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In Search of Slumber
Sleep Solutions for Moms-to-be of Multiples
By Lyn Mettler
Sleeping and pregnancy. An oxymoron, right? Especially with twins. Well, maybe not. With a little understanding, a few pillows and some tricks of the trade, you may be on your way to a better night's sleep.
An expectant mom's sleeplessness is caused by a variety of things, many of which are exacerbated during a twin pregnancy. Laura Favin, a licensed massage therapist in New York City, has three clients who are currently pregnant with twins. "I really see a significant difference in the way the pregnancy is taking its toll on them," she says. "I think it's just a little bit harder for women carrying twins and triplets."
One of the most obvious differences is the larger belly. "That beached whale feeling is not conducive to relaxing and falling asleep," says Holly McArthur, a 36-year-old mother of twins from Nicasio, Calif.
"Women pregnant with twins have enlargement of the womb earlier," says Dr. Charles Farris of the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, La. "The womb is bigger earlier, which causes pressure in the upper part of the abdomen more quickly."
McArthur agrees. "Pillows, lots of them, are the key to getting comfortable enough to sleep," she says.
Another mother of twins, 35-year-old Stephanie Seiler of Brier, Wash., found that using a pillow between her legs while sleeping on her side worked until about her 7th month. After that, she found the only way she could doze off was to sleep on her back propped up by several pillows so she wasn't supine – or flat on her back – which can be bad for babies and Mom.
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Sleep Issues When Pregnant with Twins by Anonymous on 09/02/2009 12:35PM
I am in wk 33 in a twin pregnancy and my lower back feels like it is gonna break in half. i have tried sleeping on my side, proped up with pillows, and a body pillow and nothing is helping. The babies hate it when i sleep on my side and kick me like crazy this doesnt help. i havent slept properly in about four months and its driving me crazy. plus is it safe to sleep on the side in a twin pregnancy one of the babies head is near my ribs to the side and i keep thinking im gonna sqaush his head.