HELP!! - BAD leg cramps at night!!!

I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing really bad leg cramps at night/early morning in bed? I had it a little with my previous son but it is much worse this time. I only have to move slightly in bed and my legs cramp up. This morning every muscle in my thigh was cramping and I couldnt move at all without it hurting. Talk about tears and screaming!!! My husband was in the shower and thought I was in labour! :cryinglaugh: He came running out dripping wet!

Does anyone know why we get this?? Ive heard that it might be dehydration, but ive been drinking heaps of water :wall:

Try having a handful of roasted almonds (not choc coated thought) when u get the cramps

I had them with pg 1 but not pg 2. One theory I have heard is lack of calcium, and one thing I did differently was I was taking calcium supplements during my 2nd pg. I have also heard that lack of salt can cause it and I was adding some iodised salt to my food during pg 2 which I don't usually do. So I'm not sure which of these made a difference, or whether it was just coincidence, but it could be worth a try for you. I hope you find something that helps.

magnesium can help too.
I get those cramps every winter, pg or not, but they were a lot worse while I was pg, and during labour. trust me, you want to get it under control and not go through 7 hours of labour with cramps from toe to hip in both legs.
Get a gym instructor or physio to show you come calf and hamstring stretches that you can do too (most will suggest doing them in water when you are pg, like a hydrotherapy pool or similar - as long as the water temp is OK)

A good calcium/magnesium supplement often helps.

I didn't get them as bad as you, you poor thing, but when I mentioned it to the OB he suggested having a Powerade during the day because the salts can help.

Hope you get some relief soon.

Spring

Actually my mum just mentioned having a powerade drink because it can be a lack of electolytes. I might go and grab the powdered one and give it a go. Thanks girls :)

Mumma - I have always been told to drink a glass of tonic water before going to bed to stop leg cramps. It tastes horrible but I usually put a little raspberry or lime cordial in with it and its not too bad. The cordial I use is the real Schwepps cordial in a glass bottle.
Good luck!

Salt worked for me. But only figured this out after suffereing bad leg cramps and then one night going to the movies, indulging in some popcorn and then nothing!!!!
At the moment tho, leg cramps have progressed to hip pain. But im just putting this down to the extra weight when i am laying on my side. Not nice at times though!

Best wishes :)

with my first preg i used to wake up with painful cramps but then my DH started to rub my legs before bed and they stopped! Worth a try... I've been luckier this time, just getting leg aches but i still get my leg rubs, most nights..

I get them really bad too!! Last night i slept upright with my legs all the way up so my knees were under my chin, almost like the "dive bomb" position!! It seems to help with the pain! I woke up to DP massaging my calves! Aaaawww :D

I tried the Magnesium tablets a while back and they sort of helped but not enough for them to go away! At least it will all be over soon!

YES! I got them a few times during the night when pregnant. Id wake up either in the worst pain or when i got up to go to the bathroom i would get the worst cramps up my leg.. trying to pull my foot back as you do did nothing and i just had to bear the pain. Ive been talk its possibly due to your body needing more salt. Bub's is draining you from all the goodness you have so you may need some extra.

I've been talking to my doctor about this problem because lately I've been experiencing the same issue. I remember one night when I broke out in tears and poor DH thinking there was something wrong with the bub. The massive leg cramp was intolerable. I found what really helped me was leg exercises during the day. Nothing strenuous. Try lying on your bed or a carpetted floor and stretch your leg in the air and then bend midway. I did them about 15 times each day and since then, haven't had any leg cramps at night! Hope this helps!

hello.. i can definatelly sympathise with you.. i wake up in excrutiating pain most nights with leg and hip cramps (mainly on my right side).. i was told by the midwife to use heat packs and i may have to have some physio.. but it is a horrible feeling especially when you go to stretch just a little bit and your whole leg just cramps up. :(

i haven't found anything that helps yet, but i will let you know when i do.

I tried the Gatorade thing the other night and that seemed to help. I didnt get any cramps that night but had them again lastnight. Its strange how you just go to stretch your leg and everything cramps up. As is we arent uncomfortable enough as it is!! lol

Yeah I got it real bad with my first pregnancy but only once in my second so far. Im real conscious of it though and expect it to happen if I move or stretch. Nothing I did stopped it. Feels like your muscle is trying to turn around in your leg. The OB called the muscle spasms.

Same as Rebecca, my Dr recommended tonic water in the evening because of the quinine in it, Schweppes Bitter Lemon has it as well which tastes much nicer.

I got these so bad with my 1st and 3rd pregnancy! I made sure I upped my banana intake (pottasium) and it worked.. also I had to make sure I wasn't having to much soft drink (salt)

Hi,

I’ve got this info from the APA (Aust Physiotherapy Assc.) brochure, calf stretch exercise to relieve leg cramps:
Stand with both hands against a wall. Place one leg back with your knee straight, heel flat on the floor and toes pointed straight ahead. Slowly lean forward, bending the front knee. Hold and feel the stretch in your calf muscle. Repeat for the other leg.

Hope this helps!

Hi there,

I had this too. With the best diet in the world it didn't make any difference for me.
I would have them a few times a night a few times a week. It was really painful but i took a deep breath and flexed my foot and just rubbed and rubbed the foot.

Dont worry its really normal and will disappear once you're holding bubs

:)

ann