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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Ache in hips/buttocks on whichever side I sleep - anyone else?

22 replies

Museli · 17/12/2008 16:30

Am now 36 weeks, but this has been going on for a couple of months now. It is is sooo uncomfortable, and the longer the pregnancy goes on, the more intense the ache and the shorter the amount of time I can sleep on one side before having to turn over to 'balance' the pain. Does anyone else suffer from this?

I don't get any shooting pains down the leg, or lower back, or in pelvis, and assume it's not sciatica.

OP posts:

thumbElf · 17/12/2008 16:34

I had this - the memory of it lives on despite DS being 1 now! It felt like pressure pain into the hip joint, plus an almost cramping pain in the buttock.

The only cure I found was sleeping on my sofa (softer than the bed) on top of 2 folded duvets to make it even more squashy - I tried this on the bed but it wasn't as good, I think because on the sofa I had the back of it as back support as well.

So there you go - sleep on squashy soft layers on the sofa so you can get your back against the sofa back - it worked for me anyway!

Neeerly3 · 17/12/2008 16:36

could be PGP - Pelvic Girdle Pain, talk to your midwife, i get this if I sit in one position too long, say on the sofa with my legs out straight in front of me, have to be bent or have a cushion wedged under my knees (I am only 30 weeks).

try a pillow between your knees when in bed, and also try folding a spare duvet in half and lying it on your side of the bed, makes for a squishier surface and one your hips can sink into....

thumbElf · 17/12/2008 16:39

oh yes, don't be tempted to get one of those memory foam topper jobs - tried that, didn't work.

I forgot to add I had a pillow between my knees and a flatter one under my bump as well on the sofa - didn't help much in the bed.

NotQuiteCockney · 17/12/2008 16:42

I used to lie on one side, with the top knee bent, and resting on a doubled-up nursing pillow. This worked very very well.

mrsfossil · 17/12/2008 16:55

Yes i'm experiencing this now and i'm 24 weeks . Hips go completly dead then ache. Some nights seem to be worse than others. I'm think i'm going to get out a foam materess we use for guests as its more squashy. I remember having it with ds1. On the plus side i've only had 1 agonising leg cramp so far

Podrick · 17/12/2008 17:06

Sounds like a sacro iliac problem to me - wearing a support belt designed for this would probably help - basically a broad elastic belt around your hips to hold it all together...even in bed.

elibumbum · 17/12/2008 18:35

I've got this and it is ruddy painful. Saw a physio earlier in the pregnancy which helped a bit but chiropractor has helped the most.

Chiropractor has basically said that my buttock muscles are working to compensate for my relaxed ligaments. He does something to the muscles to rid them of the tightness and has shown DH how to do it now because he says at this stage of my pregnancy I could be needing this every couple of days (and that would be v. expensive for him to do it).

I get the hip pain because of sleeping on my side too. I had it in my last pg (without the buttock pain)too. Some nights are worse than others. I find a duvet under me plus supportive pillows between my knees and under my bump help on good nights but nothing seems to work on bad nights.

Looking forward to being able to sleep on my back again in a few weeks time!

pushchair · 17/12/2008 18:40

I got this and it got worse though each [3] pg. Slept on a triple folded duvet with a pillow between knees and one between ankles. Horrible.

MarkTheHeraldAngelsStretch · 17/12/2008 18:46

I've got this too.

It's bloody sore, I've been sleeping with a pillow between my knees but turning over is uncomfortable in itself!

[beached whale]

Littlemisskiwi · 17/12/2008 20:37

I'm 27 weeks, first baby and have this pain too.
I can get away wih sleeping on my back some nihts with a pillow under my knees and it seems to help but I know I can't do that much longer. I'll try out the folded douvet to lie on.
Do your inner thigh muscles hurt too?

How did this effect actually giving birth?

Is it SPD?

littleboyblue · 17/12/2008 20:38

SPD
Have just been looking at this myself to explain aces and pains. Hope it helps

xxhunnyxx · 17/12/2008 22:28

Sounds like u might have a bit of sciatica, I get this but also get shooting pains down my bum/leg with it. If it is sciatica u can get acupunture free on the NHS when ur pg, it basically reduces the inflimation around your lower back which should help. Might be worth asking your midwife?

alittleteapot · 17/12/2008 23:02

I had this when pg. i ended up sleeping on a folded duvet on top of a sheepskin. this made a big difference.

