Getting desperate, cannot sleep through pain, please help!

[Bananapancakes6]

I'm almost 38w. I think its PGP. Sore hips, can't really walk far, can't lift one leg up or it feels like my pelvis might snap. I've spoken to my midwife and she's given me a list of things I shouldn't do (like sit on the floor, carry washing and carry heavy toddlers) all of which I do on a daily basis. Thats it.

Its the pain at night that is really getting to me, its affecting my sleep badly and because of this I am an emotional wreck. I actually feel very depressed and I hate how I'm feeling.

I get off to sleep ok because I'm exhausted, but after 3/4 hours I wake up with burning pain in my hip joint so I have to roll over to the other side (a mammoth task) then the same thing happens again 20/30 mins later and I have to roll over again. This continues for the entirety of the night until 7am when my toddler will come in and wake me up (he's actually a good sleeper thank god)

I've tried sleeping on a duvet, sleeping on a bed of pillows, sleeping with pillows between my legs, various pregnancy pillows. I've got a new mattress! new mattress topper... nothing helps.

I am so desperate to sleep well. Has anyone found anything at all that helps them?

P.s if anyone says this is preparing me for when the baby arrives I will actually kill them.

Have you been to a physio, osteopath or deep tissue masseuse?

Codeine. GP can prescribe, during my first pregnancy I was in absolute agony with sciatica and GP prescribed me 2 measly codeine a day, however it did mean I could sleep for a 4 hour chunk, then wake up, take the other tablet and sleep another 4 hour chunk. I couldn’t have functioned otherwise. It’s miserable isn’t it, I do feel for you

@Garman I haven't. I was just holding out on the hope that baby would be early and it would all be over soon but seems not. Tbh its probably not in my budget but I will look into it.

@BadgertheBodger I have some co-codamol in the cupboard. I'm reluctant to take it this close to the end unless I really have to... but perhaps I should.

Check out the pelvic partnership: really helpful advice and some recommendations for therapists if you do/can see someone. pelvicpartnership.org.uk/
Not long to go, hope it gets better when the baby arrives. But do make sure that you tell your midwives during the birth as it could potentially be made worse by certain positions.

I second getting Codeine prescribed too.. the 15mg strength will take the edge off. I suffered horrifically towards the end of my pregnancy and paracetemol wasn't touching it. X

Can you do the cat cow stretch when you are that pregnant? It helped me a lot, but I had the baby early so don’t know if it’s doable at 38w.

Another vote for codeine. You are so very near the end so it the risks are minimal. Your gp also wouldn’t prescribe it if it was unsafe

I had severe SPD from 19 weeks & was on crutches from 23 weeks. The only thing that helped was going to a chiropractor. I felt better after 1 treatment & could reduce my analgesia. After 3 treatments I was off my crutches completely. I'm now 35 weeks & while I still have pain & stiffness in the mornings or if I walk far I'm 100% better than I was.

Seconding the massage suggestion. Do you have a partner who can help? Even foot massage will do wonders.
My DH is very reluctant to do it for more than 3 minutes but has been getting better at it. A nice back massage of 5 minutes does wonders for me.

Ask your GP for the codeine OP.

I have bad SPD/PGP at the moment (I'm 38+3) and have been under women's physio since around 20 weeks. I've had this in 3 pregnancies so knew what it was when it reared its ugly head.

I have a support band (provided by physio) and crutches.

As you're so close to the end I wouldn't bother asking for a physio referral as baby will be here before you get an appointment. You could buy a band yourself online if desperate, it does help me.

Alternatively, see an osteopath if that's an option for you financially. I've known women who swear they've worked wonders for their PGP.

I found seeing a chiropractor helped wonders for me too. I went from being unable to walk more than a few steps, unable to lift my leg or stand on it to get dressed to being able to do all of that. Problem is.. its expensive and being so close to the end I'm not sure how much help it will give before Baby arrives.

..a tens machine on my lower back/almost bum targeted at the worst offending area helped massively but I had pain more on one side than the other. :)

Another vote for Codeine - I have PGP at 24 weeks, nowhere near as bad as yours sounds yet (really feel for you!) but my midwife told me Codeine is fine if taking sparingly, exact words were “I wouldn’t take it all the time every day as it can reduce movement, but it’s fine for those times when you just need something to help you get at least a bit of sleep or to help get you through a specific task.”

She did warn that some GPs can be difficult about prescribing it so great if you already have some!

@Bananapancakes6 😖 I feel your pain!! I had this with both previous pregnancies. Worse and earlier with the 2nd. I'm nearly 10 weeks with my 3rd and starting getting that familiar pain yesterday after sitting cross legged.. !

Physio for me wasnt that helpful, I'm sure theyve told you all the tips etc. I had to have a pillow under my bump, smaller one between my knees and sort of wedge myself in. Then when turning st night keep legs together and sort of throw yourself over to the other side.

Can you take naps during the day at all? Maybe just on the sofa?? Might be easier to get comfy.

I wish I had more words of wisdom for you, but I just really feel for you. Its like gps and midwives dont really understand how painful it really is. Mine just sort or shrugged it off as one of those things xx

Thanks everyone. I have a GP appointment at 3pm today to ask about getting some codeine, I'm ready to fight for it!

@Snoopy28x I do find napping on the sofa fine! I think its the sat up position. I take 2 naps a day, but its tricky with a 3yo. They don't like rest!

The weird thing is I can't sleep with a pillow under my bump, it hurts. I think because baby tends to turn almost transverse at night. It feels like I am squashing him.