fecking restless legs

[pinkr]

Title says it all really! Any suggestions anyone? Its driving me nuts

[forgetmenots]

I'm shamelessly marking my place, can't sleep because of my calves and feet shifting about!

[Repeatedlydoingthetwist]

Also watching with interest because I feel like I want to replace mine with metal robot legs.
Only thing that is marginally helping is DP giving me a sports massage type things where he turns my foot almost back on itself which before pregnancy had me literally screaming but now boy does it feel good.

[lookingfoxy]

I'm sure I've googled this and it can be caused by low iron levels.
Unfortunately for me the iron tablets bring their own problems! !

[georgedawes]

Might be anaemia, was for me.

[looneytune]

Suffering too, never did with my other 2. I have been told I am 'mildly anaemic' so maybe there is something in the iron levels, didn't know that!

[OrangeLily]

Non- pregnancy related here but the only thing that really gets rid of mine is a good sleep. Which is a PITA if it happens at work or if I get it in the morning.

Had restless legs today after a weekend away. Was quite funny as DH was sitting on the floor in front of the sofa and I was laying on the sofa. He nearly got smacked in the head with my foot, I was pretty restless by this point.

Raising my feet with pillows can provide some relief. I used to do this when I worked long shifts as a waitress and found it really helped my sore feet but also my restless legs.

[Repeatedlydoingthetwist]

I've heard that it can be iron related but my iron levels are better than they were pre pregnancy!! I'm sure I read something about potassium helping? And that eating bananas was therefore a good thing? I may have got myself confused though

[pinkr]

Gosh i'm on the iron tablets although I struggle to take the full amount all the time!

[wifey6]

Suffering the same here too!
My iron levels have been deemed a bit low so I've been taking liquid iron (spatone) which I find is gentler than tablets & does help ease the restless legs problem once I've taken them for a few days.

[wispa31]

i take magnesium at bedtime and def keeps it at bay. i use lamberts magnesium citrate, 450mg every night. iron levels so far are fine.

[StormyBrid]

Bananas all the way. I ate one every day while pregnant. Went to visit family at 29 weeks, and the restless legs got insane for a couple of days, until I suddenly realised I hadn't been having my daily banana. Ate a banana, problem solved.

[Myneaux]

I have suffered with really bad restless legs for most of my life....they definately get worse during pregnancy too when I get it during the night (I have normal iron levels so this isnt always the cause).

The best thing I have found is the Body Shops peppermint foot gel/lotion. I have a big bottle by the side of the bed...if you rub it all over your lower legs, have a bit of a wander around (go for yet another wee) it definitely does help. You can now get a spray as well as the lotion but it isnt quite as good.

I think the key to getting relief it to try to keep your feet elevated and cool.

[mumoftwoboysS]

I get restless leg in the summer -and its worse when pregnant (glad I'll be heavily pregnant in Winter this time!) I find its due mainly to tiredness and hot legs (and I also have bad circulation- legs/feet are either too cold or too hot) though I reckon like some above have said low potassium and Iron could also be contributing factors

I haven't got one myself (though I might this time) but you can get gel cooling pads to put on top of your mattress- I found one here on Amazon that's cheap and reviews look good- may be worth a try:
www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Multi-Functional-Cool-Gel/dp/B005HE5R16/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[dustyhousewithdustypeople]

I had this, it was horrible! What helped was drinking loads more water and not having crisps (think it was the salt). Also keeping them raised on a pillow, although that's not easy when everything else gets uncomfortable.

[spiderlight]

It's always iron and/or pottasium levels for me. Try a gentle liquid iron like Floradix, Spatone or Ferroglobin, and loads of bananas.

[MummyJetsetter]

I got this in my 1st pregnancy and it just started in this one, I'm 17 weeks. It always happens when I first get in to bed, so bloody annoying! My iron levels are fine so I'll be trying the banana theory! Fingers crossed it works! x

[themilkmonster]

Try drinking Indian tonic water, I think it's the quinine in it that's supposed to help.

[FoofFighter]

I've started taking magnesium, it's verryyyyy slowly improving, attacks don't last all evening now and when it does hit it's not as violent as it was.

[pinkr]

Wow just came back and loads of good advice here! I do get far too hot at night so that could be it...we always have the window open and usually a sheet st this time of year so the cooling pad would be lovely!

[MotheringShites]

Ahem, I read that doing a poo can help. Is there a constipation link??

[wispa31]

fooffighter- try the magnesium spray, forgot to mention it in earlier post. you can get it in holland and barretts, by betteryou, the goodnight one. absorbs faster than tablets and you can spray some on and rub in plus take couple tabs at bedtime. land of zzzz in no time!! :)