8 months Pregnant and can't sleep. Need help finding a way to sleep.

Perhaps it will be helpful to know that you are not alone. Difficulty sleeping in the third trimester is not unusual. It sounds like you have some pain that may be also contributing. You may want to talk to your obstetrician about that.

This site is specifically focused on pregnancy.

Here is an excerpt. There is also a lengthy list of things to do to help with the condition:

“What it is: The inability to fall or stay sleep, especially in the third trimester.

What causes insomnia: A complicated combination of hormones and a number of unhelpful conditions, such as frequent urination, persistent heartburn, leg cramps, and pre-birth anxiety. ”

Good luck.

Do you have one of those big body pillows? It can help if you’re usually a side or tummy sleeper to support your belly and legs.
When I was pregnant (back in the olden days) we really practiced relaxation. I would start with the top of my head, to my ears and my jaw, telling myself to relax and focus on every muscle in my body one at a time. If I wasn’t asleep by the time I got to my toes I was at least drooling on my pillow and very close to sleep.
I hope you find some rest soon , since in another month you are probably going to see sleep as a faded memory for a while!

I can sympathize – I remember those days. I slept on my left side with a pillow between my knees and eventually started taking Tylenol PM at my OB’s suggestion. I would call your OB – the nurse should be able to give you some suggestions or talk to the doctor and get back to you.

Drink a glass of milk about an hour before bed.

Take a long hot bath before bed to relax you.

Get lots of extra pillows and prop up any part of your body to make it more comfortable, especially under your knees if you are on your back, or between your knees if you are on your side.

Wear ear plugs. This is amazingly effective; not because they keep out distracting noise, but because the focus you on your breathing which is very soothing.

The body pillow is a great idea, bath and milk also – milk has lots of tryptophan in it, which is why it can help. Unisom (doxylamine) is an OTC sleep aid that’s safe to take – it’s a sedating atihistamine that we sometimes suggest for nausea in the first trimester. Most midwives feel that valerian is OK for use in pregnancy – it’s a funky tasting herb that is a very mild sedative. If all else fails, ask your care provider about prescription options. When sleep problems are severe, some OBs and CNMs will provide vistaril or ambien for occasional use.

Support pillow should work a treat .
Failing a support pillow supplement it with normal pillows and loads of them .

I’m also eight months pregnant and having carpal tunnel syndrome. I bought one of those braces they sell at the drug store (the one designed for nighttime use) and have found that it helps a little. It hasn’t gotten rid of the numbness but it has reduced the pain – before I was using it I would wake up in the morning with my hand hurting and now I don’t.

I have also found that swimming seems to help with general aches and pains, probably because I’m a lot more mobile in the water at this point than on land! I would highly recommend that in any case; it feels great, and perhaps if you’re tired from exercising instead of just from being pregnant you’ll sleep better. Who knows.

And of course, ask your OB or midwife for suggestions.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone for the great advise. I will try these and see if it helps. I just want to get some good sleep before the baby gets here. Again thank you.

My Snoogle was life saving! And I had this pregnancy belly wedge thing, so I’d be comfortable.
Oh, and my husband had to sleep on the couch, because I took up so much space with my pillows and put off so much heat haha.
Also, seeing a chiropractic can help with back pain.

My daughter just pulled her snoogle out . She’s due in November. Her husband forced her to put it away after the last one, He got jealous. :-)