Cramping in legs

[Bellabutterfly2016]

So yet again I woke up in the early hours with the most awful cramping in my legs! I'm nearly 25 weeks.

I had to wake up my dp to massage it out, it was horrendous.

Has anyone else been suffering with this? It's my second baby, didn't have it last time but it's driving me mad, had it for the last month 😬

[Hopehope20]

I am 32 weeks and have been getting it for about a month now. In fact any time I extend my leg I can feel it coming on. I have no words of wisdom....just feel your pain!

[myotherbagisgucci]

I suffered from Restless legs during the end of the 2nd trimester and all the way through the 3rd in my first pregnancy. It only came on during the night and was extremely annoying.

I found it eased slightly by lying on my side with a V shaped pillow between my legs.

If it's any consultation, it went away as soon as my DD was born.

[Bellabutterfly2016]

Thanks ladies
It's just annoying more than anything I'm hoping it doesn't last for the rest of my pregnancy.
I'll get one of those pillows and try that x

[myotherbagisgucci]

Maybe try googling remedies for restless legs during pregnancy. Hopefully you might be able to find something that can help relieve the discomfort fully. x

[PirateWeasel]

Yep I had this between weeks 22-27 then it just disappeared. Due date today (eek!) and not had it since. Pregnancy is so weird.

[Kiaa]

I had leg cramps in 2nd trimester tho they have gone away in third trimester , vitamin D tablets & Magnesium tablets helped me 😀

[Havetothink]

Stretch and rotate your ankles during the day. Try and sit with your feet up when possible. Drink gallons of water, dehydration makes it worse.

[LBNM19]

Yes. It really is awful. If i stretch my legs in bed to much my leg goes into spasm and it really is painful. Sometimes i will also just suddenly wake up with pain and my leg has seized up. I'm 30 weeks now and it's beem happening a while. X

[usernotfound0000]

Yep! Suffered last time and it's just started again in the last few weeks in this pregnancy, probably started about 28 weeks. It's horrendous.

[georgedawes]

I had it too, worse when I was anaemic. Have you had your iron levels checked recently?

[chloechloe]

A magnesium supplement will help but obviously speak to your midwife before taking anything. It’s perfectly safe in pregnancy. My Dr even prescribes it as a matter of course (I’m not in the UK though) as it discourages the onset of early contractions. You should stop taking it at 37w as then the contractions can start! I take 150 mg a day but apparently double that is fine especially to prevent cramping.

[Synecdoche]

You can get topical magnesium sprays which are great but you'd have to check re using them in pregnany

[Tiptopj]

I had this- oh god its awful I actually think the cramps/spasms are more painful than labour contractions!! After weeks of internet searching I found that the best way to stop the cramp from getting worse is as soon as you get it, with a straight leg, bend your foot upwards towards your knee so your calf is stretched and hold for a few minutes. Gently relax your leg and if your leg starts to cramp again repeat pointing your foot towards your knee. Never ever point away from you knee like a ballet foot as this makes the muscle contract further and makes the spasm worse. This method worked brilliantly for me and after a few weeks I found I started to correct the spasm in my sleep before it got too bad and woke me completely.

[kikibo]

Do what Tiptop said.

Though it's pretty horrendous. I had two last pregnancy and have had attempts this time though not full on. I could have sworn my leg wasn't going to ever straighten up again.

What I found was that they came on when I stopped eating bananas. They went as soon as I started that again. There's no evidence for the banana, apparently, but they definitely worked for me.

[8DaysAWeek]

I have suffered calf cramps for years and years, which got so much more frequent when pregnant, and would always bend my leg, holding my foot up at my bum and just writhe around in agony until it naturally went away. Well, tiptop's method is the way forward! Now I either do that or stand up straight out of bed which helps. Can't believe it's taken me so long to work it out. I can also feel one coming on and stretch my feet back to prevent it.

I remember one particular pregnant leg cramp one morning. It was so bad it felt like my muscle tore apart. I couldn't put weight on that leg for 2 days straight after. Terrible things!