Leg cramping?

Question

I'm 22wks pregnant and this morning i woke with a VERY painfull cramp in my leg!! Spoke to my friend who said this can be very common in pregnancy! How common is this? It's very painful :-(

Answer 1

I found that if I took a Calcium/Magnesium supplement, that I could avoid cramps altogether (I only got the cramps in my calves, not in my thighs). With my last pregnancy, I had a banana by my bed, and ate that each morning before getting out of bed. So I would agree with the person that posted to up your Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. When I started taking the Cal/Mag supplements every day, I had no cramps at all. You don't have to take much, and it is SO worth it.

Answer 2

This is so very, very common in pregnancy. I've had this happen every pregnancy. I'm on my third pregnancy now and this started for me a few weeks ago. I'm 29 weeks. The pain is so terrible that I've often said I'd rather be in labor for several days. The best thing to do is increase your "iums"--calcium, potassium, magnesium. All of these help with muscle contraction. Another thing you can try is if the pain is in your calve, flex the foot up (toes toward shin). That way you are flexing the front of the leg, forcing the calve muscle to relax. This does sometimes work but in extreme cases it doesn't help. Also, exercise. Do yoga stretches and walk for at least 20 minutes.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Leg cramps happen to lots of ladies when they are pregnant and if they are in the thigh they really hurt and sometimes the muscle will stay sore for hours after a cramp. First thing to do is to walk the cramp off, if you leg still hurts take a hot shower and let the warm water just pound on the leg. This will usually take care of it , if it doesn't use a heating pad on the leg. If you are lucky maybe your partner could rub the cramp away and massage the muscle after this can lead to interesting things so give it a try. Good luck and may God bless you and your baby.

Answer 4

Oh, you poor thing! I had that with my last baby. And it is VERY VERY painful, I know. Apparently it is very normal and nothing to worry about, so the doctors say. Thats ok for them, they're not waking up in the middle of the night unable to move in pure agony! But its not dangerous! I think its something to do with the baby putting pressure on your insides and hitting nerves. Drink lots of water, sometimes a bit of extra salt helps, but ask your doctor about that one because Im not sure how much salt is ok during pregnancy. Try not to cross your legs too much while your pregnant and before you go to bed do some light excercises to stretch your muscles a bit, also do that before you get out of bed. Are the cramps in your upper thigh? Thats where mine were and I found lying with a pillow between my legs on my side took the pressure of them.
Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 5

It is very common indeed. But it's easy to get rid off and prevent. When your in bed, avoid pointing your toes down straight. Your feet should be pointing up to the ceiling. When you feel a leg cramp coming on, pull your toes up towards you and it'll stop the leg cramp.

It is very painful indeed. And it usually happens in the middle of the night when you're asleep.

Good luck to you!

Answer 6

It is common (preg w/#6 here) and part of the joys of pregnancy. Soon you won't be comfortable laying on your left side either, if not already.

This is just from the baby laying and putting pressure on your nerves and internal organs.

They say eating bananas helps with leg cramps but you have to have them regularly.

I say it's just part of being pregnant...but bananas are good for you any way so doesn't hurt to eat them.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 7

It is very common. Eat bananas. Cramps are caused by a lack of potassium in the body.

Answer 8

The cramping is due to low potassium levels. Eat bananas every day, I also used to sleep with a pillow between my legs to alleviate the pressure of one leg on top of the other.

Answer 9

its very common i just had some last night myself its from the baby laying on a mane artery and kinda stops well not stops but slows the flow of blood wich can cause leg cramp and shortness of breath while layin on your back.. im 20 weeks and 4 days

Answer 10

Don't know about commonality but I know for a fact that vitamin E should ease the pain. (P.S. I'm seeing a girl at the moment but don't tell me either way until you are closer, even if you know) Once in a while it changes at the very end of term, not literally but only in my vision.