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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Please help - dreading going to bed at night...

19 replies

bumperlicious · 20/05/2007 05:01

...because of the endless tossing and turning and strategic placing of pillows to find a position that doesn't ache like buggery.

I'm so fed up of not sleeping because of back/pelvis/sacroiliac pain. In the end I drive myself mad with the tossing and turning, no position helps the backaches, which eventually make me feel sick, then miserable throughout the day as I have barely slept, not to mention my poor husband kept awake all night with my huffing and puff and tossing and turning. I have tried v pillows in every which postion, pillows between my knees, under my bump, under my head, under my back, sleeping on an extra duvet, sleeping on my back, side, child's pose. Lavender pillows, sleeping on the sofa, DH sleeping in the spare room. Nothing is helping. It is getting to the point that I actually dread going to bed at night, knowing how frustrated I am going to get.

Now I am 35+5 weeks, and I am very aware that in a few weeks sleep will be a forgotten luxury while I am spending 15 out 24 hours breastfeeding and newborn. So please can someone help me before I am resigned to the fact that I will only be able to sleep sitting on my swiss ball or in a floatation tank, which I don't have. Help. I'm tired and nauseous.

OP posts:

stinkletsmum · 20/05/2007 06:07

Have you seen a physiotherapist re your back/pelvis/sacroiliac pain? They may be able to recommend some exercises to ease the pain.

You may be getting too big now to find a completely comfortable position. Maybe you could try and focus on relaxation/meditation techniques before you go to bed to get into a more relaxed frame of mind for sleep. I find visualisation techniques work well (I imagine myself on the beach on a sunlounger, warm sun making my eyelids heavy, the sound of waves lapping on the shore, lulling me to sleep).

Sorry, it's not really concrete advice.

Tinasan · 20/05/2007 06:07

Sorry you're having this particular problem - you sound like me about eight months ago! Couldn't sleep, had to literally crawl out of bed on all fours when I needed the loo because of the pain...I never found a solution unfortunately, other than it was slightly easier to sleep in the spare room as the mattress was firmer and the bed not as low. I assumed the pain would get better overnight once the baby was born. It didn't - I had completely wrecked my sacroiliac ligaments, and the first few weeks with DD were a real struggle as I could hardly walk. Sorry I can't offer any constructive advice, but I do really empathise! And you will be up at this time of the morning in the next few months - my 7 month old DD was up at 4.50 today - but I guess that is not going to make you feel better at the moment! Good luck and I hope you do manage to get some sleep soon...

Tinasan · 20/05/2007 06:11

Oh good idea Stinkletsmum - I didn't see a physio until after the birth, and it really helped. Would have been even better if I'd gone before the birth, but I just naively assumed that everyone had such bad back pain, and it would go away immediately after delivery....Do see a physio if you can because it could make a big difference...

flightattendant · 20/05/2007 06:14

Hey Bumper...sorry to hear this. It's horrid isn't it? Some of the American boards recommend a memory foam topper thingy, very pricey but they say it works.
I'm too cynical to think it's worth the dosh! but you never know...
37+1 here and have been up since 2.30 with similar issues...think this time it's pre-labour though! So don't despair...not long to go for you honey xx

Original poster

bumperlicious · 20/05/2007 06:46

Thanks guys. Flightattendant are you coming back to the June thread or did we scare you off?! Can't get a word in edgeways I imagine! Memory foam gives me the heebie-jeebies! I can't explain why!

I have seen a physio and an osteopath, which has helped my sacroiliac pain, but the back pain only seems to be a problem at night, or more recently when I sit for a long time. I also do antenatal yoga.

Tinesan, that was going to be by next question, surely it will stop when baby is born? maybe not - will have to keep my fingers crossed!

