charlie horses and pregnancy?

Question

Im 24 weeks pregnant and been getting charlie horses in my leg at night...this is the only time i get them is whenever im pregnant..anyone else getting them also?

Answer 1

I would get those with my first pregnancy but never really asked my doctor why I would get them. Now with my second pregnancy (due on 1-25-07) I did ask my doctor.

He told me that getting cramps on your muscles is not normal and you get them because of any of these 3 reasons:

1. Lack of calcium- he told me to drink a glass of milk (8oz) everyday.

2. Lack of potassium- he said for me to either eat 3 bananas a day or drink a glass of orange juice (8oz) every day.

3. Dehydration- he said for me to have 8 (8oz) glasses of water a day at least and to eliminate all soft drinks from my diet for they tend to dehydrate your body instead of helping it.

Ever since I asked him and started doing as he adviced, I have stopped getting those. I would usually get them when I was asleep and sometimes the pain on the muscle would stay for days. Walking everyday also helps. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

I started getting a few really painful charlie horses at about 20 weeks! I would wake up with this awful cramping up and down my calves and the pain wouldn't fully subside until a few days later. It is helpful to stretch your calves before going to bed and avoid pointing your toes, especially when you feel the pain coming on. Instead, you should flex your feet and treat your legs to a massage --or have your partner give you one! I've found that doing some gentle yoga moves also helps, but unfortunately, I had to stop doing that for a few days because of a virus that made me nauseaus every time I touched my toes.

Answer 3

I've gotten them with all three pregnancies and I learned a trick while I was pregnant with number two. When you feel them coming on you need to stand up and stretch you leg with your toes pulling up and normally that will help stop the pain from getting worse.

Answer 4

I had one just the night before last---ouch!! I'm 31wks and this was the first time though. I have also been told about it being caused by dehydration, and or lack of potassium. Try having an extra glass of water and eating a banana. It's definitely worth a try to keep them suckers from happening!

Answer 5

With my son and daughter Wish I could of cut my legs off at times.
I found eating some bananas, drinking more milk helped.
Also stretch your legs out but what ever you do do not point your toes up it makes it so much worse.
Sleeping with a pillow in between your legs helps a lot to.
Good luck!

Answer 6

They are, unfortunately, a natural part of being pregnant. When I was pregnant I got horrific ones to the point where I couldn't move my leg and I was reduced to tears. I never found anything to really help. Take heart, it's not permanent!

Answer 7

That happened to me. I was told to eat a lot of food with potassium (bananas) and massage my legs and feet every day to keep from getting them. It worked, I don't get them anymore, I guess it has to do alot with circulation. Also stretch your legs out throughout the day and if you sit for long hours keep your feet elevated.

Answer 8

I also had them really bad when i was pregnant, but it wasnt until i was about 7-8 months that it started happening all the time

Answer 9

When I was pregnant I was getting them too my doctor said that I probably wasn't getting enough potassium and to eat at least 2 bananas a day and they went away.

Answer 10

OH MY GOD i get them too & THEY HURT sooo bad, what i do is 1/2 asleep but awake from the pain is walk around my room drinking a whole glass of water. sometimes i am unable to even walk but i sit on the edge of the bed & move my legs while drinking water... it takes a couple of minutes for the pain to go away, but oh my god does it hurt!!!