Leg Cramps :(

i have the worst leg cramps of my LIFE!! im so frusterated....they are here even while awake and in the middle of the freaking day...i couldnt even get a nap because of them and oddly enough i also have the same type cramps in my arms...i am so restless and uncomfortable i could cry! i know about how to stretch my legs out...which way to point my toes and ive tried walking and taking a bath blah blah blah....does anyone know of any weird old wives tale methods or homeopathic things to do?! i am desperate here...i heard about this one weird thing where you put a bar of soap under your bedsheet at the end of the bed...no idea why it would work but i am willing to try anything!!
-28 weeks and simply miserable-

help help help!!

[30something13]

sounds like a calcium defeceincy (sp sorry:)) I would eat some tums or drink some milk, It is really good warm at night to help relax.

Also I read somewher that that is something you should tell you ob about but not sure why.

Also potassium is one thing that helps calcium absorb and can casue pains too. prunes hav ethe highest as far as eating the least, then banannas and potatoes last.

Hope this helps!! Oh and they ahve prunes soaked in OJ and  they are great! the dired ones that is.

[Irish741]

Augh...those leg cramps are horrible. I had the same thing. One woke from from a dead sleep. I was screaming and I couldn't even walk. It was really scary. I agree with 30something13's suggestions.

Sorry about your pain... :(

[isthisnormal]

Oh man, I had those my entire third trimester! Burt's Bees makes amazing foot/leg cream that you might want to try. :)

[Sunkissed19]

i honestly drink like 6 glasses of milk a day...no joke..so i dont think increasing the calcium intake will do anything for me unless i want to be drinking a whole gallon of milk a day lol and DF already complains about how fast i go through the milk! i wish milk helped....i love the stuff!

[Sunkissed19]

did the burts bee's creme work to help your leg cramps? i'll go buy it in a case if it did :)

[mami1323]

Ouch, I remember waking with them.  You can get them if you are dehydrated.  Do you drink enough water?  I would also eat bananas like the above poster stated.  I don't know what's in a banana, perhaps potassium, but whatever it is it helps with cramping.  I eat a banana before I work out doing cardio because I don't get any cramping or stitches.  

[nickieb85]

hey girl. leg cramps are the worst in the third trimester. I had them terribly with both of my boys. There is one trick that absolutely works though. oddly enough my mother told me about it when i was having them. do you have tile in your house? cold tile floors... i remember waking up in the middle of the night with the worst leg cramps and i would get out of bed and hobble to the bathroom to stand on the cold tile floor and they are outta there!

[Sunkissed19]

mami-i'll try the bananas ...i havent had much of them lately because they kind of have grossed me out during my pregnancy for whatever reason...i used to love them prepregnancy. but ill try eating one and see if it helps!

nickie- interesting trick...i do have freezing cold tile in my bathroom...luckily because everywhere else is wood floors! i'll try that tonight or anytime today that i get them.

its also not just those big strong make you want to cry all of a sudden leg cramps that im experiencing (although i do experience those) its more of like a really tight feeling in the muscles in my legs and arms thats really bothering me...like i cant stretch out enough. and the feeling is more or less there all the time.

[tarajanes]

Im suffering the same thing and have for several weeks now.for me its the ankles.no matter what you do,you cant get comfortable.and it does want to make you cry.my midwife said to drink more milk,havent found this to help.oh the joys..

[jade_21]

Oh, do I hear your pain as I am suffering through the same thing now.  I have also heard that eating foods high in potassium can help.  I am going to try the banana thing tonight.  I did elevate my legs more yesterday and that seemed to help some.  I am also pushing the fluids more.  But I do drink a lot of milk and eat lots of cheese, so I don't think it can be caused by a lack of calcium.  

[Willow10]

My midwife told me too much calcium could cause cramps especially leg cramps. I was having them really bad and was also drinking tons of milk like you and so many tums for heart burn and she told me to but back on the two and i havent had a cramp since but i do have serious cases of restless leg which hits during the day and night and prevents any sleep and there is no cure for that. I'd try less milk maybe

[Willow10]

**Cut back on the two. And also she said rubbing the leg cramps can make them worse so just try to stretch them. Good luck

[Heatherm4]

Yes I've just read yesterday that it's a good idea to stretch especially before bed. Take about 10 minutes and do the butterfly stretch and try and do other stretches that will help. If you google it you'll find good stretches.

[jade_21]

I've found that elevating my legs throughout the day has helped with my craps a lot.  Just thought I would pass that on.