If you're sleeping well, will you share your secret?

lancyjo · January 2012

Seriously, I've had a total of maybe 4 hours sleep in the last 3 days. It's getting so out of hand, I just made a complete fool of myself by misreading a 3rd tri post, and I washed my hair with body wash and didn't realize it until I starting washing my body with shampoo.

Im dealing with some awful sciatica, but even when it's not acting up, I can't sleep. It takes what feels like forever to get comfortable, then I have to pee. Come back to bed, have to get comfy again, fall asleep, awake a little bit later in pain. Reposition. Snooze a few, wake up, go pee. Repeat.

Im going to lose my mind if this doesn't stop soon. Any advice on how to sleep better?

Hunterloren · January 2012

yeah, tell me about it. I hurt so badly when I lay down. I feel like how they say that a whale would collapse its own skeleton if it gets beached. :P

novasouthanblond · January 2012

not that im sleeping all that well, but I am averaging about 4 hours a night (with some disruption from pee breaks); I've noticed that cutting out sugary things later in the evenings, avoiding tea and caffeine, and moving around more in the afternoons have helped. Also, a hot shower before bed and I lay in bed for about an hour before I fall asleep and I have a cocoon of pillows that I have strategically placed to help me get comfy. HTH

Jillibean85 · January 2012

The best advice i can offer is just LOOOTS of pillows. I have my huge Mom pillow, then i have a pillow *under* my hips (which has helped significantly because the pressure on each side was beginning to hurt) and an extra pillow to put between my knees (in addition to my mom pillow between my knees... just thicker cushion, basically). Yes, i still wake up to pee or switch sides, but i get much better sleep this way!

mle5d · January 2012

Jillibean85:
The best advice i can offer is just LOOOTS of pillows. I have my huge Mom pillow, then i have a pillow *under* my hips (which has helped significantly because the pressure on each side was beginning to hurt) and an extra pillow to put between my knees (in addition to my mom pillow between my knees... just thicker cushion, basically). Yes, i still wake up to pee or switch sides, but i get much better sleep this way!

This is me too. I wake up once or twice a night to pee, and of course a few times to flip over, but the pillows make all the difference. I have a Snoogle pillow that has been a lifesaver. We also have a ceiling fan and another fan going which help too. GL!

ChristinaL27 · January 2012

I could not agree more with Jillbean

PILLOW- PILLOWS and more pillows. Life saver. I have the boppy- maternity pillow thing around my head, down my back and between my legs... then another pillow between my feet... and another one under my head head and one in front of my face along side my tummy- it props me up and lets me sleep soooo comfortable. I wake up once to go pee and that's about it.

mixedqt21 · January 2012

Earplugs. Even though I sleep with the tv on (counterintuitive I know) but it has gotten me to sleep for longer periods of time before my bladder wakes me.

mle5d · January 2012

I was also taking Zyrtec for a few days (with my dr's blessing for congestion), and it completely knocked me out! I didn't even get up to pee those nights!

lancyjo · January 2012

Now that you mention it, I do remember sleeping better when taking allergy meds... I just didn realize that's what was helping me! I took one of my hubs Zyrtec, and Im recruiting extra pillows as we "speak". Wish me luck girls... And thank you for the suggestions! (still welcoming more, btw!)

Shawnee11507 · January 2012

The only way I get any decent sleep is in the recliner! Use it if you have one or a couch that has reclining ends. I push it back all the way and then sit up one or two notches so that I'm not flat.

nonoemily · January 2012

I take a calcium/magnesium supplement before bed that helps a ton. I was having pain in my hips at night, so my MW suggested it and I sleep like a rock now. I've forgotten to take it twice and not slept as well those nights, so I'm pretty sure it's not just a placebo effect. Wink

Gem17 · January 2012

Tylenol PM. I've had to resort to it a few nights because I just don't get good sleep. I do the pillow between the knees, but I can't figure out how to fix my sore hips. We even have a memory foam topped mattress! Plus, I have arthritis, so mornings suck!

Lena122 · January 2012

I wouodnt recommend it for every night but Benadryl helps on those nights that I just need to get a good nights sleep.

Ya Never Know · January 2012

I've been having so much trouble sleeping I asked my doctor about it and the only thing he told me was that if the pain from side sleeping was unbearable, then sleeping on my back would be okay. I gave that a try to see if I could get more comfortable, but sleeping on my back gives me reflux that a bottle of Maalox can't cure!!!! He had no other suggestions... I'm exhausted!!!!!

RNmommyof2 · January 2012

Definitely Benadryl - it helps me breathe better too!

jen-dale · January 2012

Pillows. As many as you need. If that isn't comfy then sleep in a recliner. I had to last time due to hip pain. Tylenol PM or Benadryl on rare occasion.

RachDaRach · January 2012

Previously, I would try to go to sleep when my husband did (around 9) and I'd just toss and turn until I got too frustrated to sleep. So lately I've been laying in bed when he goes to sleep, but instead of trying to make myself fall asleep, I've been doing a book of brain-teaser-type puzzles until I get so tired that I can't think anymore (usually around midnight or 1). Then I'll go pee one last time and then lay down to sleep. It may just be a fluke, but it's been working! (I still get up 2 or 3 times to pee, but I can usually get back to sleep pretty quickly and I wake up for the day around 8 or 9.)

Shmogan09 · January 2012

Snoogle. I would never sleep without that wonderful creation! It's the only time of day I feel comfortable.

fredpuma · January 2012

I wrap my ribs right under my boobs with an ace bandage to help with rib pain, and then climb into my nest.... I have a body pillow on both sides of me, so if I am sleeping on one side I can have one under my tummy and between my legs, and the other pressed up firmly against my back. If I sleep on my back there is just a tiny space between the pillows (maybe 6-8 inches of sheet/mattress showing) so that I end up tilted to one side. I also have three pillows under my head so I'm at a little bit of an incline.

The other thing that makes it easy for me to sleep is if it's relatively cold in the room- I think the baby inherited the molten lava that DH and I both have running through our veins anyway, and now it's like I'm living in a furnace. DH is constantly complaining about how cold it is at night in the house, while I'm getting up every two hours to wipe sweat off of me. If he sleeps in another room I open the window and freeze the room.... then I sleep really well!

December192009 · January 2012

Bless your heart! Although I'm not getting the best sleep in the world, I seem to sleep best when my boys have worn me out completely and/or if DH and I have a chance to have sex before bed! Sorry if that is TMI!! But those two things I guess just leave me totally exhausted so I sleep better! lol If you don't have little ones to chase around, lift, carry, etc. try getting a nice afternoon/early evening walk in or a workout video. It really helps!

shortsweet&sassy · January 2012

as some pp have said, Tylenol PM is my lifesaver. It helps me sleep and helps keep my pain at a tolerable level.

DarlinClementine · January 2012

Jillibean85:
I have a Snoogle pillow that has been a lifesaver.

I couldn't live without mine... I still toss and turn (as much as one can at 9 months pregnant), get up to pee, etc.... but ~ it does allow me to find brief moments of comfort.

OH MY HIPS are the worst! soooooooo painful

tropicalmommy · January 2012

I'm not huge for 34 weeks, so I can still kind of lay on my 'side-stomach' as I like to say. But the main thing keeping me up is when my baby pushes up into my ribs...I wake up so completely out of breath! But as for tips, indent use pillows because I will wake up and they'll all be on e floor. I have a big feather blanket that I tuck under my side and I kind if flop my stomach over on top of it...that way it still feels like I'm on my tummy when I'm only on the side of it. I get like 9 hours most nights, but lately my back and ribs have been hurting so we'll see how much longer the days of solid sleep will last...

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