15 weeks and not sleeping

[Strawberries_cream]

Morning everyone,

I am 15 weeks pregnant and finding sleeping through the night super difficult (and sleeping wasn’t an issue before). I used to be a tummy sleeper prior to pregnancy so now I’m consciously sleeping on my sides. This is causing me some discomfort in my hip bones though, as I’m not used to it maybe and as I’m growing bigger? Who knows!

I am waking up either several times in the night, usually every hour, or like last night I’m waking up and not being able to settle again for around 2.5-3hrs.

I have got a pregnancy pillow however unfortunately I’m such a mover in my sleep this is annoying me more than helping. I’m waking up exhausted in the morning!! Does anyone have any useful tips?

Thank you in advance x

[Octoberbaby2019]

Have you got the u or I shaped pillow? I had the I shaped one as I didn't want to be stuck in between pillows and that way you can kinda spoon it. You can also try a pillow between your legs and maybe try putting some padding underneath your hips, maybe a mattress topper or thin camping mattress, towel anything that might bring you relief.

To fall asleep again, I sometimes lay down the other way like head where my feet are.. I don't know why but it sometimes helps me reset and helped during pregnancy. That or sleep on the sofa. And if nothing helps I find that sometimes putting a podcast on helps, just loud enough to hear the voices but not really the words so you don't get absorbed by the conversation.

Additionally you could also get biofreeze and rub it on your hips for some pain relief and hopefully the cooling effect helps. Hope you can get some of your sleep back soon!! X

[Strawberries_cream in reply to Octoberbaby2019]

Hello, thank you for taking the time to reply.

I have an I shaped pillow and got on with it a little bit better last night. Thank you for the really good ideas about supporting the hip! I’m definitely going to try those. I’ll also look into bio freeze if it persists! Thankfully I have no issues falling asleep initially it’s just staying asleep. I’m going to try the podcast or maybe some yoga music if I wake up for a long time again.

Take care xx

[Peanut5]

Oh this is me to a T! I’ve tried everything... my bed currently looks like I’m the princess and the pea! I’ve got the banana pillow, mattress topper, sleeping on an additional duvet for hip pain but it’s getting worse not better. I’ve also got severe PGP which makes moving around in bed absolute agony. I’m 25 weeks and feel like I’ve not properly slept for months. I wake up every hour I think that’s all my hips can handle but I just feel exhausted all the time. If u find anything else that works please let me know! X

[Strawberries_cream in reply to Peanut5]

Sorry to hear you’re suffering with pain so bad! It’s difficult because you know you’re over half way now but 15 weeks is such a long time to go when you’re not sleeping! I have the I shaped pillow and I have actually been placing my hip bone on the I part that should go through your leg. It takes a bit of manoeuvring and thankfully I’m heavy enough now for my weight to help settle into the pillow. I also added another pillow under my head (three pillows in total but the feather ones so they’re not hard) so that my upper body is not as straight and I feel it takes some of the weight off my hips. This isn’t from any recommended website or professional, just something that has helped me to sleep a little bit better, albeit still disturbed.

Fingers crossed for you x

[Peanut5 in reply to Strawberries_cream]

It’s rubbish isn’t it?! Like you I struggled with sleeping very early on, I think from about 12 weeks cos that’s when my PGP started getting bad. It feels like an eternity! The best thing I’ve found that actually helps me is to just accept that this is the ‘new normal’ rather than fighting it or getting upset about it. I think that’s helped me the most - even tho it’s much easier said than done! I got a memory foam wedge pillow as well to lift me up a bit as struggling horribly with heartburn as well. Fingers crossed for you too x