21 weeks and suffering - any advice?

[HJBeans]

In the last week and a half my bump has grown enormous quite quickly (I swear I can see it growing day by day) and I'm now finding it really hard to sleep or eat. I'm full really quickly, really badly bloated, and then have awful sour stomach and acid reflux when I lie down. Between that and trying to stay on my left side, I'm sleeping terribly. Which in turn makes me moody as hell and a very unhappy pregnant woman. Cue gloomy thoughts about whether this is all a terrible mistake, etc. etc.

Any tips on stomach issues or sleeping comfortably while huge? I already sleep with a pillow between knees due to back pain in first trimester.

[iheartshoes]

You poor thing , have you tried having several smaller meals a day rather than three bigger ones ? And also a proper curved pregnancy pillow can be propped up behind you of an evening and when you sleep it can go between your legs and you can rest your bump on it! Mine was from mothercare I think, best £19.99 I've ever spent ! Camomille tea before bedtime also helps me sleep , warm baths and sometimes going on all fours and arching your back can ease the pressure. I really feel for you th

[iheartshoes]

Argh posted to soon ! Just to say I really feel for y

[iheartshoes]

For you though it's rotten when you cant sleep abd combined with all the hormones makes everything 1go easy on yourself

[sjupes]

I'm almost 20 weeks and have been having a large breakfast snacking through the day then having a light supper before bed thats helped my sickness and gassiness.

Also i got a 6'' pregnancy pillow with pillowcase from ebay for 17.99 and it's been a lifesaver for my sleep - i find it hard to sleep on my left so don't always do it but the pillow really helps. It gets chucked on the floor at some point every night but even dp loves it because it keeps my randy hands off him

I hope you feel better soon :)

[MightBeMad]

Don't worry about sleeping on yor left, just sleep whichever way is most comfy. I think the sleeping on your left thing is a bit of a mumsnet pet issue and not really regarded as a big deal by the medical profession. I've just been told by my mw and consultant to vary my sleeping position to ensure good positioning of baby to avoid it getting stuck like last time, when I slept exclusively on my left!

Also, please don't get too despondent. I remember feeling really uncomfy about your stage with dc1 and assumed it was all downhill from that point, but actually your body adapts as you go along and it may get better again too! Are you able to take some gentle exercise? I find that really helps with the digestion.

[HJBeans]

Thanks very much, everyone. Hormones must have a lot to do with things, as I'm feeling a wee bit weepy just reading kind responses.

Will definitely look up a pregnancy pillow this weekend and will also try the many small meals trick as soon as I manage to have any appetite for anything after last night's sour stomach fest

Have been really lax about exercise since getting more pregnant - less energy, more of a struggle to get started, etc. Know this will help, though, and has always helped my mood. My DH agreed to come along with me to help me get past the can't-be-bothered barrier, so hopefully that will start next week.

It's lovely to hear that the body may adjust as things go on and that this isn't necessarily the thin end of a miserable wedge of discomfort until birth. That really helps for a first-timer thinking "The second trimester was meant to be the easy bit, wasn't it?!"

[dinkystinky]

HJ - I agree with mightbe - just sleep however you can. If you have reflux, you can sleep propped up on pillows on your back - nice big heap of pillows under you so on an incline (reduces pressure on vena cava) and will stop the reflux hitting (which is worst when you lie flat).

Try to figure out if anything triggers the reflux - its different for different people. Once you've figured out your triggers it should help reduce it by avoiding those things.

Gentle exercise - walking, swimming, pregnancy yoga or pilates - are good to do and in yoga they may be able to advise on positions to make you more comfortable/avoid reflux issues.

And dont worry - all this will be well worth the little baby you get at the end of it.

[Teaandflapjacks]

some great advice here from the other ladies. A big virtual hug from me - I am 19 weeks and starting to feel quite uncomfortable at times. I have had a lot of extra 'wind' this week, which is another charming side effect! I found taking sodium bicarb sometimes helps - but you really must check with doctor first on that. I eat a lot of cereal at the moment - helps with acid for me and keeps me going. I have full fat milk with it - this also helps with acid for me, more than semi. I can totally understand the lack of energy thing - it can knock you for six can't it? Partic if you can't sleep. I always toss about at night, using a third pillow as a body hugging device (from feathers so I can squish it how I like). This extra pillow helps me. Also - me and DH have two single duvets. this is the normal way in germany actually. It is wonderful though - i can stick my legs out however I like and regulate body temp easier. Something to think about? Also I have low iron, even with iron tablets it is still low - maybe get yours checked as this can make you feel total sh*te.

[dinkystinky]

Tea - I have our double duvet. Poor 6 ft 2 DH has to make do with a single duvet in our bed!

[Purplecatti]

Mega sympathies I suffered horribly with acid. I slept propped on two pillows. I also avoided orange juice, tomatoes, and survived on gavison and flavoured milk.
Ignore the left side thing, just getting sleep at all is the most important thing.

[MrsSpagBol]

Pregnancy pillow - mine is a 9ft body one

Peppermint tea

Gaviscon

I remember being quite tearful at 21 weeks as couldn't imagine weeks and weeks of being as uncomfortable as i was but it does get a bit better. Huggles.

[HJBeans]

Thanks again, all. This thread has helped no end.

[holidaysdistantmemory]

Poor you. I am on third pregnancy. I have slept on a particular side, never even heard of this before, just sleep on whatever side is your usual and comfy. I tried ALL the pillow combinations including the mothercare pregnancy pillow, and none worked for me. The reason being that my tummy would be supported but my back would hurt from lack of support. My top tip would be for you and dh/dp to have separate duvets, I have our spare double and literally wrap it around me (so I am like a human sausage roll) to support my bump with a bit of a duvet wedge at the front and a wedge of duvet at the back in the curve of my back, plus a bit between my legs to stop them resting on each other. I am sleeping like a baby (excuse the pun) and so is dh who doesn't get disturbed by shared duvet adjusting/restlessness.

[holidaysdistantmemory]

Ps you can get gaviscon on prescription for free, I went through pint bottles of it weekly with my last two, twas a lifesaver!

[Xmasbaby11]

That was me, from 21 weeks til the bitter end! Reading this for some tips for next time ...

[PebblePots]

I used a doubled-over memory foam mattress topper, so comfy to sleep on especially if you get sore hips

[Isisizzie]

For the pillow I got one this week from Lidl for £9.99. But I don't know how long they will have them.

[nuttymoo1980]

the full length pregnancy pillow is half price at argos £9.99 at the moment. got mine reserved n picking up today!! x