I Need Help Sleeping!

Updated on September 26, 2007
L.S. asks from Sunnyvale, CA
14 answers

I am about 27 weeks pregnant for the first time and recently no matter what I do I cannot get comfortable to sleep well. My hips ache from side sleeping, primarily, and no amount of pillows seems to help. After I drag myself out of bed, walking undoes the worst of the aches during the day.

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had the same problem when I was pregnant. I did two things: slept on my fluffy couch or slept with a body pillow between my legs. Try stretching before you slept too. That made me fell better too. Congratulations & good luck!

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K.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Welcome to hell. Ha ha, sorry, I couldn't resist. This was the worst part of pregnancy for me. I ended up using two pillows between my knees, which helped a lot. We also got a much softer bed while I was pregnant that helped a lot - maybe try one of those memory foam mattress toppers. We got ours at Costco. Also taking Calcium/Magnesium supplements - the liquid form is more easily used by the body. Otherwise just consider the lack of sleep practice for having an infant and catch your naps when you can. Oh yeah - the recliner! We also borrowed one - actually a friend sort of forced it on me, I didn't want it, but then I slept in it well when I coudn't sleep otherwise, and it was wonderful for nursing and sleeping with baby too. One last thing - see a chiropractor if you haven't already. That really helped me too with sleeping and just being more comfortable in general, and helped keep my body ready for the baby to come. I also went to the chiro a few days after giving birth, and felt like a new person.

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R.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

The recliner chair worked for me too.

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J.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

i feel for you-my hips would hurt like hell!! especially towards the end.i could hardly move to turn over.i could hear my bones cracking and popping as i wld try to move over.it hurt so bad so i knw how u feel.the only thing that wld. help a bit was having like 10 pillows all around me for support.i wld even have to sleep on my back for a bit sometimes.sorry u r in pain but sadly its all apart of having a baby.not what u want to hear-sorry

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Im 36 weeks pregnant now and I sleep on thecouch. It is very soft and lets my hips sink in unlike our firm bed. I still use a small pillow between my knees and sleep on my side. If you don't have a soft sofa pad up your bed with a couple of comforters under you. Good luck......it only gets worse.

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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

You might try putting an eggcrate mattress on top of your bed. It makes everything a little softer and may conform to your curves better to support you. Just know it won't be forever!

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J.H.

answers from San Diego on

Hi there.

see if your doctor with let you take some tylenol pm. a friend of mine took it during her pregnancy, although i think she took it towards the end. she said it worked for her.

good luck!

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K.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

I remember those same aches and pains! I had my little one when I was 41!!! I ached at night, my hips especially because I had to sleep on my side. Nothing helped, I just had to survive thru it. It's part of the deal..... not to mention the acid reflux every night! I rarely slept well, and once I was home on maternity leave, before the birth, I napped a lot on the couch because it was easier to prop up and relax than in the bed. Good luck, I'm sure it wasn't much help, but wanted you to know you weren't the only one going thru it. Congrats on the pregnancy!!! Some things are certainly worth waiting for.
K.
Kellyis.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

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E.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

L.,

The last month of 2 of my pregnancies I spent sleeping in a recliner. I could not get comfortable in bed at that point and my tossing and turning was waking up my husband. One night out of desperation and exhaustion I sat down in the recliner, put my feet up and fell right to sleep. If you have one or if you could borrow one it might help. My last pregnancy I was much heavier (not good) and didn't have this problem. If you can't find a recliner use an insane amount of pillows around you, making sure there are some between your legs when side sleeping. A couple body pillows can help also. Possibly talk to your OB/GYN about this and see if they have any ideas.

Hope this helps,

Evelyn

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T.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yikes, don't take tylenol pm for heavens sake. I don't think you can take any night time type of medicine!!!

Try taking some CAL/MAG at night before bed- it helps greatly! Also be sure to take some CLO (Cod liver oil) during your pregnancy.

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D.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Congrats on your baby!
I am also a small 4'11'' wonder and had back/sleeping issues early in my pregnancy, I was able to take regular Tylonol right before bed. Also something what helped was to lean my back against my husbands back, it gave me just enough support and took some of the weight/strain off my back to help it relax.
Good luck!

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Here is one thing that I didn't see anyone suggest although many of them have great suggestions. Accupunture. I swear I never slept better then after or during a treatment. Loved, Loved, Loved it. You have to find a good one though. I went to several and found a eastern accupunturist. He really knew his stuff. Make sure they have experience with pregancy accupunture. I went 1 to 2 times a week.

I had my first son at 38 and there is alot to be said about having them when you are young. No one tells you how much your body will hurt before and after you have a child when your an older parent. I still have serious aches and pains and my son is almost 2! Keep seeking help and best of luck!

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Y.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

HI L.!
I am sorry that you are having a hard time sleeping. Have you thought about sleeping on the couch? That helped me at times since the pillow thing never worked. The stack was too high and still didn't make me comfortable.
Hope you feel better!
Y. Hatfield
Tastefully Simple Consultant
www.tastefullysimple.com/web/yhatfield

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S.C.

answers from Houston on

Hi L.,

Although I am not an advocate of taking anything while preganant, I was also advised to take benadryl at the end of pregnancy when I couldn't sleep. By my OBGYN of course, not by a friend. Talk to your own doctor to get professional advice. But tylenol pm is just acetametaphine with benadryl in it. Other methods mentioned are also great ideas...I had tremendous pain on both sides of my legs while trying to sleep as well (my upper thighs) and also the weight of my belly pulled so h*** o* my skin, pillows pillows pillows right? But my OBGYN did say that sleep is so important that if I wasn't sleeping the worst of two evils would be tylenol pm. Knocked me right out and i have an extremely healthy 95th percentile in height and weight since she was two months old consecutively and happy little 2 year old girl...

Hope you get some zzzzzz's, but it is good practice for when baby arrives :)

Take care, and best of luck!

S.

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