34 weeks and sleep, or lack of it

[owltrousers]

Hello everyone :)

I'm 34+2 and up until now I've slept fairly well but suddenly I just find it impossible to get comfortable in bed no matter what combination of pillows I try out.

I think my problem is I get hip/back ache if I sleep on either side for too long so have to roll over, which in itself isn't so easy these days. I roll over and then wake myself and end up with acid reflux and have to get up to take a rennie or realise I need a wee and have to get up and go. I've also got a cold at the mo and keep getting blocked up and having to wake up and blow my nose AND we suddenly have mice in the attic so if I wake up and hear them scuttling about I can't stop listening out for it.

Basically no sleep.

I've tried a mattress topper for the hip/back pain but doesn't seem to help much, I don't have a pregnancy pillow because I am a shuffler normally and being wedged in one kind of freaks me out but I am considering getting one even though I only have 6-ish weeks left. Do you think it could be worth a try?

Annnny tips at all very much welcome. One good thing is I have now finished work so daytime naps are a blessing :)

Sorry I'm not going to be any help here! Just to say I really could of wrote this! 34+6 with Twins and the lack of sleep is awful! The pregnancy pillow really helped to begin with but I suffer with sciatica and have now found it is better without anything between my legs. Helps having something under bump to take some weight though. 17 days and counting lol!

I slept propped up (basically sitting) with loads of cushions when I was pregnant because it helped my acid reflux and also meant I could dash to the loo quicker (had severe morning sickness). Also, take zantac before bed to help with the acid if you don't already. Could you wear earplugs to help with the mice situation? If you don't have any other DC then absolutely maximise on daytime napping because when your baby arrives, you get very little sleep! I'm still exhausted with my 5 month old - up every hour last night!

I have a pregnancy pillow, and to be honest, it is making my hip pain a lot worse than when I sleep without it :(

It looks like you're trying everything op. You have my sympathy as you will go from lack of sleep due to pregnancy to lack of sleep due to newborn.

As others have said just make sure you nap little and often until your baby arrives.

I would get to the GP and ask for a prescription of something to help with the heartburn, that can be easily eliminated.

I do like my pregnancy pillow but you can recreate what you need with normal pillows. I put a pillow between my knees and that helps the hip pain.

I slept terribly in late pregnancy. No tips. Just sympathy. But I loved when mat leave started and I started having glorious naps through the day which helped.

Also, you are definitely allowed to punch the next person to say something about making the most of sleep as you won't sleep when the baby is here. I can assure you, you may have less opportunity to sleep, but it is blissful, restful sleep when you do!!

Thank you everyone.

I have made a GP appointment to get something for the heartburn, its such a pain.

I looked at pregnancy pillows this morning but decided against spending the £40.

Ah well!

Try eBay... hang on.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extra-Fill-9-Ft-Comfort-U-Pillow-Body-Back-Support-Nursing-Maternity-Pregnancy-/262825874593

I've got this one. It's pretty good. Arrived fairly quickly.

You might be pleasantly surprised at how much better the heartburn medicine makes you feel :) I didn't realise how much it was getting me down, until I didn't have it anymore!! In the meantime, you could buy some Zantac, which is a slightly weaker version of what they will probably prescribe - Ranitidine.

Are you sharing your bed with DH? I have moved to the spare bed when I really need some good sleep as it just gives me a little more space to stretch out.

Also, try Lush's sleepy body cream, many swear by it, and I have used it too, it has seemed to help.

You have all my sympathy!!!

I am so getting more and more of it. My legs really hurt at night (fine after I stand up and lie down again), and the hip is a killer.

Few more weeks to go!

OP could have written that myself!

Thank god you're ok leave now! That's all
I can say!

Have you fired a relaxing bedtime routine? Sorry I don't mean for that to sound patronising, but it really helped me. I have a warm bubble bath, ban phones/TV/tablet an hour before bed, have all my lotions on and self massage at night (lavender creams and bio oil for the bump) and read a book in bed with warm milky drink.

Also only go to bed on a night once you actually feel very tired. If not the longer you are in bed the long you will turn over and over and more uncomfortable you will get.