I am just getting to the stage in my pregnancy where I have outgrown clothes and have constant back and muscle aches. During the day I can move around but the second I lay down at night the aching in my back and muscles becomes even more prominent and there is not a single comfortable sleeping position for me. I spend most of my nights tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position, I am hoping that someone has some suggestions on sleeping positions or things I can do to get more sleep at night!
:) I found that 1/4-1/2 of a Tylenol P.M. + 2 great, soft, long body pillows (got mine at Costco) was very helpful for me. I had more of a struggle with a really dry nose! That just never went away until the baby was finally born! (with both of my pregnancies)
Good luck!
Brandi is right....I think it is preperation for when the baby is brought home and waking in the night, which I might add is not very nice if you ask me. The pillows and wdges are all good, but one other thing I would do was, get down on all fours like you are crawling and arch and release your back, sometimes I would lay on the edge of the couch and do the samething, it really helps stretch the muscles, I have even done it in the shower with the hot water hitting my back and hips, it isn't a cure it just helps a little.
I love Brandi's response because she said exactly what I was thinking as I read your request----Are you going to get comfortable? NO YOU'RE NOT! I am in my eighth month of my fourth pregnancy and I just got out of bed feeling like a turtle stuck on my back!
The pillows and leaning/spooning with husband suggestions can be helpful. I could barely walk in the last two months of my third baby and sometimes sat in our hot tub in the middle of the night just to get some relief---keeping in mind the temp of the hot tub was 98 degrees and no higher. I also think that getting a pregnancy massage every now and then will help---so if you have friends or family out there that want to get you something for the baby, have them get some gift certificates for massage.
Best wishes and Congratulations! No one can describe to you the journey to motherhood that you are going down and experiencing it is like no other experience you will ever have in your life.
Congratulations on the little one. A body pillow can be a life saver during (and after) pregnancy. I am also due in July and lately I've been leaning on my husband as well. Works for me. He would probably say different. :) This is my third, and I do think in many ways it is good prep for the lack of sleep that comes with the baby in arms. Another thought I did with my first a few times was sleep in the recliner. Also, slightly elevated helped last month when my baby was in the hospital. I slept very well in the hospital bed, knees and head a bit elevated. Enjoy the prep for your little blessing!
That is so exciting! Good luck! I just finished my fifth pregnancy--sleeplessness is pretty common, especially in late pregnancy. I suspect it prepares us for the sleepless nights that come with having a new baby. I would sleep on my side hugging a pillow and with another pillow between my thighs or knees to alleviate the back pain. The better you get at handling less sleep now, the happier you may be when the little one comes.
My best advice for new parents...do what YOU think is best instead of trying to follow everything everyone else tells you to do. Just pray and think things through and you'll be able to come up with the best solution for your child. Every child is so different!!
A body pillow was heaven in both of my pregnancies!!!!!! If you are achey see if you can take some Tylenol before bed, keep tums handy by the bedside but the body pillow by far was my saving grace to good sleep!!!
C.,
A warm bath might help but your muscles are stretching in ways they haven't before. It is painful and it doesn't get better. The reward is your little one and the adventure he will bring to your life. Babies don't come with directions. All the books in the world can give you suggestions but you will know your baby best. Just ask and someone will have been in your shoes.
C. B
To put it simply NO, it only gets worse the further along you get. I did find with my first pregnancy if I put one of those wedges under my pillow it helped with some of the discomfort. With my second pregnancy I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs to relieve pressure on my hips. You will probably just have to try differrent things. Good luck, but rember all the missed sleep will just have you prepared for when you bring that new baby home.
I am pregnant with my fourth baby and due in April. My last pregnancy I bought this maternity pillow:
http://www.amazon.com/Homevisions-Maternity-Pillow/dp/B00...
It is basically just two pillows on either side held together with fabric in the middle, so when you have to turn to the other side in the night there is no reajusting! It has some good and some not so good reviews...but I have LOVED it and it just makes my night. I also put a little pillow between my knees. I only have to wake up now when I need to pee every other hour!!!! Not because I'm in pain! Good luck!
Ditto what Brandi said. A pregnancy wedge will do wonders (support your back and belly) with a pillow between your knees. The only problem is if you want to turn over, you have to rearrange everything. But you're probably up to use the bathroom anyway. :-)
Congrats on the baby. Being a first time mom is so wonderful!
