I am 25 weeks pregnant and have been sleeping on my side since the beginning of this pregnancy. I have started to get hip pain on whichever side I am sleeping on, only while I am in bed. With my last pregnancy, I got hip pain from my joints loosening up, but it was usually on the side that I was not laying on. That pain was relieved by sleeping with a pillow between my legs.
I have a feeling this pain is due to the fact that we sleep on a firm mattress, and limited sleeping positions. I do sleep with a snoogle and a pillow between my ankles, as well as a belly wedge, but I am thinking that I might need something like a memory foam mattress topper. I know that those thing are quite pricey, and I am not sure if it will work, or if my husband would be able to sleep with it, since he is comfortable as is (and so was I before pregnancy). Any ideas on what I can use to make sleeping a little more comfortable?
I am in better shape this pregnancy than I was the last time, and the majority of my aches and pains have been much less than the first time around. I am just hoping that I don't feel like I am sleeping on a plywood board for the next few months!
Thanks! I think I will try a twin sized mattress topper that is less expensive and see how it helps.
If possible, I suggest a pregnancy massage. In my ninth month I finally went, and it was worth every penny.
I second the idea of a mattress topper on your side only... or as an alternative, fold up a soft comforter and put it under the bottom sheet on your side only... that could provide some extra cushioning.....
An inexpensive egg-crate foam topper might be helpful. You can get a twin sized topper and put it on your side of the bed; that way, it won't affect your husband.
I couldn't have made it through either of my pregnancies without the aid of a chiropractor because my hips were a real problem. They would actually rotate out. The adjustments were a real life saver.
Also, check into getting something for your side of the bed. You should be able to buy an "egg crate" mattress topper, like the ones they use in hospitals to help with bed and pressure sores, etc. If your OB/GYN gives you a prescription, your medical insurance might even cover it.
I'm very thin and boney. I can't sleep on anything too firm. I have a down featherbed that goes over my mattress and it's like sleeping on a cloud. I love it. You can buy them in all sizes, so if your husband needs the firmness, you can buy a twin size just for yourself and for your side of the bed.
Contact your local medical supply store. Look at options. See if you can get it covered by your insurance as medically necessary for your pregnancy.
My featherbeds were purchased through home shopping channels. Northern Nights has wonderful, quality products. Check them out.
I wish you the best as I know how hard it can be getting comfortable while pregnant.
A regular body pillow helped me with my 2nd pregnancy. I just used "regular" pillows EVERYWHERE with the 1st pregnancy... one between the knees, one behind me, one in front, etc... But with pregnancy #2, I got a full body pillow and that made a difference. I was able to hug it and it kept my back aligned and elevated my knee/hip so that the pressure was alleviated.
I also took it with me to labor/delivery and it was useful there as well. :)
Sleep in a chair. Or sleep some of the night on your back, or alternate sides. I know they say laying on the left is best, but every body is different. I have an abnormally shaped uterus and laying on my left was extremely painful...I later leaned that laying on my left actually put my babies in distress in because of their positions in my funky womb. I don't believe in trying to continue with something uncomfortable. Do something different.
When I was in my last trimester with my pregnancies, it got very uncomfortable for me too. I tried all kinds of positions/pillows etc.
But what helped was, I would sleep in a comfy chair. A love seat we have with an ottoman. That was the only way I could sleep at that point.
Or I'd sleep in a rocking chair.
Depending on the size of your bed, maybe you could get a twin size mattress topper and just put it on your size? That would be cheaper. I used to get terrible hip pain, and we got a medium mattress instead of the super firm one we had before, and it is so much better now. I think if you could get something softer, at least for your side, that might help.
One thing that would also help me was sleeping on the couch so I could prop my back up against the back of the couch for a little extra support.
Try a cheaper alternative for your mattress and see if that might fit the bill before you go spend a lot of money. There are eggshell mattress toppers that don't cost much. You put the sheet over them.
I used a pregnancy wedge under my stomach and I think that in addition to supporting my stomach, it helped take the pressure off my hip. It worked great for my first pregnancy, but wasn't the same for my second (my stomach was shaped differently, I think.) And yes, a pillow between your legs is just great.
Side sleeping, especially on your left side, helps you because you aren't putting all your baby weight on a major blood vessel by laying flat on your back. So anything you can do to make the side sleeping work is best for your body right now.
I hope you get some relief!
Dawn
I got the SAME exact thing. In fact, when I'm reading your post, it's reminding me of HOW uncomfortable I was when I went through it. Everything pulling when I was laying on my side. OUCH. I ended up getting a square or rectangular block pillow that went between my legs. It helped A LOT. That's not to say that the discomfort went away completely, but it took a lot of the weight off of my back and hips.
