trouble sleeping

[Silver Bell]

finally in my third trimester as of today... very excited... but wondering how people are sleeping? I have never been a good sleeper, always a light sleeper and constantly waking up...

I have a bursitis on my left hip from when I dislocated it several years back and scoliosis... so sleeping on my side, especially my left side which they say is best really hurts. I often find myself waking up on my back and quickly shifting to my left side. I have to also sleep on my right side which I know they say is not ideal...

I have a belly bean which has been great and helps.... anyone else have any suggestions? Does anyone else follow the left hand side sleeping? Or do people lay on right side more and not worry about it?

[~TT40~]

sleep in whatever position you are most comfortable. Lying on your left side is the best position, BUT not if it causes you pain! I have bad hips and esp. now with all the relaxin in there making my joints looser, I ALWAYS have pain in them, esp. after sleeping on them. so I constantly am turning from side to side to even it up. and I do even sleep on my back sometimes, because it is what feels comfortable. They advice against lying on your back because the weight of your uterus can compress the major vein that takes blood back from your legs to your heart. this can cause your blood pressure to drop and in extreme cases to feel faint and pass out. if you do feel funny lying on your back, dont do it, or just prop yourself up on an extra pillow, or just stick a small pillow/cusion under one of your hips so your not 100% flat.

hope you have a good night sleep =)

[LuluHB]

Sleeping? What's that??

I struggle to sleep at all on my left side and find my right more comfortable. I have got to the point now that if I find a position I'm comfortable in, then that's where I stay. I figure getting some sleep is just as important, if not more so at this point. My bed is also full of pillows - one either side of me to either prop me up or for me to lean over a bit, and one between my knees. I sleep with the fan on because if I don't have good air movement my nausea is full on.

Even doing all that, I'm still averaging about 5 hours of broken sleep a night if I'm lucky. I'm actually thinking I'll get so much more sleep when this baby is born than I do now

Wherever you can get sleep then do it. If you're more comfortable on the couch or in your bean bag, then sleep (or at least nap) there.

[Silver Bell]

thanks girls, yeah sleep has never been a strong point for me before pregnancy, now I am basically waking up every hour and drifting off in between but only light so I kind of know whats happening around me still but in a dream state... such a strange feeling... I know I shouldn't complain because this is a blessing and I should cherish every moment even the painful ones... I am sure everyone is in the same boat with lack of sleep... just wondering if the whole left hand side thing is really THAT important???

[~TT40~]

left hand side is better for us even when not pregnant, it is to do with the way blood flows around our bodies, and supplies more oxygen to places as a result, including a fetus. does that make sense?

[Silver Bell]

yeah I knew it was important for the fetus for blood flow to the placenta but I didn't realise it was best even if you were not pregnant...

[BlackRose]

Oh sleep. How I miss you! I'm up every hour or so, shifting pillows, getting up to pee, baby kicking. There is an end date and the prize is worth it

[buffy1]

Silver Bell - third tri already! How exciting.

So hard to get comfy at this stage, I was the same (and if you have a bit of a history with insomnia it doesn't help). I slept both on the left and right but was more comfortable on the left. I ended up making a little 'nest' of pillows - one under the belly on each side, one between my legs and I sat slightly upright too. I did end up on the couch a fair bit in the last few weeks but whatever worked.

I found myself awake every hour or two hours also. A few thoughtful people told me it was my body's way of preparing me to be up regularly feeding a newborn, which makes sense - but also made me want to smack them upside the head. We need all the sleep we can get in those last months!

Hope you manage to find some comfy positions that work so you can get some rest.

[Shanti]

My sleep with DD2 in the 3rd trimester was non existent!! It was terrible. I got more sleep once she was out!!

[Beach Mama]

With both bubs I slept on the couch from around 30 weeks onwards. I found that I was much better supported with cushions and didn't feel like I was rolling all over the place and onto my belly! I alternated left and right, flat on your back isn't recommended either but if you swap between left and right you will be fine. xoxo

[Silver Bell]

Oh sleep. How I miss you! I'm up every hour or so, shifting pillows, getting up to pee, baby kicking. There is an end date and the prize is worth it

So true! the bubs is sooo worth it... mind u I have been enjoying being pregnant... just not the lack of sleeping hehe

[Silver Bell]

Silver Bell - third tri already! How exciting.

So hard to get comfy at this stage, I was the same (and if you have a bit of a history with insomnia it doesn't help). I slept both on the left and right but was more comfortable on the left. I ended up making a little 'nest' of pillows - one under the belly on each side, one between my legs and I sat slightly upright too. I did end up on the couch a fair bit in the last few weeks but whatever worked.

I found myself awake every hour or two hours also. A few thoughtful people told me it was my body's way of preparing me to be up regularly feeding a newborn, which makes sense - but also made me want to smack them upside the head. We need all the sleep we can get in those last months!

Hope you manage to find some comfy positions that work so you can get some rest.

Thanks Buffy! I know, I can't believe next week I will be 7 months... so exciting... every now and then I stop and think.. gosh a bubs is right there!
Thinking of the preperation of feeding times is a good way of thinking... makes me feel better about the not sleeping bit..