Severe Calf Cramps

[Banx]

I have been waking up to severe cramps in my calf. enough to make me speechless! and not able to move!

Is there anything I can rub into them to make them feel better?

Im going for a full body pregnancy massage tomorrow night.. but Im worried I wont enjoy it because when she goes to the legs.... im going to tighten up muscles because of the pain..

The pain continues after the cramp but not as bad.. and im having trouble walking and standing from sitting/laying down position.

DP has been massaging them just with normal moisturiser.. not helping at all!!

any suggestions?

[~clover~]

I had these with my DD's. I used to stretch my toes back & forth to stop the pain. I don't know what else you could do.

[Banx]

I can't even put my own socks on!! I can't reach my ankles let alone my toes!!

[{sarah}]

My Dr suggested drinking a small bottle of tonic water with dinner each night as the quinine in it helps prevent cramps. I didn't like tonic water so drank Schweppes Bitter Lemon because it has quinine as well. It really elped

[Niamh75]

I have been getting these in my hip and tops of leg muscle nearly every night driving me mad and so uncomfortable I do get the calf leg cramp as well so im very careful not to stretch my legs out straight at all and if i do i bend them again and pull my toes towards my knees as to re leave a calf muscle cramp you stretch out your leg grab your toes and pull towards your knee to take the spasm out but how to prevent them is what i really want my hips are really sore some days and so stiff

[LachiesMum]

I also find pushing my toes towards my knees is the only thing that helps to ease the cramps! Thankfully I don't suffer too often but I do believe massaging the calves helps considerably for that pain in the muscle that tends to linger long after the cramp is eased.

[smiles4u]

Hi Bianca (it's Lorelle from Ballarat)

... OMG, I so remember those pains about the same stage of my pregnancy ... I was in Coles & the pains were so bad I said to DP I've gotta sit down like right this second & there was a ladder on wheels in the aisle ... a staff member wasn't about & I sat on a step on this ladder & before I knew it I was doing a wheely backwards down the aisle I tell you what it freaked me out that much with shock that I forgot about the leg calf pains & cramps

Would love to say go find a ladder with wheels on it in Coles but you may go into labour sooner than expected

So sorry no advice (I did try a cream for one night that DP purchased that very day only to read on the instructions 'not suitable for preg women', augh) ... I did keep my walking or rather woddling up

... Yeh, maybe just ring up your hospital & ask for a midwife for advice ... rather then waiting to go in for your next appt !!

All the very best matie, .. hope you find something really soon to relief the pain

An after thought !! ... I just thought maybe ring this number (even in evenings) maybe they can help
- they are called "Nurses on Call" (for all sorts of medical advice) 1300 60 60 24 (I rang them once last year for something & they were very helpful & friendly. I hope the number is still the same)

[~clover~]

I've heard the tonic water thing too now that I think about it. I didn't know about it early enough to see if it worked though. I think I saw it on Whats Good For You or whatever that show was called.

I didn't use my hand to move my toes. I just naturally had to move them when I felt the pain & it gets rid of it. Hopefully the tonic water will prevent it all together for you if you try it though.

[monnie]

From what I remember, you need more magnesium in your diet to help reduce the cramps

Bananas are great!

[Banx]

Thank you all for all your suggestions!

I will try the tonic water idea!!

Also I haven't been able to eat bananas the whole pregnancy.. they make me ill. - DP is allergic to bananas... this is something ill have to talk to a midwife about also!!

Thank you all again!!

[aussienic]

I used to get these too. so horrible.. Would cry ..

bananas are one thing I was suggested as sometimes the cramps can mean a lack of potassium.. As hard as it is get your parttner to grab your foot when a cramp hits and pull your toes towards your shin. it hurts like all buggery but the cramp passes quicker