Leg Cramps

[SiarasMummy]

I am 36 weeks, for the last few weeks the muscles in my lower legs feel very tight and uncomfortable and for the last 3 nights I have been waking up with painful leg cramps. I have been up since 7am today and I still feel sore in my legs and feel like my muscles are really tight.

What can I do to prevent them?

[krystals]

I know the feeling well hun :hugs:
I made banana smoothies before bed (add some milo, yum) and that seemed to help alot. Mind you, that was before bananas cost more than gold.
The milk should still help.

Also, drink plenty of water during the day and see if you can elevate your legs a little, I used to put mine up on a pillow.

Good luck x

[Redhead]

Horrible isn't it? I am 30 weeks and have the same.
One of my "belly buddies" told me magnesium is great for cramps.
Makes sense, as I took it for cramps after doing a 12k walk/run last year.

[Santosha]

I've had them horribly this time round. 5-10 times a night I've been hopping round he bedroom in agony with cramps in feet, calves, thighs and occasionally shins - that one's a shocker. Finally got organized and got some magnesium and it has been MAGIC. If I forget to take the supp, I'm guaranteed to get cramps, if I remember, nothing at all or maybe the occasional twinge. That said, I've heard it doesn't work for everyone as it depends what's triggering them. May also be dehydration, insufficient salt or other things. Well worth a try though.

[Minque]

They are just awful aren't they! The only thing I can say like the others here have said is make sure you are as hydrated as possible with a drink with electrolytes in it - maybe a powerade drink or something like that

[DaintreeDream]

I had them with DD1 and they were horrible! I was also told to have a banana and glass of milk before bed, so now when pregnant this is my nightly ritual and I haven't had a cramp since

[Winter]

I took Magnesium & Calcium tablets and stretched before bed because those leg cramps hurt like a mo.fo!! Hope you get some relief soon!!

[SiarasMummy]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I will definitely give the magnesium a go, unfortunately I think bananas might be a bit too expensive to have everyday
I probably don't drink enough water either but it's so much easier to avoid it rather than going to the loo 3000 times a day

[Taryn]

I definitely recommend the magnesium too! And a glass of milk before bed. I also do stretches before I lie down which seems to help! Good luck, they are the worst! xo

[Megsy181011]

I go to the gym a few times a week and a couple of weeks ago I started having major leg cramps, especially in the calf region - very painful. I reduced the intensity slightly and started blackmores magnesium compound and its gone! Good luck x

[mummaT]

Its important to have calcium in conjunction with magnesium as the help each other with absorption. You can buy combined cal mag supplements. Cal Mag helps muscles relax in general so it is good to have a nice store of it when labour arrives. Drinking heaps of water will help too, pity bout all the peeing that go's with it though, lol.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Definitely calcium and magnesium. I took them everyday and didnt have one leg cramp.

[solutionstohealth]

Try standing on a cold surface, which can sometimes stop a spasm. Or relieve leg pain during pregnancy by straightening your leg and gently flexing your ankle and toes back toward your shins several times. If either of these techniques works, you can try a prenatal massage or add local heat for added relief, but don't massage or add heat if neither flexing nor cold helps the situation.