~~~~OPEN FORUM TUESDAY~~~~ AND SLEEP QUESTION

[Kassimom]

HELP!!!!! I can't sleep!!!

I am only 30 wks and already I have reached that "I can't take this anymore" point! My belly feels as if it gets any bigger I will split in two.

Anyway, here's my problem...I am having acid reflux so badly that I can't lay down, so last night I finally was able to get somewhat comfortable sitting up in bed and was able to fall asleep this way. First question, does anybody have any suggestions for a more comfortable solution to reflux than sleeping sitting up?

Next question, I know I am not supposed to lay on my bakc at this point. But I wake up sometimes on my back. Is this a problem? I find it difficult to fall back to sleep thinking I have somehow injured the baby or depleted his oxygen by sleeping wrong!!

[Still a mom]

I read somewhere that although sleeping on your side is best for the baby, you would have to sleep the whole night on your back to really effect the baby. The doctor said that if you wake up from time to time on your back not to worry and just go to sleep on your side. You are bound to roll onto your back at one time or another. It did say though that by wedging a pillow behind your back you are more likely to say on your side.
Mandi

[Emma1]

AMEN!!!! If you find a solution for this, please let me know! I felt bad for already feeling like I couldn't do this anymore! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I told DH last night that I'm just wore out! Carrigan is sitting so low that when I sit down, I can actually feel her, like she is sitting in my lap! I guess the only good thing about that is I may not have far to push her out!

I really ope they will induce me at 38 weeks! Who knows, we may have our little ones on the same day. How cool! We've shared everything else at the same time this whole pregnancy, so why not that!

How was your shower?

[Still a mom]

Is it normal to have pain that feels like someone is poking a needle into your nipple? I have been having a little leakage so I thought maybe it is just my breasts warming up for breastfeeding, but man it really hurts sometimes. And then Dh gets upset if I tell him to keep his hands off.
Mandi

[karen23]

Regarding sleeping on your back, the main issue is really with the mother - the pressure from your uterus on your vena cava can produce a drop in blood pressure in the mother and make you dizzy and eventually pass out.  Obviously this would affect the baby eventually, but the not sleeping on the back is for the mother's sake.  This isn't seen usually until the third trimester, although I have had it since mid second trimester - it happened to me at the dentist.  You will feel symptoms if you are doing any harm, I suppose is my point.  I think if you wake up on your back and your are feeling fine, you shouldn't worry - just change positions!

I can't sleep either.  I am 33 weeks and can only stay asleep for about 2 hours at a time!  I am ready to give birth now!!!! Maybe it's nature's way of getting us ready to stay awake most of the night with our newborns.

[Kassimom]

That's me too Karen. I can't sleep for more than 2 hour stretches. I wake up having to potty. Not only that but every teeny sound wakes me. And on nights when I have had a particularly hard time tryign to sleep, I try to lay down in the morning to get at least a one hour nap, bu tno such luck. I just lay there just as uncomfortable.

Don't feel bad Emma1! But I know what you mean. I was feeling so horrid last night for being ready to be done! I sat up in bed and just bawled. I was just sitting there hoping that my water would break or something so I could go to the hospital and get an epidural so I could sleep!!! Then I felt bad for wanting the baby to be born before he was ready!

And OMG I am so with you on the baby in the lap! I have to sit with my legs wide apart! Well, we discuss section date in a couple of weeks. Right now it's the 19th but now the Dr is saying as soon as the 17th. And with the u/s I am praying that the baby still measures a week ahead and he will move that date up even further by a few days!

[andileigh]

Ok so a few different issues.  First, my husband all of a sudden seems to want to have sex EVERY SINGLE DAY.  A year ago I wouldn't have thought that this would have been something I would think was a problem but dang it i'm worn out.

Also, I am 18 weeks pregnant today...all of a sudden it feels as though my belly button is going to pop out like a turkey timer.  Anyone else experienced this?

Other than that I'm feeling pretty good, even starting to get some of that second trimester energy I kept hearing about.  HOpe all is well with you all

Andi

[Kassimom]

andileigh-Yep! My belly button popped out about then too. Not all the way out, but if I breathed differently or moved somehow, I couldmake it pop out. My DH thinks this is gross! LOL

All-My neighbor is pregnant!! I am so excited for her! She has a 3 yr old DD and has been trying for some time. We will be about 7 months apart! I can't wait to find out her due date!

[andileigh]

ewwww...that is gross...mine just FEELS like it is gonna pop...hasn't actually happened yet!!!  I'm hoping it never does!!!

[Still_AndiJ]

My bellybutton never did fully pop out with Jonathan, but boy did it ever with Tristan. It was so gross to me, but people thought it was so cute as they could see it through my clothes.

I have gotten into the habit of sleeping with 2 body pillows, one in back and the other between my knees. After I am done feeding Tristan, I roll over and completely wrap around the one that was on my back.

As far as the reflux, mention it to your doctor. I was eating tums like they were going out of style, literally the max dosage everyday. I have an ulcer anyway, but pregnancy makes it impossible to live with. My OB put me on rx tagamet and it really helped. I would have never made it through without it. I also found for some reason the heartburn was worse if I layed on my right side, strange huh?

Andrea

[Kassimom]

Well glad you mentioned that. I didn't mention the reflux to my OB because I didn't realize any medication would be okay to take. Tums and Maalox aren't cutting it right now, so I stopped taking either.

[cmn]

Kassimom- Sorry your having problems sleeping that must be so hard, I hope that things will get better soon for you. How is DD enjoying school? How is DH doing? Have you gotten the nursery finished at all?


Everyone- Has anyone heard from Capermom? It's been so long since she posted last, i'm starting to get worried that something may be wrong. She should be pretty far along now shouldn't she?

[nanakay]

i have found that the earlier you eat dinner the better....it takes so long for the food to digest that if you eat to close to bed (and i mean like 5 hours before) the food is more likely to back up into your esophigus(hahasp?)
my doc told me to take zantac so i usually take it before i eat dinner so it has plenty of time to kick in before bed.

also you might try a food diary to see which foods cause worse heartburn than others....and of course stay away from those.
i know sugary foods give me BAD heartburn.
icecream is a setoff for my sister.
~nanci

[Missy04]

I am right there with you girls on the sleep issue however for me it is more like I am so exhausted I can fall asleep at first  but I can't stay asleep and then once I wake up I can't get back to sleep I just lay there.  I am 36 weeks tomorrow (yeah only 4 to go and counting) This heartburn is terrible.  While pregnant with DD I only had it the last month and not so bad but with this pregnancy I have had it throughout but the last 2 days have been so bad it literally brings tears to my eyes.  

Oh well the joys of becoming a mother!  Hang in there girls I keep telling myself it will all be worth it eventually.