KT1983 · 18/12/2008 10:19

Ive got this too - 32weeks now & its been going on since about 20weeks. It only takes half hour or so before one side goes numb. Just means im tossing & turning all night as well as the hundred trips up & down to the loo at night...

Oh the joys of pregnancy

Gemzooks · 18/12/2008 11:57

I am 26 weeks and totally have the same. Don't want to sleep on my back in case it encourages the baby to be back to back like my last one. Had it in last preg too. The only cure I think is just not being pregnant any more!

Littlemisskiwi · 19/12/2008 01:44

Hi again

I tried the folded douvet last night and that softened things a bit.

I saw a different osteopath today. She reckons my uterus is slightly pulled to the right which is causing my left side to counter strain, causing inbalance in my pelvis and hips - very interesting at lest it is not SPD - I can't imagine how much that hurts as thisis badenough. My inner thigh ache has already reduced since this morning. Hoping this latest osteo visit will really help.

This combined with continued morning sickness at 28 weeks is getting me down. This better be an adorable baby!

God luck and sympathy to you all

Clarabumps · 19/12/2008 03:31

me too... i'm 33 weeks and it has just started. Hnece the reason i'm on here at three in the morning. That combined with dp snoring is enough to drive a woman to murder!!

another ovaltine for me while i pace.... grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Pinkmarshmallow · 19/12/2008 09:02

You all have my sympathies too. Have PGP and got physio for misaligned pelvis. Also using extra duvet to sleep on top of but still wake up countless times in the night with aching back, hips, buttocks, thighs and all down my legs. Don't know if this is related to the PGP or just another symptom?

Original poster

Museli · 19/12/2008 10:19

Thanks for all the feedback! I feel strangely comforted to think I'm not the only one! For me, it's just as thumbElf describes, and I don't think mine is SPD or sciatica. Had awful night the other night - even reliable sofa couldn't help. However, tried sleeping on duvet (folded over several times) last night and this was better - only woke up to turn over every 2 hrs as opposed to 2 minutes!

OP posts:

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 19/12/2008 10:21

Oh I had this in all 3 pregnancies. Utterly horrendous isn't it? It does go away after the birth though I think it's the extra weight and sheer lack of mobility as much as anything else.

sjcmum · 19/12/2008 13:32

Me too.... I've had this in both pregnancies. Agree with Podrick - definitely sounds like Sacro-iliac thing. That's that joint at the back of your pelvis. SPD symptoms are more round the front. If you can, can definitely recommend that worth seeing a chiropractor. For the week or so after seeing one I had no pain (then fell over jarred my hip and it started again.....)

Alternatively, a good stretch to do is sit on the floor, with your knees bent in front of you. Then rest one ankle on your other knee if that makes sense, and take the foot of that leg off the ground, so you are kind of balancing on your bum. Support yourself, by clasping your hands on the lower leg.

Sitting on a birthing ball instead of a sofa, doing some yoga, or having a good massage all help too.

good luck!

ranirani · 19/12/2008 18:24

i have it too, have had it for the last 2 months at least (I am 32 weeks PG today). My solution was to buy a new bed with a new matress, really soft one, the one you sink in totally, plus I put 2 duck down duvets on top, AND dream genii. I also have developed my own way of turning from one side to another. With SPD I have read you need to turn keeping your knees pressed together. This did not help me but made the pain worse. What makes it easier for me to move top leg (open it up) ( I sleep on the side) and then move another leg along.Also whilst oi sleep i stretch my leg sideways forward and rotate the ancles. Sounds quite complicated, but it works. I also have scitica on top of all that. Yoga did not help with scitica, extra stretching made it so much worse so i could not get up from the sofa without crying, BUT massage helped, ayurvedic massage that i get once a week for half an hour on my lower body half.
Sorry for the long post, but I thought it is good to share positive experience. When I sked my MW about this pain, she just ignored me and said this is one of the joys of being PG. No help or advise whatsoever.....

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