OP posts:

ChipButty · 20/05/2007 06:57

Sorry to hear this and I hope you find a solution soon. It's probably no help but when I was pregnant the only place I could get comfy was in a reclining chair (however, I did need a crane to lift me out!). Take care, CB x

flightattendant · 20/05/2007 07:13

Bumper I couldn't type fast enough, that is my sole reason. After ten minutes of cross posting with everyone, I was mentally and physically drained!!! But a lovely lot of people nonetheless, will continue to stalk...
I've heard that many people DO find much relief after the baby is born...pretty quickly too. I guess it's a case of wait and see!
xx FA.

charlie999 · 20/05/2007 10:14

Hi - I'm 36+4 and going through the same thing so can sympathise.....have you tried taking a couple of paracetamol about 30 minutes before bed - may help you get a few hours uninteruppted sleep - I do this when I am completely knackered and it does help - I would get nothing done all day otherwise.

I've just started my mat leave - so I'm hoping the extra rest helps as well

Zola78 · 20/05/2007 10:44

Try reflexology or/ and a pregnancy massage. Both these techniques may relieve some of your aches and pains ad they will also relax you. My friend swears by reflexology in pregnancy. It can be expensive but think of it as an investment

Tinasan · 20/05/2007 11:33

Bumperlicious, I assumed it would but if anything it was worse for a while after the birth - I had an epidural and apparently that didn't help matters. I was unable to walk or go outside with the baby for the first three weeks - could only get about by holding on to walls or crawling, and simple things like picking the baby out of the cradle in the middle of the night were extremely painful. I think the best thing to do is get an appointment with a good physio asap. That way you will hopefully not do anything to make the condition worse before the birth.

Best of luck with everything - baby will be here soon so it will get better!

mears · 20/05/2007 11:36

bumperlicious - go back to the physio again. There are various positions that are better in bed and perhaps if you highlight your particular pains she will advise something else that you haven't tried.

mears · 20/05/2007 11:39

have you seen this website - maybe help here?

Original poster

bumperlicious · 20/05/2007 13:13

Thanks mears. Actually the pelvis pain is just a small part of it, only when I walk or turn over in bed. What is bugging me so much at the moment is upper back pain, and I can't understand what is causing it, which is why it's so frustrating as I can't find a position to relive it. Thanks for all the advice though.

OP posts:

charlie999 · 20/05/2007 13:25

The upper back pain may be where your body is compensating for the lower back pain IYSWIM. I'm certainly going to see if I can find a physio or osteopath that is experienced in this sort of thing, as the though of going another 4 weeks like this doesn't bear thinking about. I feel like an old woman!

Good luck x

dyzzidi · 20/05/2007 13:26

OH poor you I remember crying one night i got so fed up near the end. I had cuppingvto relase toxins near the nerves. Acupuncture and physio.

My osteopath was very highly recommended and did various guest spots on Radio 2 and to be honest he was fantastic.

I had a c section and found afterward the pain did not go away for around 3 months. I still have pangs if i sit in one position or lie for too long and dd is 17 months old.

Of course i have also recently broken my tailbone so think it will be a while before i get any decent sleep.

CorrieDale · 20/05/2007 13:33

Perhaps try one of those Serola belts during the day? I've just ordered one for my SPD, but apparently it'll be good for my sacroiliac pain too. Have you tried hypnotherapy? When I get too restless, I put on my hypno tape and very often it sends me off (only for about 2 hours, but that's not bad).

rosylizzie · 20/05/2007 18:28

im really sufering with this too but as an old hand with pg insomnia though not with pelvic pain 9 getting it bad for first time in my 5th pregnancy, now 31 weeks) say nothing beats getting dh to sleep elsewhere, also nothing to eat or drink from 6 -7 onwards and if all else fails go to bed early yourself and get a few hours early on as i find sitting at night very uncomfortable then have a good stash of reading material for the early hours. im also using a belt for my pelvic pain which i got from an nhs physio which has really helped my daytime pain and hence helps sleep as i am not so uncomfortable at night.

maxbear · 20/05/2007 21:10

I can totally sympathise, I did not sleep well at all my whole pg and consequently felt dreadful all the time. I can honestly say that although I now have broken nights with 10week old ds from day one I have felt that I get more sleep than when pregnant. I bf lying down which is quite restful. Hope you enjoy your baby when it comes and do enjoy some more sleep soon.

WestCountryLass · 20/05/2007 21:15

Have you tried taking paracetamol for the pain if it is that bad?

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