Sleeping with a baby....

[Michele]

So I cannot get a good nights sleep. I know there are lots of BTDT moms here, but how the hell do I get comfortable with this damn belly? The baby also must think its really fun to move/kick/wiggle when I find a comfy spot...

I know I'm not supposed to sleep on my back....bu that's really the only place I feel halfway comfortable. Whatever side I sleep on, the down shoulder....my arm goes completely numb...and I get woken up by the pain/tingling/numbness. And then have to switch sides....which seems to wake the baby...and it all starts all over again. Not to mention peeing every 2 hours...Also when I'm on my side it seems to put strain on my abdomen and I get weird pulling pains in my belly.

I keep reading to use more pillows but where??? I can get as many pillows as I want, but I have no idea what to do with them. I feel like such a tard!

Am I delusional thinking that there must be a better way?? Is it really going to be like this for the next 3 months?

[migirl]

Re: Sleeping with a baby....

Is it really going to be like this for the next 3 months?

Um, I'm sorry to break it to you, but you're going to be sleep-deprived for much longer than the next 3 months.

I also had a lot of trouble sleeping on just my left side during the last trimester. To make it more comfortable I had a huge body pillow that I kind of hugged and wrapped my legs around, and then put another pillow behind my back to support me and so I wouldn't roll over onto my back. Between those two pillows and the ones for my head there was hardly any room for DH, but he wasn't allowed to complain.

As for back-sleeping ... for me, the bigger I got the more uncomfortable it was to sleep on my back. But if it's the only way you can sleep maybe you could wedge a pillow underneath one side of you so you're partly on your back, partly on your side?

I don't have any other ideas, but I sympathize greatly!

[ellie]

It does get so uncomfortable towards the end. What helped me was surrounding myself with pillows. I wedged one under partly under my back (so I was partly on my side and partly on my back), one between my knees, one under my belly. DH used to laugh at my fortress of pillows. There are also giant U-shaped pregancy pillows that are supposed to be pretty comfortable, too. But they're pretty $$, I think, so I just made do with a lot of pillows instead.

Hope you have a more comfortable night tonight.

[Phoebe]

Michele- I am having the same exact problems as of recent weeks. People keep laughing at me and telling me it is so early to not be able to sleep. I didn't have this problem with my other pregnancies until the end. Since birth of #2 I have become a back sleeper. Like you, I can't really get comfortable on either side. I have moved all over the house, tried numerous pillows and nothing works.

Long story short, I finally went out and post a body pillow two days ago and I have found it a lot easier to fall asleep. I thought a king size pillow would suffice and the body pillow is so much better. So I am stacking two pillows (to help with heartburn) with the body pillow on the side. Sometimes I stick my comforter under my belly as well. Like Jane said, sticking a pillow behind your back for support may help too.

Hope you get some Zzzzs.

[mommax3]

What they all said, Michele. My third pregnancy was much worse in this regard, too, jlynnb. Michele, have Russ help you put pillows in key spots until you hit on a comfortable combo. I found that when I was on my side, I HAD to have a pillow between my belly and the bed, even if it was just a thin pillow. Having one behind my back was crucial, too. Having one between my knees was sometimes comfortable, sometimes not. About sleeping on your back.....this is also my preferred position, but as my belly got bigger, I would find myself gasping for air after about 5 minutes when I would try to sleep that way! So it is in your best interest to find a way to sleep on your side.....

Sally

[SueC]

You have my sympathies dear! My last pregnancy was a b*tch sleep-wise. Those pulling pains in your belly are round ligament pain and they plagued me during the end of my pregnancy. I slept with a pillow between my knees and one between my feet and would sleep on my side. Sometimes I would sleep on my back and put a pillow under my calves to avoid calf cramps (those are horrible, too!). Unfortunately, I never stumbled on the perfect sleep position. Just stuff a pillow anywhere that you think it'll help and hang in there!

Re: Sleeping with a baby....

Is it really going to be like this for the next 3 months?

Um, I'm sorry to break it to you, but you're going to be sleep-deprived for much longer than the next 3 months.

What she said. :!

You might get a point where the baby has a little less room and is less wiggly at night.

I slept on my side with a pillow between my knees and/or a pillow under my knees. I think a pillow wedged under the belly would feel good too.

If you are comfortable on your back, maybe tuck a pillow under your knees to elevate them a little. A friend of mine slept in a lazy-boy chair for the last few months of her pregnancy because it was the best way for her to deal with the heartburn and be on her back but elevated.

[DCJenn]

Wow-

Can I just say once again, 1) I am soooo glad I never had to deal with this stuff and 2) you ladies are made of strong stuff.

Good luck to all of you.

Jenn

PS- I will never again complain of lack of sleep due to my dog. I can tell the dog to get off the bed. You all just have to suck it up. Jeez.

[BonBon]

Michele, if you are still comfortable sleeping on your back, go for it. Trust me, you will *know* when you can't do it anymore. Like Sally said you'll be gasping for air and your arms will go numb.

I always wedge a pillow under the belly and usually stuff one under the small of my back. Sometimes I do one between the knees. When the heartburn hits, ask your dr if it's okay to take Zantac or other acid reducers. Those are lifesavers!

After trying all sorts of pillow combinations, shaped pillows, $100 pillows, we bought a rocker recliner. It's ugly, but it did the trick. That is where I nursed the babies and slept for the 2nd 1/2 of my pregnancies ... and beyond.

Good luck!

[Michele]

Thank you all for the suggestions!

I'm going to try to put a pillow everywhere and see what works!!

For the heartburn, I take Pepcid when it's bad, but Tums when it can be managed intermittently...I try to avoid eating before bedtime and staying elevated after eating....it's helping some...

It's good to know that I'm not harming myself or the baby on my back...or at least I'll feel it when it's not working...

We just started looking at gliders and I think I may talk Russ into getting one earlier than later and see if that helps too.

So this difficulty sleeping is just practice, huh??