Please Help! Back Pain While Sleeping

[Cassaba]

I am almost 28 weeks and for the past month or so, I have had a terrible time sleeping. I was never a "side sleeper" until I got pregnant. I have been sleeping on my side since about 15 weeks. I usually alternate sides when I get up and use the bathroom 2-4 times/night. I just cannot get comfortable though and my entire upper back hurts like crazy, lately preventing me from sleeping. Last night I was nearly in tears it hurt so bad, so I finally got up and sat in a recliner. I reclined it about 45 degrees with my legs straight out and put an ice pack under my upper back. I was able to get a couple hours of sleep. Do you think this is an okay position for sleeping? I tried not to recline too far. I don't think it's the best position as far as encouraging baby to move to a head down position, but I don't know what else to do. Does anyone have ideas? TIA!

p.s. Once I am up and showered, the pain is gone. So it is definitely related to my sleeping position.

[nova22]

I don't see anything wrong with sleeping like that. At this point your baby still has plenty of time to turn head-down. However if you can manage it, you should probably see a chiropractor; if nothing else s/he could suggest some gentle exercises that you can do to help this pain.

[Jenne]

I can't speak to the heads down part but I have discovered that I have to have either 2-3 pillows to support my top arm and 2-3 right in front of my lower leg to rest my upper leg on in order to not have back pain or just a big long body pillow. I think the compression from the weight of the upper arm and leg causes the back to hurt. Also, I have found a heating pad on low helps my lower back when it is sore right after I lay down.

I wish you freedom from back pain. It just sucks.

Jenne

[happysmileylady]

I sleep on my couch. I find that having the back of the couch to support my back really helps.

[Cassaba]

Thank so much for the feedback. I'll try the extra pillows and if that doesn't work, the couch. Otherwise, I may have DH move the recliner to the bedroom.

[Cassaba]

Originally Posted by Jenne

I can't speak to the heads down part but I have discovered that I have to have either 2-3 pillows to support my top arm and 2-3 right in front of my lower leg to rest my upper leg on in order to not have back pain or just a big long body pillow. I think the compression from the weight of the upper arm and leg causes the back to hurt. Also, I have found a heating pad on low helps my lower back when it is sore right after I lay down.

I wish you freedom from back pain. It just sucks.

Jenne

Jenne, thank you SO much for your reply. Putting 2 pillows under my top arm has pretty much solved the problem. I am very grateful!

[kblackstone444]

I've always been a side sleeper, but with being pregnant, it can get pretty uncomfortable. What helps is to put a pillow (or two) between my knees, a pillow (or two) under my top arm, and I also use a body pillow against my back, especially my lower back, as I most days wake up with my lower back stiff and painful and it eases it a bit. My son teases me- I have to swaddle myself so I can sleep. lol

[Jenne]

Oh, I'm so glad! You might also try listening to some of the hypnobabies peaceful sleep soundtracks because since I started the hypnobabies program my back pain has really decreased.

I wish you a happy and healthy rest of your pregnancy!

Jenne

[Erin77]

My sleeping got way worse from weeks 28-32 and then better again, so there's hope! (I'm 37 weeks now.) And I have one of those C-shaped Boppy pillows and I put one part under my neck/shoulder and one part between my knees and it really helps, though it sucks to re-arrange every time I get up to pee.