How do you sleep???

I am currently 30w5d pregnant with my first child, a son. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next 9 wks. Sleeping has become a nightmare.
I try and sleep on my side as much as possible, with a fortress of pillows around me to lean on but it's not helping much.
When I sleep on my side, my hip bone feels like it is chiseling it's way out of my skin. It's horrible pain. I know you aren't supposed to sleep on your back and I try not to but sometimes I still find myself leaning on it and he doesn't want to move when I do sleep on my back. Whatta you think??

[rubyolivia]

OH MY GOSH! I am 17 weeks and I find it impossible to sleep!! I don't know how I'll manage when I'm as far as you! I don't really have an answer or any help for you......just can relate and sympathize! :)

[rae5040]

I'm sorry you are goin through this already. What helped me when I was about that far along was shoving a pillow underneath of my back and leaning on it. It helped with the back pain and when I would shove another under my belly for stability, it took some of the weight and pain off my hips also.
I wish you luck. Maybe there will be a pro on here that can give us both some information

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Hang in there, it will be over soon.

I really found swimming and sitting on a yoga ball helped with the hip pain.  If you keep the pressure off as much as possible in the day, your nights may be better.

This time around I have back pain, and the yoga ball is proving to be a dear friend.

I hope these last few weeks fly by for you.

[hawki]

I have that same hip pain too, except I do swim...I'll try the yoga ball too.  I am only 14 weeks, but I've sort of always had that feeling when I sleep on my side (I'm a runner and played comptetive tennis all my life, including D1 college- so all the training took it's toll).  I used to have a body pillow that helped immensely, and now I just use a regular pillow....that definitely doesn't work as well.  I had been waiting for a shower to get the huge pregnancy pillow, but I may break down and go get it myself.  I just found a regular pillow to be too flat and not supportive enough...actually since I've been using the same pillow for weeks now, it has gotten even flatter.  I'd do body or pregnancy pillow thing and stretch the hips frequently.  As you know, your joints get looser when you're pregnant, so that explains it.  I was running yesterday and my knees and hips felt like that while running...I now know it's going to be a long and painful 26 more weeks:)  But sooooo worth it!!!  Best wishes and hope you all feel better soon.

[ImmortalOne]

I'm 17w 2d and I still sleep on my back (or on right, or left sides).  I have to change my position often when I sleep because of my shoulders and arms/hands will fall asleep.  Not sure how I'm going to handle the later weeks!

[Wooly25]

I am almost 36 weeks, an I used to be able to sleep like 12 hours straight and not wake up once, lol not anymore.  I wake up about 20 times a night if not to pee, then to roll over, I feel like a hippo.  I use a body pillow tuck the bottom between my legs, and the top I hug.  I also have a memory foam mattress pad from walmart, we have a king sized bed, and it's a queen so I just fold it over on my side and it kind of cradles my hips.  Good luck

[lhfoo]

I am 31 wks 2 days and the only resolve is to sleep on my back. I have a kingsize bed also but (hussy sleeps like he is pregnant too) so it get's really uncomfortable. I sleep on 5 pillows but prop them so I am comfortable and can actually get up to use the bathroom and go back to sleep with ease. I started this about 2 weeks ago when the hips started hurting really bad. It is working and hopefully it works for the next 9 weeks. If it gets uncomfortable I don't know what I will do.

[LisaLuke]

I think it's okay to sleep on your back as long as you are propped up and not lying flat.  I read that there's two major arteries that run along the right side of your spine so i guess if you lean more on your left side you won't squash them.  I'm 32 weeks and i tried to sleep propped up on my back but the baby just presses on my spine.  I can really sympathise with you i'm starting to feel so tired now, what with the non stop toilet trips and trying to get comfortable.  I find just a pillow between my knees helps :)

[Mozartcowgirl]

whats sleep? i have no idea what you are talking about.. is it something you eat?? something you feel ? hmm sleep.. lets see here.... i kind of can recall something about lying down.. then you wake up.. then you feel alot better.  wow.. i will have to do some more research on it online.. because I just cant come up with a concrete answer for you..lol.

seriously.. i cant sleep anymore either.. i get these weird sensations now... like im falling.. then i wake up all the sudden.. i slept a total of 2 hours last night..

im sure you all know who this is..lol.. so i wont even bother telling you guys how far along i am ...lol. or how frustrated i am ..lol

anyone else have the problem where the baby seems so heavy inside you that he no longer floats.. and the whatever position you are in when you do try to sleep... the baby just migrates to that side? and then.. you are in even more pain than before? what about weird sensations? how about dreams..
uugghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[LisaLuke]

I definately know what you mean with the dreams.  I've been having so many really vivid dreams, i keep dreaming about sex and my husband is getting jealous lol.

That is the heavy feeling i meant, where it feels like he isn't floating any more.  I think my bladder is being used as a pillow lol :)

[Wooly25]

I just love the feeling that you get when you are on your  side and you seem to be laying on a leg or something because something sharp is digging in to your side. lol  I had a dr. app. today and just a little bit thinned out but no dialation.  I have a ultrasound on friday to determine how big she is and if he is going to take her early or not.  

[mum2beagain]

My midwife told me it was fine to sleep on my back so long as I propped my self with a small pillow under one side of my bottom to tilt me slightly, I did this and slept like this for practically all of my pregnancy, I have a very healthy 10 week old baby now!

[Wooly25]

I just remembered a few pregnant women telling me that the last few month they slept in a recliner, because of the pressure and not being able to get comfortable.  Just a idea if you have one, maybe try it for a night (a night when your not going to have to work the next day) that way if it doesn't work, you won't be exhusted anymore then normal.