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Leg Cramps?!
Is anyone else having leg cramps at night?
Twice now I've had a horrid, intense cramping of my left calf muscle, and I've apparently jumped up in my sleep and tried to walk it off. Both times I woke up mid excruciating pain, stumbling around the bedroom and pinballing off of furniture because I couldn't manage to walk with the cramp, and I was half asleep.
My calf then is sore the rest of the next day. Just wondering if it was pregnancy related. I've never had it before!
Sheri
Twice now I've had a horrid, intense cramping of my left calf muscle, and I've apparently jumped up in my sleep and tried to walk it off. Both times I woke up mid excruciating pain, stumbling around the bedroom and pinballing off of furniture because I couldn't manage to walk with the cramp, and I was half asleep.
My calf then is sore the rest of the next day. Just wondering if it was pregnancy related. I've never had it before!
Sheri
I'm a little afraid to take a metal supplement, as they make you more constipated and trust me, I am so constipated as it is, when I go it's like birthing the rock of Gilbralter! LOL!
I did read some stuff about leg cramps during pregnancy, and it seems like lack of calcium is not the culprit:
From BabyCenter:
No one really knows why women have more leg cramps when they're pregnant. It's possible that your leg muscles are tired from carrying around all of your extra weight. Or they may be aggravated by the pressure your expanding uterus puts on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and the nerves that lead from your trunk to your legs.
You may have heard that having leg cramps is a sign that you need more calcium, and that calcium supplements will relieve the problem. Though it's certainly important to get enough calcium, there's no good evidence that taking extra calcium will help prevent leg cramps during pregnancy. In fact, in one well-designed study, pregnant women taking calcium got no more relief from leg cramps than those taking a placebo.
Sheri
I did read some stuff about leg cramps during pregnancy, and it seems like lack of calcium is not the culprit:
From BabyCenter:
No one really knows why women have more leg cramps when they're pregnant. It's possible that your leg muscles are tired from carrying around all of your extra weight. Or they may be aggravated by the pressure your expanding uterus puts on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and the nerves that lead from your trunk to your legs.
You may have heard that having leg cramps is a sign that you need more calcium, and that calcium supplements will relieve the problem. Though it's certainly important to get enough calcium, there's no good evidence that taking extra calcium will help prevent leg cramps during pregnancy. In fact, in one well-designed study, pregnant women taking calcium got no more relief from leg cramps than those taking a placebo.
Sheri
The cramps are caused by lack of magnesium so a supplement makes a huge difference!
Oh adgall.....
I feel for you girl !!! I too have had restless leg syndrome.. My only complaint over this whole pregnancy! I wish I could tell you how and what helps. I havent yet found a relief. The ob did tell me it will get easyier after her birth. I never had it befor so.. IM hoping he is right.
I just took naps durning the day, and just planned on getting things done at night, although it was tough to get motivated.. because your mind is so tired.. but once you get moving.. it gets easy, and things get done (smile)
good luck with yours I hope you dont have it as bad as me.
I feel for you girl !!! I too have had restless leg syndrome.. My only complaint over this whole pregnancy! I wish I could tell you how and what helps. I havent yet found a relief. The ob did tell me it will get easyier after her birth. I never had it befor so.. IM hoping he is right.
I just took naps durning the day, and just planned on getting things done at night, although it was tough to get motivated.. because your mind is so tired.. but once you get moving.. it gets easy, and things get done (smile)
good luck with yours I hope you dont have it as bad as me.
I am getting them in my feet, and have developed a horrible case of restless leg syndrome. My Dr. told me to increase my calcium, and that should help with the cramps. The restless leg syndrome I haven't been able to do anything about, so any suggestions would be so gratefully welcome!!
I've been having them in my calves and feet for about 2 months now. I eat bananas and am fine with my calcium. I recently read that it can have something to do with swelling in your legs and feet, which makes sense to me. I work in a salon where I stand for 8 to 12 hours a day about 3 to 4 days a week. The days I work are the only days I have cramps. Maybe its a coincidence. I agree with the person who says stretching helps though.
That's exactly when I get my claf cramps when I stretch.
To releave cramps start rubbing and pinching the calf really quickly that seems to help.
To releave cramps start rubbing and pinching the calf really quickly that seems to help.
Another way to prevent and help fix them quick is to do calf stretches. Make sure you are stretching by pulling your toes up as high as you can toward your knees. Preventative stretches you can use furniture or a wall to help you stretch. If you are laying in bed, just pull your toes upward.
If you stretch and point your toes down, it will usually cause an immediate cramp. So remember, up up up with your toes!
If you stretch and point your toes down, it will usually cause an immediate cramp. So remember, up up up with your toes!
Yep, started getting them almost every morning, but so far they haven't been too bad. I also get some sort of a muscle cramp on the side of my stomach just below the ribs. Thanks for the banana tip, I'll definitelly try that.
Well I haven't had any cramps as of yet.....and now watch me get them after posting this....haha I will definately start eating bananas daily. Thank for that info Tennesseegirl!
Yep, I've been getting them too! In my calves and the arch of my feet!.....I'm scared to eat to many banannas (consipation) maybe I'll try one every other day. I drink a ton of milk so that shouldn't be it.
you guys need more calcium... with my first dd... she took all mine, and they had to give me extra calcium.. and they went away...
If not that.. you need to eat a bananna. try a bananna a day.. will do wonders.
so far with this one.. no charlie horses.. yay..
good luck
If not that.. you need to eat a bananna. try a bananna a day.. will do wonders.
so far with this one.. no charlie horses.. yay..
good luck
I have been getting them in my calves....sometimes that is from lack of potassium. I love bananas but since pregnancy, the thought of eating one makes me hurl!!! So, I have not had my banana intake!!!
oh my gosh, with my oldest DD i got them sooo bad i would limp around for days. ask your dr., but for me a calcium supplement helped a bunch. yes, i think it is pregnancy related!
yep i do.....and charlie horses galore....ughhI get them sometimes 3-4 time a night they say the "joys" are double with twins I so believe them...
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