Gosh I was never expecting this in my first pregnancy. To be woken up at 4-5 In the morning with really bad pains in my calf muscles. I'm nearly 22 weeks gone. Any one know of anything good to try and get rid of them. I've been to the quacks and he was useless! Any ways I've elevated my legs up, eaten lots of bananas, drunk loads of milk and water.
Any other suggestions which might work? Anyone else suffering with these cramps?
2007-08-07 03:52:04 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Julia J : Im actually Having a boy I found out last Monday!
2007-08-07 04:16:25 · update #1
Its RLS, (restless leg syndrome) if you do some stretches before bed it should help.
2007-08-07 03:55:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes and its awful! Heres what I found about leg cramps during pregnancy from http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/250.html
Leg cramps may come from carrying around extra weight and/or pressure from your uterus getting larger pressing on the blood vessels in your legs. There is some evidence that it could come from a lack of magnesium but make sure you ask your doctor before taking any supplements other than your prenatal vitamins. There has been no evidence actually linking a calcium difeciency to leg cramps although that has been thought in the past.
Things that may prevent leg cramps:
* don't sit or stand with your legs crossed for long periods of time
* stretch your calf muscles throughout the day and several times before bed
* rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes while sitting
* Take a walk during the day or evening
* Lay on your left side to improve circulation
* take a warm bath before bed time
When you get a cramp immediately stretch your calf muscle by straightening your leg heel first and then flex your toes towards your shin...it will hurt like heck at first but will stretch the muscle out. Also try massaging it with your hand.
Good luck and remember this too shall pass :)
2007-08-07 11:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by girlzmommy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh yes I had this with my son, almost every night for the whole pregnancy. It sounds like you're doing everything you can. When you get a leg cramp in the middle of the night, you need to get up immediately and stretch. I know it hurts a lot, but it'll help more than anything. Keep eating the bananas and drinking the milk, potassium and calcium will only help.
2007-08-07 10:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by njyecats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't much you can do other then massage the cramp out. I had them throughout my first pregnancy and eating banana's didn't help me at all. I would get them just about every night through out the whole pregnancy. If you aren't taking pre-natal vitamins try taking them I have been taking them through out my pregnancy that I am in now and have only had 2 or 3 leg cramps and I am almost 34 weeks along.
2007-08-07 11:17:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yesssss, I have the worse leg cramps. I've brought it up to my doctor more than 1x and all he can say is that it's a part of pregnancy, to elevate my legs... same advice every time and it never works! My friend, who happens to be a massage therapist, gave my legs a massage yesterday (felt great) but I still had cramps later during the night. I give up.
2007-08-07 11:05:41 · answer #5 · answered by Shortie [Mama of 2] 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got really bad leg cramps and hip pain during toward the end of two of my pregnancies. Doc said it was due to the weight of the baby pinching nerves near the hip. What helped for me was getting a big body pillow from WalMart and sleeping with it tucked between my knees. It kept my knees separated just enough that the pinching shooting pain didnt occur.
2007-08-07 11:09:33 · answer #6 · answered by holly should but wont 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I've found that can help get rid of a cramp there once it starts is to flex your foot really fast as soon as you feel one coming on. Point your toe then stretch foot up... back and forth really quick... I think it helps by flexing the muscle.
2007-08-07 10:56:31 · answer #7 · answered by ۞ Vixen ۞ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got those sooo soooo bad.
try a heating pad when you get cramps, it eases the pain away. You can also take a tylenol, it wont hurt anything.
One thing that really helped me was stretching in the AM and right before bed. Pull your toes up, dont point them down, that will give you charlie horses.
2007-08-07 10:59:31 · answer #8 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cramps are caused by lack of magnesium and potassium, eat more banana's and check that you pregnancy multi-vitamin has got calcium, magnesium and potassium. Try to have at least a short walk everyday. Good luck!
2007-08-07 11:13:07 · answer #9 · answered by Claire M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing that has helped me is to sleep with my legs elevated and as soon as I feel a cramp coming on to stand up. When I stand up it goes right away.
2007-08-07 10:59:53 · answer #10 · answered by Kris H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got them all the time when i was pregnant too. Now what i used to do even b4 pregnancy was when you get a cramp put yout toes on the floor so your heel is in the air and then push your heel so your foot is flat on the floor or if that doesnt work put your hel on the floor with your toes in the air then push your toes to the floor so your foot is flat. Works for me and most people who ive said it to. Hope it works for you. let me no if it does lol x
2007-08-11 10:41:01 · answer #11 · answered by Ella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