Back pain - How does one sleep in the third trimester??

Anyone got any tips on how to sleep in the third trimester when your back is giving you grief?

I'm actually getting middle/upper back pain waking me up in the middle of the night (goes away during the day) and it takes me ages to find a position to fall asleep in after that. It feels like muscular pain. I tried using a lower, softer pillow under my head last night and that seemed to help a bit......

My back has only started giving me grief in the last few days. Don't know how I'm going to last for another 8 weeks if this continues, especially when I have 4 weeks of work to endure!!:frown:

I also get back pain and i use a heat pack most nights. also i put a pillow inbetween my legs, and take up most of the bed, which upsets poor DF. Hehehe.
Try them and see if they help.

I get back pain too and have spent the day on the couch with a hot pack on my bad spot. I find I have to get up in the night and walk a bit to relieve my discomfort. Like Scorpiomum, I have pillows I use. I have a body pillow which I keep beween my knees but I'm finding my pain is more my hip than back at night. I also get pain just below the shoulder blades which is only relieved by DH rubbing it. Have you tried gentle stretching to help with the pain?
Sorry I can't be of more help.

MG

I also do the pillow between the legs and I find it soo much more comfy than without it.
I sleep on my side and have one pillow between legs and another skinny pillow under where my belly is and I find this helps make me more comfortable. I'm not quite as far along in my pregnancy as you are though. I also find it helps to be more flat - as in, not using a huge pillow under my head. DH doesnt like it because I take up too much room in bed with my pillows, but its the only way I can be comfy.

Creativity - I think we are due on the same day!

The ideal position for sleep is apparently on your left side, with your bottom leg stretched out straight and your upper leg bent and resting on a pillow. Your head should also be on a pillow so that your spine is straight from your head to your butt. Sleeping on your back at this stage cuts off the blood supply to your baby and can also make you breathless and is not good.

There are several good yoga poses that help with back and hip pain. The dromedary droop and the cat are two that are especially good to do everyday in the third trimester. If you google either of these you will find how to do them.

I keep finding that I have little growth spurts and my body has to take a few days to adjust to the new weight. So I get a few achey days and then a few days of ok again before the next growth spurt hits.

I used to get shocking pain under my shoulder blades and across that area of my back. I ended up seeing an anti-natal physio who worked wonders on it. I went twice a week for 3 weeks until I had Chelsea and it was amazing! I also used the long body pillow between the legs. Hope you find something that will relieve the pain.

I have just started having a bit of back pain in the past couple of nights and I am 31 weeks pregnant. The main pain I feel is in my lower back and abdomen so I sent my DH to Baby Bunting to buy a Dentons pillow which is a small wedge that fits nicely under the tummy. It really helped me have a better night's sleep. It cost $30 and after one night is already worth it! Hope that helps.

Have you considered some sort of body work. By that I mean a good gentle Chiropractor experienced in working on preganat women, Bowen theraphy...very gently and effective or some physio? All 3 are safe in pregnancy. It sounds like you need some minor adjusting. Its not always the bit thats hurting thats "out", it could be your neck or pelvis.
Good luck

Hi all....... It has ben a long tiime for me.... Well I am going to be 36 weeks pregnant on tommorow..... My scheduled c section date is on Jan 5, 2007. I was cramping with pains the other night so the doctor checked me and I have a 50% shortned cervix and 1 cm dialated that was on Tuesday morning and it is now Thursaday morning. I think I lost my mucos plug so I called the doc and she said that I can go get checked or monitor the contractions myself. I opted to wait and see. I expreesed to her that My boobs hurt , and I have a backache and of course she knows I am contracting but not so close yet. The reason I am waiting to see how it goes is because I had back surgery a few years ago and the least pressure or pain exaggrates the pain. I will know when the time is. Baby Ian is still moving and very active although when I contract tummy gets very hard. Also just to mention for those of u who do not know me I am pregnant with two. A girl who is no longer alive as of 26 weeks due to a cord accident in my womb the specialist says and my Angel Baby boy who is very alive, strong and doing well and I am waiting on his arriaval............. To say the least if he is not ready to come I am on the 8 day count down to meeting my Lil Man and am overjoyed!!!!!!!:D

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I used to get shocking pain under my shoulder blades and across that area of my back. I ended up seeing an anti-natal physio who worked wonders on it. I went twice a week for 3 weeks until I had Chelsea and it was amazing! I also used the long body pillow between the legs. Hope you find something that will relieve the pain.

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This is exactly where my pain is....right between the shoulder blades and seems to be like a muscle spasm.

Saw obs yesterday and she has referred me to a physio to get sorted out. In the meantime, have found that sleeping in a semi-upright position seems to help, and I slept right through last night so am quite a bit happier today.


Thanks for all your replies!

Creativity - hope the physio helps, I am sure it will! Make sure you enjoy it too, it is quiet relaxing LOL!!

Strange as this may sound - eating fresh parsley is particularly good for pain in what's known as the brachial plexus (it's a bundle of nerves on your spine between your shoulder blades. It feels about the size of a grapefruit in diameter.) It can get really sore in pregnancy because it is that part of the back that can be supporting all the weight of your belly.

I had a very bad spasm there once (too much computer work) and had been having really weird tabouli cravings beforehand. I hate tabouli as a general rule - but not that day.

Argh, the memories!! I used to use a heat pack on my back and sometimes I'd just go and lay out on the couch instead so I could sit a little upright... Nothing seemed to work but I just got as comfy as possible so I could get some sleep.

Good luck! I know how horrible it is and hopefully it will be better once bubs is born. :)