room to toss and turn in! I was a stomach sleeper before, but wake up with my back in pain as I now twist it in whatever position I am in! I alreay have a million cushions and pillows.

I guess the walking dead zombie look will be in for the next 15 ish weeks!!!

Thanks for the tip. About getting rid of the extra cushion MrsRV, I tried it last night and actually slept a little better plus it made the loo trips a lot more straightforward!

I completely agree about dreading bedtime when I used to love my sleep and waking up in the night wishing it was morning.

Hope some of you ladies had better nights!

Don't know if everyone has already tried the spare duvet folded up and put underneath you for extra padding trick? It does help a bit.

I still sleep like crap though, SPD doesn't help. I wake up about once every 45 minutes to an hour and change sides/go and have a miniscule wee/sip of water/spoonful of Gaviscon.

I'm 29 weeks and this has been going on for a while - joy!

I'm 36 weeks and also got rid of all my pillows a few weeks ago. I found I slept much better without them just because it ment I could go to the toilet without having to spend ages trying to untangle myself from the damn things.

I also find I have to eat right before I go to sleep (a big bowl of muesli for me) or I wake up really hungry and I also try and avoid eating anything sugary or doing anything over brain stimulating such as watching tv, mucking about on the computer or reading just before bed.

Of course none of these helped at all last night when the baby seemed to spend the entire night kicking me in the side...ho hum..

This all sounds so familiar. 38 weeks today, and if I sleep on either side, the pain in my upper back is agonising. Keep failing and ending up on my back. No combination of pillows has helped yet. This morning I positively embraced getting up at 6.45 (despite now being on maternity leave) just so I could be comfortable! And I'm glad other people dread bedtime too!

I am 29 weeks and 4 days and I can symapthise. Baby is part turned so have his bottom on my left handside and head on the right hand side.

The only thing I find that helps in anyway at all is a little bit of you know what. DP just wants to go be bed and sleep xx

I am 29 weeks and in my last pregnancy at this time I could only sleep sitting up in a chair it was agony to lie down. Thankfully I havent got to that stage yet I have found it very useful this time to get an old cushion folded in half and sleep with it between my knees. It seems to keep my hips open and prevent the baby from lying on my bladder all night as a result I only get up once in the night an often sleep 10-7 quite well. I don't know if this will change as I get bigger but it is working for now so we will see.

Also, anyone else getting mega mega hot in the evenings before bed? Think that's half my prob of not being able to get to sleep!

Last night all of my awake time was spent thinking, ok, I'm ready, just let it all start happening now, please let my waters break tonight!!!

So it's 3.40 in the morning, and I have been awake since 2.30 and am now surfing M,N on my blackberry and feel I have read every post. BEen to loo, downed 2 glasses of water, taken gaviscon, shuffled and tossed endlessly. Have a toddler and a busy weekend ahead. So not amused....
Anyone else awake???

I'm awake too joygirl.... I'm 35 weeks and am so bloody uncomfy! Was looking on this thread for tips, going to try chucking all my extra pillows on the floor now :)

I'm only 12+4 and wake up at 4am each morning and struggle to get back to sleep...is that normal this early?! It's really doing my head in!!

I'm 37 weeks today and feel like my toddler is reminding me what it's like having a newborn again And the leg cramps have been awful too. He's normally a good sleeper but has been up so much tonight for some reason.

The insomnia is horrible. I don't remember it the last time round, but there is so much that's different in this pregnancy. I'm still working too so don't normally mind getting up early although 4am is too much when I don't start til 8 zzzz And now I'm rambling..... Off to attempt some more sleep

Is anyone really stiff when they get up in the middle of the night? Nearly 36 weeks here and so so stiff when I get up for a non existant or not worth it wee. Plus the hunger pangs are awful!

i wake up at 4am, this probably only works for me but i watch re runs of Qi in bed, within the hour I am snoring again. :) I love the show but their is somthing about stephen fry's comforting voice that sends me off...

i am 35 weeks and i know i toss and turn like crazy and always hurt like my so dakota his feet is always in my ribs and my back always hurting so i know everyones pain and it dont help that im having contractions