HELP I have restless legs? Any suggestions?

I am 32 weeks pg, and for the last 2 weeks have developed restless legs. Just after I Iie down my legs get really restless, and I can't seem to stop wanting to move them. It was intially just at night, but has now extended to during the day when I lie down. Despite being really, really tired, I am finding it impossible to sleep, as I keep getting woken up by either my wiggly legs or needing to go to the toilet. DH says that even when I am asleep I am moving my legs about.

I have tried everything, massage, heat packs, cold packs, stretching, walking laps around the house, eating extra bannanas for the potasium. I am taking calcium as well, and having this with orange juice to help with the absorption. My iron levels are fine.

Does anyone have any suggestions, as I really need to have more than 4 hours sleep a night.

Magnesium supplements can help but it is a horrible feeling.

I can only smpathy. I also suffer with this while pg but pretty much all of my pg not just the last few weeks.

I didn't find anything helped.

A good calcium/magnesium supplement is about the only thing that helps. I know how you feel it's very annoying isn't it!

I had this with pg 1 but not pg 2. I figure the difference was either the calcium supplements or increasing my (almost non-existent) salt intake. Not sure which it was, so maybe try both?

I have heard that it is a lack of salt... so maybe trying adding salt to some food.. xxoo

Magnesium tabs definately. I take MagPhos it is a cell salt, go to the health shop and ask them what they think. I have found sleeping with a pillow under my knees helpful too.

Sorry no helpful suggestions, just sympathy - I had it too. The only thing that helped me was quite (very) firm massage of the front and back of my lower legs, plus putting my feet up more during the day. But that didn't help much....

Goodness me how did I miss this wonderful bit of news? Congrats on your impending arrival :D

I had this toward the end of my last PG. It was very unconfortable so you have my symapthies. I had more problems with cramping for the first two. Wondering if it could be related somehow...

So pleased i found this. This is my prob i couldnt explain to my DH what was wrong with my legs but it's a horrible feeling i never got with DD1.

Hi Nat1983. It is nice to know that it isn't all in your head isnt it!! Looking at your ticker, we are due the same day too!!

So Sammi, are you saying that by my third baby this won't be a problem!! Yes this is our little PGD IVF miracle baby!

I had this with my 1st preg, and have got it sometimes when not preg also.

My physio told me it was often caused by dehydration. Are you drinking enough water?

I had this too and it was usually really bad on those really hot days where I was a bit dehydrated and had been on my feet all day. I also read it was a result of a lack of magnesium and essential salts which would make sense why it was worse on those days I was a bit dehydrated.

I used to get DH to massage my legs with a peppermint cooling leg gel just before I wanted to go to sleep and it would relax them enough so I could drop off.

HTH!

Hi girls.

I just posted in my belly buddies thread today about my legs. I remembered reading this thread though and maybe my issue is the same.

My legs feel like I have to move them all the time, when I go to bed. It nearly hurts but not a cramp, just annoying and very uncomfortable. It's been waking me up all night and driving me insane! Think that might be the same stuff?

I'm taking pregnancy/breastfeeding multi vitamins. Should I go and get some mag/phos as well? It's not harmful obviously. It can't be deydration with me as I drink HEAPS of water (approx 3 - 4 litres per day) and I also eat a fair bit of salt so I'm not sure if I should increase that.

Aghhh, it was so hard to try and explain how it felt but I'm pretty sure it's what you girls are talking about.

Hopefully something will cure it!

:)

I definitely had this with this baby and with my previous pregnancy too. Not a whole lot helped, except getting up and moving. :( One thing that I did find aggravated it a little was if I had to go to the loo - a full bowel seemed to make it worse, and then it was much less of a problem (but not gone, unfortunately) after. HTH!

Yep - me too I suffer also & I really hate it! Just when all you want to do is sleep & your leg wont let you... A little weird for other ppl to understand. Cant remember if I had the same prob with DD,hmmm.
Let us know if the mag/phos works should you try it okay?

You know i think there's a psychological component to RLS(restless leg syndrome). Like our dreams rehashing over and over the theme of the book we're reading/film we just watched/issue we're focused on.... I think while it's a fresh issue in our minds its more intense in our bodies. For me it was worst when i first became aware of it and did some research. it has faded back a few notches now I'm more focused on other stuff. other things that helped... tonic water : I drank litres every night when i woke up with the legs/arms/etc insisting i climb stairs at 1, 3 and 5am. But DONT drink tonic water if your platelets are low!!! Oddly enough i was intensely thirsty all night and all next day when it was really bad - sounds like evidence for the dehydration hypothesis. Distraction is helpful (all night online helped my legs but i was half dead next day) so maybe wake up your partner for...um.... a game of scrabble? the doctor said to take double iron and magnesium supplements in order for the dose to be effective in relieving RLS. And remember, this too will pass (to eventually be superceded by a more dramatic physical experience).

You all have my sympathies! I had horrible RLS from the end of my 2nd tri well into my third trimester. I was aware of the calcium / magnesium issue, but have found that since I greatly increased my fluid intake and significantly upped my salt intake as well, that it has by and large stopped being an issue. Interestingly, I increased my fluids and salt to address very low blood pressure, rather than the restless legs, but seem to have had a bonus spin off from it!
Best of luck

Cheers Hopefullysoon

I'm not sure what causes it but it drove me nut with all three pg. there were two things that I found used to help, I'm not sure if they can hurt you so you may want to ask your doctor if you think it's strange, the first is rubbing eucalyptus oil straight from the bottle and massage in. the next thing that would work is to lay down and have a blow heater directed at your legs. It may be getting to hot for this now. I just remembered that lavender oil was useful too, on my pillow and rubbed on legs.

Hi EJE,
Ohmygod - am SO glad I have found this thread! Have suffered from Restless Leg Syndrome for about the last 8 weeks but is DEFINITELY getting worse. Apparently about 15% of women get it but whenever you speak to anybody who's been pregnant they always confues it with cramps which is completely different! My ob recommended the Magnesium tablets but all these seemed to do was, erm, over-loosen my bowel!! Find the more tired I am the worse it gets - had 3 nights in a row last week and come Saturday morning was delirious.....then hardly anything.
Distraction can help - when DH wakes up (accidentally of course - normally when I get to the stage that I'm punching the living daylights out of my up-in-the-air legs!!) sometimes he'll stroke my forehead until I fall asleep....sometimes works but I've normally been awake for hours by then anyway.
Does anybody know what causes it? Thought it could be all our extra blood???
Gosh - it's good to vent!! Sorry to go on!!!
Sara F