restless legs/leg aches

[MamaB12]

please i need some advice on what to take to relieve leg cramps/leg aches. my lower legs have been aching since i climbed into bed? been fine all day & now my legs feel so restless i just want to cut them off!!! i walked to toilet and my legs feel like they’ve ran a marathon 😩😩😩

iv taken an electrolyte earlier because iv been so busy hardly drank any water today and only had 2 meals.. i feel so guilty

Have you tried magnesium oil spray? Use on legs every night before you go to bed. I’d recommend h&b or Better You brands. Both available at h&b.

And try and drink as much water as you can, including electrolytes if you think you genuinely need them. I have had severe cramps for years now and although it doesn’t get rid of them altogether, along with quinine tablets, it has helped. It can also help if you wake with a cramp, massage some into your legs straight away. I always have a bottle right next to my bed, as well as other places around the house.

RLS is linked pretty strongly to iron deficiency anaemia https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-you-missing-this-simple-treatment-for-restless-legs

I suffered when I was pregnant and had low ferritin (iron stores). The RLS society has some good stretches you can do before bed that will also help. Good luck, it's torture!

hey, i had my bloods done at 9weeks pregnant & my iron levels were “perfect” according to the midwife.. i’m now 19 weeks pregnant i don’t know how my levels could’ve changed that fast given i eat so well and take my prenatals and omega 3 everyday🫣

oh definitely! i didn’t drink much that day so that’s probably why i usually have to refill my Stanley cup at least 3/4 times a day because i drink that much!
also electrolytes im on it! done my research and will buy some!
i also bought some soothing cream and magnesium spray/magnesium pillow spray!🤞🏻

Good luck, I hope you find some relief!

They only test your haemoglobin to begin with, and that always goes down as your blood volume increases (and the baby steals your iron!). Ferritin is a different tube and you have to ask for it separately. My haemoglobin was also fine at 12 weeks but went down by 24 weeks and I felt terrible by 28 weeks because my iron stores were non-existent.

I also did the stretches recommended for restless legs and calf cramps, and drank a sugar free isotonic electrolyte drink several days a week (the trimester).

i will ask my midwife for some more follow up bloods then to double check all my levels!