Those of you who use those long, pregnancy pillow thingies...tell me where I'm going wrong?

[maldivemoment]

Ok, so I have one of those long, body length pillows that people seem to rate highly towards the end of pregnancy. Well, I'm at the end stage (37 weeks) and for the life of me I just don't get how people sleep with them. The insomnia and getting up every 2 hours to pee is SERIOUSLY getting on my nerves now so I thought I'd give the pillow a try. If anything I'm sleeping worse!
So, if I kind of hug it, if you see what I mean, and put the bottom half between my legs, how does anyone possibly turn over? I feel like I'm wrestling a crocodile!!!! Perhaps it's just me being a restless sleeper?

Does anyone have ANY tips on how I get to grips with this thing in order to help me sleep? All advice gratefully received...

Thanks

I sleep on my left side so don't tend to roll. Or if I do I don't notice.

I sleep with my head on one end, clutch the bottom between my legs, or my leg up and over the top which lifts my bump up from the mattress. And hug the middle bit. My wedge pillow goes behind me to support my back.

don't just hug it, middle bit under the bump.

I loved mine. I also tried mainly to sleep on my left side. It was nigh on impossible to turn over anyway, as I recall.

So - lie on your side, head on one end of pillow. Other end between your knees, and tuck the middle bit under your bump.

I don't think there is a comfortable way to sleep past about 33 weeks pg, is there?

Funnily enough, DH still calls the long pillow the 'crocodile'...

l have a v shaped pillow and l sleep on both sides so sometimes l hug it but mainly its behind me,l am abit of a wriggle about so l think it helps me not move about so much.which helps me sleep better.

I call my pillow 'my other man'

It's the only thing I'm getting my leg over now

I gave up using my long pillow as it was intended and used normal pillows in a row (about 8 of them). However, I used my long pillow as a back/neck support though. I put the middle bit under my head, and then one end behind my back and the other end I cuddled up to (as DH had moved into the spare room!). Worked a treat for my backache!

I had two, slept between them like a nest...

Thank you ladies!

I'm obviously making a few mistakes. I'm using it alongside normal pillows. So my head is on pillow as usual then 'the crocodile' i put just under my chin. What you're saying is I should use this as the pillow for my head too?

Currently on laptop in bed so I'm off to try out a few new moves with this pillow!!! I will not be beaten...

Thank you all so much.

I really struggled with one of those snake pillow things, I felt they kept me too still and I woke up with some appalling headaches. I ended up using a standard v pillow which was much better as it supported my bump but it let me move around.

Are you ladies planning on using yours to support baby during breast feeding afterwards?

There's loads of different kinds...maybe you just need a different shaped one?

I was going to get the Dream Geni because it did look amazing.

But I got the Snoogle and it is AMAZING. All back ache from the night has gone, I get wedged in during the night so can't turn and you can have it so the long bit is supporting your back and the curved bits to wedge in your bump, or the other way around. It's like sleeping in a pod!

I got the ten quid version from lidl....

I got that one too! Major fail during pregnancy - I just put a normal pillow beween my knees in the end - but I'm now using it as a vshaped pillow behind me as a backrest in bed for feeding, and to put DD on when feeding in a chair.

I got the Big V that sells in John Lewis for £45, but got it half price second hand. I do find it very hard to get comfy at all at 35 weeks, but the pillow does help to keep my legs at the right distance apart (I have pelvic girdle pain, luckily not very badly). Turning isn't much fun and I do have to sleep on both sides (mainly on my right), I use the pillow for my bump and legs as I'm v tall and it wouldn't reach my head as well. Although this one is called Big V it will squish out to a long straight line as well and I will use it like that to dam up the tiny space between bed and wall so I can co-sleep safely with the newborn when s/he arrives.

I have the Theraline one which I love and for what it's worth my technique is to use a normal pillow for my head but have it tucked under my whole body from boobs down, it goes between my thighs and keeps my hips and legs in a straight line all the way down to my feet. That's the only thing that eases my nightly hip-ache. Sort of tuck it under the bump as well and it stops that sort of pulling feeling in the lower back.

I don't think there's an answer to the question of turning over with it though - you just have to wake up and resettle yourself the other way!

"Wrestling a crocodile" just cracked me up!!

That's exactly what it feels like. I've sort of got used to mine but can't remember the last time I slept through the night (and if one more smug parent tells me it's just "nature's way of preparing me for sleepless nights" I might throw something at them).

I keep the bottom bit between my knees, the middle bit under the bump and the top bit between my boobs. It usually takes me about five minutes of wriggling and grunting before I'm comfy though...

I'm only 22 weeks but was getting quite bad hip pain. Someone suggested getting a pillow thing so I got the big mothercare one. Haven't used it much as I don't think bump was big enough at time to benefit but think will need it soon. I find the V / boomerang shaped ones between my knees are a godsend and stop me getting hip pain - if I kick it out accidentally in the night I will be sore in morning, if it's still there at dawn I'll be fine. Easy to roll over with too.

The big Mothercare one proved useful a few nights when I had awful heartburn (no more Indian food for me this side of birth! :o) and folded it like a mattress booster to raise my torso up in bed :)

I don't know how people stay on one side all night - that would really hurt me

Snoogle looks good!

Can't stop laughing about wrestling a crocodile!! That is exactly how it feels!!

I have somehow mastered how to roll my massive 35 weeks pg body over, whilst still keeping the croc in the right place between my legs and ankles...how's that for a talent!

Nice to know I'm not alone in not getting to grips with these pillows. Perhaps should have stated that mine is not a fancy-pants, cocoon shaped thing - just your basic body length pillow - think long sausage! Maybe a shaped one would be better? Do they come in green with lots of teeth painted at one end????

How ironic that after last nights post I had possibly the worst sleep EVER!!!

Will keep watching for more tips. Thank you all.