My wife and I are expecting (announced as my alter-ego Sopwith) and we've run into a bit of a problem. Sleep.
Here's the situation: My beautiful, petite, plus-sized wife is having a really, really difficult time finding a comfortable way to sleep. She's always slept on her stomach before, but that's now a serious no-no.
She's been told that she has to sleep on her left side throughout the night. To help her, we've gotten a body pillow to help prop her up, but now she has pains from a bad knee (she messed up some ligaments last year after slipping on a wet floor). We've tried putting a pillow between her knees and have one of the Tempur-pedic beds, and she still complains of pain in her knee as well as her back.
Anyone have any ideas? She really can't sleep and honestly, I'm not doing so well either. Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I am sorry to hear that. I will tell you that there were times that I was so desperate (and so tired) that I slept in a reclining chair.
I know that a lot of doctors say "only the left side". But I personally am not %100 confident that that is as necessary as they seem to think it is. Of course, it is your decision. I have had a doctor tell me that that was poppycock and to sleep however I liked.
I also think I have heard of some pregnant ladies being able to sleep on their stomachs--whether they rigged some sort of pillow-ring to go round their bellies or they bought something with a built in depression, I cannot recall. Or I could be hallucinating. Has anyone else heard of something like that?
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
While the left side is suggested, either side is usually fine. My wife (who just gave birth) had some disomfort sleeping as well. What she did was prop herself us a litle with extra pillows under her head (so she could be turned slightly toward her back while remaining on her side), a pillow under her hip, and one between her knees. Our new mattress helped, too.
I suggest getting about eight pillows and having her experiment with different placements to find one that's less uncomfortable than the others.
Of course, that doesn't solve other pregnancy-related obstructions to sleep, such as having to get up and pee every ten minutes.
Posted by Lost Ashes (Member # 6745) on :
One night, I did get up at 2 a.m. to construct the "Great Ramp of Slumber" for her from about 12 different pillows (sheesh, there were feather ones, poly-fiber-fill ones, both of our tempur-pedic ones and a pair of the buckwheat ones for the armrests).
Perfect 45 degree angle, easy recline, not an inch without support. Worked for about 15 minutes.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
((Sopwith's wife))
How far along is she?
I'm afraid that with both my pregnancies, I found that you just make do with less sleep. I didn't have the stomach-sleeping or knees problem, but thought I was going to die of heartburn. I would take a pile of antacids before going to sleep and would wake up an hour later choking and unable to breathe. This started at about 5 months and only got worse. Ultimately, I found that I slept only in about 90 minute stretches and that I did better if I slept in different areas of the house. I'd start off in bed, then prop myself up at as acute an angle as I could get while still in bed. About 2am I'd move to the couch, where I could get a slightly greater angle without sitting straight up. Then at about 4am I'd move to one of our chairs, and sleep almost sitting up until morning.
Have her experiment. If she's not too far along, she could probably get away with sleeping on her back for short stretches, which may releive the discomfort in her knee. She may try sleeping on her right side and see if that's any better. She'll have to see what works. And you may have to move to the couch to get any solid sleep while she's rustling around trying to get comfortable.
There is a silver lining to this (such as it is, and I find it best to try to find *something* good out of not-fun-situations-you-just-have-to-endure). This is excellent training for a newborn that only sleeps for a few hours at a stretch. If you get used to sleeping in 2 to 3 hour stretches, you won't be nearly so wiped out (by comparison to if you were used to a solid 8 hours) when the baby gets here.
Good luck and take comfort that this really doesn't last all that long. A few more months, and the real fun will start with the cutest, most wonderful baby on the entire planet. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I've slept in the "Marty McFly" (3/4ths on stomach) position most of my pregnancies. If you really think about the anatomy of the situation, the uterus isn't getting that squished. My last was accomodating enough to be positioned mostly one one side, so I could even sleep on my back until nearly the end. However, I'm not saying to disregard your doctor's counsel or anything.
P.S. Can you experiment with different firmnesses of bed in a twin mattress or something? Is this your first baby?
