Cramping in general, pregnant or not can be caused by low salts in the body, which muscles need to function properly.
Salts such as potassium, magnesium, sodium etc. In you can get a mineral supplement that has a wide range of vitamins and minerals it should help replenish the body with the natural salts it needs to function properly.
When you're pregnant the baby takes up so much of your dietary needs to develop, which is why people start to experince this when they are pregnant.
Go to your health food shop and see what they can give you. Collodial minerals are fantastic, PM me if you want details or somewhere to get them from
Also, try a heat pack on the mucles to encourage blood flow and ease the pain of cramping, and if you can, treat yourself to a massage
Someone told me that you don't get them as badly if you can remember not to point your toes when you stretch your legs... It makes sense to me - it's usually just as my foot reaches full flexion that the cramp kicks in... Worth a try anyway!
I am scared to up my salt intake incase i do damage and go the complete opposite way...maybe if i eat ore bananas etc, as they are high in potassium, and seem helthy enough
How do i know, whats a safe ammount of sodium to be having?
I have also noticed that it isnt as bad if i dont point my tos, so i think your right with that one!! I have still given a little stretch, these last few mornings, and just tried not to point the toes, and so far so good
Touch wood haven't had too many yet but very common in pregnancy from 2nd trimesters and can get worse in 3rd. Depending on which book / article you read it can be blamed on * pressure on nerves from trunk to legs due to expanding uterus * additional weight we are carrying which leads to legs being tired * too much phosphorus or too little calcium or potassium in diet - take your pick !!!!
Things you can do to mimimise - eat banana or drink glass of milk before you go to bed which provides calcium/potassium boost - try to stretch muscles before going to bed - try to get a walk in each day (even 10 minutes can help) - if okay with care provider take magnesium tablets (some of the other girls have mentioned this already).
Trick when you do get a cramp is to stretch the leg immediately - will hurt but will also make it go away straighten from heel first and flex ankles and toes.
Are you taking any pregnancy suppliments already? Like Blackmores or Eleviate? They should help level out any deficiencies in your diet if there was any.
Im taking folate, thats all. I was on those blackmore pregnancy/breastfeeding tablets..the ones that look like a chocolate bullet But they ran out at about 4 months and so i decided to go to just folate for the remainder of the pregnancy.
I have been having milk/milo before bed each night, and havent had a cramp in about a week, which is good.
I never believe the books when they said to try not sleep on your back, as it cuts off circulation and lood flow to the lower part of the body and legs.
I didnt believe this until the other night i woke up with completely dead legs and no feeling below the waste...just a numbness....I quickly rolled over onto my side, and the feeling came back....Im now taking the books more seriously :P
Maybe that has something to do with the cramps also? I didnt think much of it, but it makes sense i guess :/
funny you mention the on your back thing. i used to be petrified of sleeping on my back but no so with this pregnancy. I think you may have proven your book to be right in that the weight of the uterus cuts blood supply off the main blood highway to your lower adomen & legs. I usually get mild BH when i roll onto my back for any length of time.. very annoying.
With the calf leg cramps i used to get them in puberty and now i get them in pregnancy. DH has woken up to me crying in pain in the middle of night, now he gets up and pushes my foot straight (my calfs are no longer stretched) and the cramp goes away.. if he didn't i'd still be there in pain trying to move my foot. My muscles are sore for a few days after, nothing a nice rub down or warm bath won't fix
i seem to remember reading somewhere that in pregnancy you need more salt and not to cut down on it(a belly belly article perhaps?)
I get leg cramps through out all of my pregnancies and I swear by taking magnesium tablets help. I use a formula called Magnesium Complete by Nutra Life. I take double quanity for a week then cut back to one before bed.
Would seriously look into restarting the Blackmores there is so much in them than just folate all of which is beneficial both to the baby and also for breastfeeding if you are intending to do that afterwards. Check out to see if you have a Discount Vitamins store near you. Their prices are seriously good - cheaper than anyplace else. FWIW I also take Calcium tablets (as I don't drink milk) and Vitamin C tablets (to try to stave off colds).
From what I understand the sleeping on your back is to be avoided the further into the pregnancy that you get as the weight of uterus and baby etc gets heavier and heavier. I am lucky I naturally sleep on my side (yeah one thing I don't have to change).
With being concerned about having more salt, its more the natural salts and minerals that cause the cramping, not your general sodium and table salt
This is why its suggested to take a mineral supplement, as it has all the different salts the body needs. Potassium, magnesium etc....
Google search collidial minerals for more information
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straighten from heel first and flex ankles and toes.
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