Bad back constantly waking me up.....

[NinaJames]

Argh... 3rd night in a row a bad back has woken
me up - before then it's been intermittentt since around 17 weeks. I'm only 19 +6 - surly it's too early to be pregnancy related?!!! I am hardly even showing so cannot be bump related!!! I don't remember this with my daughter (and my 10year younger back 😳). It also only happens at night and back seems fine in the day!!!

Anyway, I wonder if anyone has experienced similar and can share any tips?!! I don't want to keep taking paracetamol everytime I wake in the night (which does help). I don't feel like I can text my midwife and when I went to call GP last week I was number 43 in the que so figured other people's queries were likely more urgent so hung up (which I am now regretting at 2:25am 🥱🥱)

Thanks in advance for any advice!!!!

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MNHQ Update
Fed up of waking with back pain? Our guide to the best mattress for back pain is up to date with a wide range of tried and tested options. We hope it’s helpful!

Definitely speak to your midwife/gp if you feel you need to. Your pain is just as important as anyone else's issues.
In the mean time could you try a hot water bottle/wheat bag? I took one to bed every night when I was pregnant.

@Feelingpoorlysick

Definitely speak to your midwife/gp if you feel you need to. Your pain is just as important as anyone else's issues. In the mean time could you try a hot water bottle/wheat bag? I took one to bed every night when I was pregnant.

Thanks for your reply.

I will be calling GP first thing Monday as it's really getting to me not being able to sleep! Especially when I have to work the next day!

I have been using a heat pad and it does ease some of the pain - just not enough to let me drift off.

Part of me wonders if it's how I lay - I can't lie directly on my sides as get bad ligament pains in my ovary area. Argh just really struggling to tolerate this though!!

Please tell me your back pain went after birth?!!!!

I'm at the same stage of pregnancy as you and my lower back is killing me. I'm pretty sure it's pregnancy related, I wouldn't be surprised if yours is too if you're experiencing bad ligament pain. That said, you should still feel able to call your midwife if you need to. I use a hot water bottle and paracetamol as needed for pain. Both safe pain relief :)

I’d agree about talking to your GP. And give some consideration to exactly where the pain is and whether you can alleviate it at all by moving.

Outside of pregnancy I’ve misdiagnosed indigestion pain for backache where reducing the amount of fat I ate in the evening helped , and in pregnancy I had epigastric pain (radiating from the middle of my back to my shoulders) which turned out to be HELLP syndrome. It took a while to diagnose HELLP but it was done through blood tests when I was in so much continuous achy pain that I couldn’t sleep and had to go to hospital.

I’m not intending to alarm you, but wanted to raise that what feels like backache isn’t always backache.

Mine kicked in at 28 weeks. I sleep with a U shaped pregnancy pillow, and have to vary between cold patches and Tiger Balm. My DH is also very good and will offer a massage in the middle of the night!

Hi all
I started to experience this at 20 weeks (am now 22 wks) I have bought a back insert for my office chair and also a pregnancy pillow. They help a bit. I have a midwife appointment the week after next so will ask if there’s any further advice or exercises I can do. My friend advised me to do Pilates but as I don’t usually do Pilates I’d like to chat with my midwife before starting a new form of exercise mid way through pregnancy.

I wouldn’t recommend speaking to the gp. Nothing he/she can do. Try seeing a physio or chiro if you can. It’s been helping me loads. I’m 28 weeks and wish I’d seen one earlier. It’s also not too early to use a gym ball my chiro said. Just to do pelvic exercises and to help with posture. Good luck!

Oh also got told by consultant that back sleeping is ok until 27 weeks!

I had awful back pain from around 8 weeks with my 3rd. Just everything loosening up.

I had awful backaches at nighttime only with our second - finally figured out the mattress was knackered! Once we replaced it, the backaches went. Other pregnancy aches and pains remained (gosh what fun!) but just wanted to say that it's not always a medical issue 😊

@Rosiiiiie

Oh also got told by consultant that back sleeping is ok until 27 weeks!

Thank goodness - it's the only position I can sleep in at the minute!!!! Do the round ligament pains ease later on in pregnancy?!!!

@SpinningTheMoon

I had awful backaches at nighttime only with our second - finally figured out the mattress was knackered! Once we replaced it, the backaches went. Other pregnancy aches and pains remained (gosh what fun!) but just wanted to say that it's not always a medical issue 😊

Thanks - matteress isn't too old but is quite firm so have just invested in a matteress topper!!!!

@sasbiscuit

Mine kicked in at 28 weeks. I sleep with a U shaped pregnancy pillow, and have to vary between cold patches and Tiger Balm. My DH is also very good and will offer a massage in the middle of the night!

My OH is also good like this - but when he went to get me a heat pad the at 2:40am he accidentally launched my drink into my plugs 🤣🤣 which promptly tripped the power and the started popping when we turned back on so not sure he wants me to wake him in future 😅😅

I’m still getting ligament pain and getting increasingly uncomfortable so I’d recommend you find a physio to start helping now 😬

Have you tired sleeping with a pillow in-between your legs (knees to ankles) I found it really helped, still sleep like it now due to a bad back, I had a big u shaped pillow one side to support my back the other side in between legs and support the bump

Your pelvis is moving and relaxin will be helping things move even if you don't have much of a bump yet. Gp will be useless, pillows for support at night and see an osteopath, physio or masseuse. Stretches and swimming would help too

If you are sleeping on your back try a pillow under your knees it was the only thing I found that helped. I still have to do it if we stay at a hotel (only my bed is comfortable)

I’m using a breastfeeding pillow between my legs as it’s really firm.

@NinaJames amazing

Oh I can also highly recommend weekly sports massages!