Painful night leg spasms

I'm now 27.5 weeks along and have started getting excrutiating leg spasms at night.  I will be sleeping on my left side and then if I turn over suddenly I sometimes get a painful spasm on my left leg.  It's always on my left leg.  My muscle feels like it is being pulled like a rubber band(very painful tightening) and then I can feel it release slowly.  The whole tighting/relaxing happens in about 10-15 secs but I'm usually screaming in pain.  My leg then throbs afterward like I had a workout.  I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this and if there are any foods I can take to alleviate this.  I know bananas help with leg cramps so maybe I will try that and go for a massage. Any suggestions?

[over40club]

Sounds like a lack of potassium. I got them with my pregnancies and would take a potassium pill for a few days and they would go away. Check with your dr. he/she may just suggest eating more bannas first.

[jgirl34]

Ooooh those hurt!! I had them to with all 4 pregnancies, they're no fun! When you get them if you point your foot up towards the ceiling thatusually helps to relax the muscle and the spasm will then go away. I had them the worst with my first pregnancy but they are very painful and very annoying. We already have enough issues trying to sleep then you get those darn things waking you up! :p I would also try potassium just as you said. Good luck hope they go away!

[Adevotee]

I am 25 weeks today and have been having ALOT of them lately. I heard that it can be a lack of calcium, I try and drink a glass of milk before I go to bed but I sometimes still get them. I am going to ask my dr about it at my next week appointment.

Does your leg hurt the next day, like when you walk it feels like you pulled a muscle or something?? Mine do, I get them in both but more in the left than the right.

[Jenny77]

I get the leg spasms at night too. And I'll be so honest, I don't think there's much you can do. I know I'm getting enough calcium and potassium. I think its just one of those things we have to deal with during pregnancy. When I get them I flex my foot upward like someone else said and rub my leg and it usually goes away pretty fast. Don't point your toes (like a ballerina), that makes it worse.

[Adevotee]

yes there is a danger in taking too much. I will make sure to update on what my dr says.

[mommamia8]

Yeah my leg is in pain today as if a muscle has been pulled.  I'm going for a massage today to see whether they can help with circulation.  I'm thinking I'm getting enough calcium because I'm taking calcium pills on top of the prenatal vitamins.  Let me know what your doctor tells you.  I'm going to have to wait and ask my doctor since my next appointment isn't until Oct 1.

Does anyone know how much potassium your supposed to be taking?  Is there a danger of taking too much?

[Me2mommy2b]

I agree with Adevotee...I heard it's b/c of lack of calcium.  I did a lot of Pilates before my pregnancy and tried to stay with it during my pregnancy (between my terrible 5 months of morning sickness and being tired most of my pregnancy, that didn't go too well).  Stretching my hamstring muscle helped and continues to help me a lot!!  Stretching in general is good for your body during pregnancy.  Just be careful not to overdo it b/c it's very easy to pull a muscle during pregnancy due to hormones that relax all of our muscles to prepare for childbirth.  Hope that helps.

[jerzieleigh]

im 6mths and getting the leg spasms they dnt hurt and always in my left leg i got it with my last pregancy and just started 2 get em now they r annoying and for some reason they keep me awake till 4am like last time.. i spoke about it 2 my midwife she told me 2 get travel socks that was it.. cnt remember them working either so gonna try ur advices tnx

[vickym7819]

i am about 17 weeks pregnant and this is my first pregnancy and i've gotten about 3 leg spazms i didnt know this could happen during pregnancy at all it hurtsssssss like hell, why is this happening? what does my left leg muscles have anything to do with me carrying a baby? its soo confusing gahh!