[ October 20, 2004, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: pooka ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The reason for recommending sleeping on the left side is to promote blood flow to the uterus; however, I could only sleep on the right side most of my pregnancy. (I don't know why.) I've always been a side sleeper, so it was easier for me, but I do recommend not sleeping on your back; it pushes on the nerves something terrible and hurts like heck. I found that taking a nice bath before bed (not too warm, of course), reading a book, and listening to relaxing music, combined with stretches throughout the day, helped me fall asleep at night. I made up the difference between what I needed and what I was getting with naps during the day whenever I felt exhausted. Really, it's just one of those things; quality and quantity of sleep decline when you're pregnant. I hope you both find something that's comfortable, though.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
You know, throughout my first pregnancy I slept on my back much of the time. I think maybe I was able to do it comfortably because I never really "stopped" doing it. Second pregnancy, I tried harder to do the side thing most of the time, and found that after awhile when I tried to sleep on my back I couldn't do it comfortably.
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
I'm pregnant now. I have about 10 weeks left. I sleep mostly on my right side with a pillow next to me that I put my left leg on so that I am kind of on my stomach. My doctor told me that it didn't matter what side you sleep on. Lots of pillows might help. Although they wont help with waking up and needing to go to the bathroom. Good luck and if you find something that works for her let me know. Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
I feel your pain! I am hopefully going to deliver this weekend and I have had the same problem since around the 4th month. Last night I had the best sleep I've had in months by lying on our couch with my back kind of wedged where the seat meets the back. So I was only half on my side. A pillow under my belly and several between my knees helped, but since I wasn't completely on my side I could kind of straighten out my legs which greatly reduced my knee pain. I know I will be up a lot with the baby and only sleep a couple hours at a time but at least soon those few hours will be at least comfortable! I am normally a back/belly sleeper and this side crap is killing me! That and the constant getting up to pee! I go for an ultrasound in the A.M. to see how big my little girl is and then they'll decide how we're going to proceed. I've been on bedrest for my blood pressure for 3 weeks and it's still high so we have to go soon. That and she's huge! Wish me luck guys! Posted by Lost Ashes (Member # 6745) on :
Another big factor here of lates for her is post-nasal drip. It's driving her crazy and making all of the positions that much more difficult. Is this normal in a pregnancy or just a sign of the changing seasons (she's not terribly bothered by allergies).
I'll suggest to her these things and we'll try them out. Heck, I'd string a hammock in the bedroom if it would help her rest a bit better.
And yup, we've figured that this is good training for the newborn days ahead.
She's at the five-month stage now, so we've still got a ways to go.
BTW, it's gonna be a girl! Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
The post nasal thing is probably the pregnancy. I have read it being a later symptom and also have it. The list of symptoms is broad and weird. Bleeding gums? I thought they were crazy until last week when I got it. I think the hammock is a great idea. I have thought about that myself but am scared to let the hubby start sinking hardware into the ceiling!
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
Oh yeah. Try the Breathright strips for the post nasal. They come mentholated and work pretty well. I packed some in my going to the hospital bag so I can try to breath.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
The trick to delivery is the follow-through.
Hobbes Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I just had to see what Hobbes had to say on this subject Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Don't you feel enlightened now?
Hobbes Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I am someone who suffers from the post-nasal drip thing frequently. It gets worse when I am pregnant, and I hesitate to take medicine. It was the post-nasal drip that often drove me to try sleeping in a recliner. It did help.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Coming from a family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy (I'll most likely have it when I have kids), I know that laying on your left side lowers your blood pressure by a huge amount. I don't know about when you sleep, but doctors always recommended to my mom and sister that they have a good amount of left-side time during their pregnancy.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
good luck Sopwith!! (((Sopwith's wife))) I'm learning a lot during this thread actually for future reference.
Oh, and good luck with the delivery dawnmaria. In the words of Mr. McFeley, may it be a speedy one. Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
Remember just because they say it's a girl it can still come out a boy. Gnixing's cousin had a baby a few weeks ago that was a girl in the ultrasounds, but she came out a he.
