Problems sleeping- back pain

[user1484167681]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has any advice, please? I'm 22 weeks and have been struggling to sleep well recently; I tend to wake in the night once for a loo trip and I have lots of pain/discomfort in my lower back, so I take ages to get back to sleep. Then I tend to wake up around 5-6am and doze through til the alarm, aware that I'm not really asleep.

Sleeping on my left side, as I did before I got pregnant, and trying not to let the disturbed sleep bother me- I feel like letting it be a big deal will only make it worse. I work longish intense hours at a pressured office job, and need to be switched on for the next several months - and not exhausted all the time!

Any advice? Pregnancy pillow? Not sure what good it would do, as I don't feel like I'm stretching weirdly when I lie down?? A doctor friend suggested pain killers but I don't want to spend the next 4 months taking paracetamol every night... Some kind of stretches or something? I'm at a loss, but trying to ignore the problem so I don't get stressed and lose more sleep over it...!

Sleeping with a pillow under my knee fixed my lower back pain like magic. It was agonising before and now there's nothing.

I second the pillow between the knees. It really helped with my lower back pain.

I could've written this post! I'm 21 weeks and having exactly the same problem - also work in a fairly high pressure job so trying to keep on keeping on...

I'm sleeping mostly on my left side with a pillow between my knees/tucked up under my tummy but when I turn over in the night it's such a mission to move me AND the pillow I'm then totally disturbed and just fitfully doze...

Anyway not much use OP but you're not alone

I am the same at the moment and it's not just when I'm sleeping it's horrible. I got a pregnancy pillow which has helped a lot.

@Scarlett I found a cushion better than a pillow as it's smaller and lighter - I practically bring it with me in my sleep now, it didn't take too long to get used to. I had the same problems with a pillow, it was just too unwieldy!

Pillow or cushion between the knees and I also found one in the small of my back helpful.

However, lower back pain can often be the result of your pelvis moving around. At it's most severe, it leads to SPD, but even if you're not at the grating awful stage, it is painful and causes corresponding muscle and ligament strain which adds to the discomfort. If you can afford it, I highly recommend a chiropractor (look for one who has done extra training for pregnant women). If you're not comfortable, a good physio or osteo will be good too but you need to do your research and find one who works with pregnant women.

Thanks peachgreen I'll try a cushion instead...

I've analysed it a big more overnight & I think my problem is my hips more than my back - I've ordered a V pillow too now so I might try sleeping propped up

Thanks for your replies!

I tried sleeping with TWO pillows under my knee last night, and the additional boost did seem to help the pain... but I still slept terribly after my loo trip. I'll keep trying the two pillows (although goodness knows what DH will use when he's back- they're his two pillows...!). Now I just need a solution to the generic poor quality of sleep I'm getting after around 3am :(