Restless legs

[peanuthead]

Any suggestions?
I'm 34 weeks and not sleeping at all - they start feeling bad the minute I get into bed anda keep me awake for 2 -3 hours. They've now started waking me up again after a couple of hours sleep- last night got about 4 hours sleep and I really really can't face another 6 weeks of it.
I've tried

• sitting them in a bucket of cold water before bed - no good
  
• body shop cooling foot spray and leg gel - doesn't touch it
  
• wearing socks soaked in cold water (works for about 10 mins before they heat up)
  
  Going to try freezing some wet socks tonight and seeing if that helps but wondered if anyone had any easier ideas...

[Babylovesmuffins]

Hi peanuthead. I'm 35-weeks and have had restless legs when I go to bed, on-and-off for the past few weeks too. I don't know what causes it but it's bloody annoying, especially when you're so tired. Is it to do with circulation do you think?? Have you tried raising your feet up slightly on a pillow when you're in bed? If you're like me you probably have a thousand pillows in the bed already Sometimes I find going for a short walk in the evening helps before I go to bed, although most evenings I'm just too knackered! The Body Shop peppermint cooling foot spray is fab for hot, swollen feet but as you say it doesn't really touch restless legs.

Anyone else got any solutions??

[Naetha]

Restless legs is usually caused by a small deficiency in magnesium and potassium, and one of the best remedies is a banana before bedtime

[bozza]

I find drinking tonic water helps. It is supposed to be the quinine but don't know how scientifically based that is.

[almost30]

i SO feel for you. I had exactly the same thing at the same time in my pregnancy and almost went insane at the thought that it would go on until I gave birth. DH made it worse by saying that it was all in the mind and if I didn't expect it to happen it wouldn't.

I tried everything and none of the standard stuff helped. The only things that helped me to get through it were:

As it was worst for me in the evening, I spent a lot of time sitting on the floor, which somehow helped a bit. Distraction I think as it was uncomfortable!

I also made sure that my legs were actually tired and walked loads.

Good news is that it totally lifted at about 35/36 wks and there was no trace towards the end (and I was much fitter for having done so much exercise!).

[peanuthead]

Thanks everyone-

OK so a banana and a tonic water (shame it's without the gin... but that's a totally different moan!) before bed tonight.

DH fell about when he found my frozen socks in the freezer yesterday - and they didn't work!

I've found walking seems to be making them worse - maybe very flat birkenstocks/flip flops aren't ideal

But if it tails off in a week or so I'll be overjoyed - just the thought of another 5/6 weeks like this. I'm starting to dread going to bed...