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
I know for sure mine is a girl. We've had to have several ultrasounds and sonograms due to my gestational diabetes and the doctors have said they have never seen a baby so willing to show off what they've got. I don't know if I should be proud or scared about that. I have some very interesting pictures. I also plan to lock her up once puberty hits. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
First child, huh? Welcome to the real world of pregnancy and parenting.
I was also a die-hard stomach-sleeper until the last part of my first pregnancy. Now, after three kids, I have learned in to sleep in almost ANY position - including just snoozing in the recliner when my sinus are draining bad.
I'm afraid to report I never found a position during pregnancy that would let me sleep as well as my previous stomach-sleep. Hopefully she can make it through this last part of pregnancy as best she can.
Farmgirl
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
I so empathise. I'm on #4 and I have not found a consisitently comfortable sleep position! Sadly I think it's a fact of pregnancy. I found the most effective thing for heartburn is to do the bulk of my eating early in the day, and have a light early supper. I always say, no matter what tests you've had, never take the tags off gender specific clothing until the baby is born. Hey, I had no idea so many 'Rackers were expecting, we need a master list or something.
Posted by Lost Ashes (Member # 6745) on :
Jatraqueritos!!!
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
I've found sleeping on the couch or in a chair with my knees up and leaning against the back of the couch and my head against the arm of the couch/chair with a pillow to be very comfortable. I also suggest getting up and walking around or doing something light if sleep won't come. A midnight snack or something comforting really helped me relax again and be able to fall asleep.
Body pillows are good as I've heard are bed wedges. I also liked to put one of those foam pillows with the ridges for your neck between my legs.
What made me comfortable varied from night to night, so it is a good idea to have a few different things to try. I am not one to live on a few hours of sleep and yet I find for some reason that I am now able to function, so you will adjust.
Good luck and congratulations!
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
We're on our way to the hospital! The docs say her amniotic fluid is low and my pressure is high, plus she's 8 pounds! Wish us luck! I so don't know what I am doing. I hope the push thing comes naturally! Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Pretend you're constipated. Seriously. Same muscles.
Posted by Lost Ashes (Member # 6745) on :
Good luck!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Best of luck!
I just wanted to add, on the sleep thing.
When I was pregnant with the twins, my doctor really stressed the side thing. I couldn't sleep on my side well, I always rolled over to my back.
More than once I woke up with my heart racing, and only after sitting up and breathing deeply and calmly would it settle back down.
One night, I had such severe tachycardia, that Wes was ready to drive me to the hospital. Nothing worked to bring it down. It was the weirdest thing, he was on the phone with my doctor, and they were talking about me like I was some abstract problem. I guess he was acting like I was one of his patients, and he was my paramedic instead of my husband.
Anyway, it was determined that I really didn't need to be in the ER if it could be helped, because my OB didn't want the ER physicians givine me drugs to bring down my heart rate. They wanted to get it down as naturally as possible. We tried ocular pressure (?) or pressing on my eyeballs. And something else, I don't remember. IN each case my heart rate would stabilize, then start galloping off again. Finally, doctor and paramedic/husband agreed that the next course of action was dunking me in ice water.
THAT WAS NOT FUN.
But it worked. I didn't go to the hospital and I took extra care not to sleep on my back anymore.
Anyway - all this is to prove a point - try very hard to sleep on your side. Sleeping on your back can depress some type of nerve or something and cause episodes like the ones I experienced.
I don't know if I've forgiven Wes or Dr. Ted for the ice water incident. I mean, yeah, it was better for me and the babies than hospitalization and medication, but it's not something I ever want to repeat.
Also I guess I should add don't do this at home - I mean, dont' dunk yourself in ice water if your heart rate seems fast - contact your doctor or go to the ER.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Good birthing, dawnmaria. You may think you don't know what you're doing, but your uterus does!
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I am sorry to hear that. I will tell you that there were times that I was so desperate (and so tired) that I slept in a reclining chair. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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