Restless legs help!

[Boggler]

I know that restless legs are due to iron deficiency and yes my iron is a bit on the low side 11.2, but not low enough for supplements. But the restless legs thing is getting unbearable, I'm finding the evenings especially difficult. I'm taking a multivitamin with iron and eating loads of leafy green vegetables so I'm trying to sort out the iron, but what can I do to alleviate the restless legs? Any suggestions?

Ugh I remember restless leg hell. You have my sympathies. I was told that lack of potassium was a contributory factor and to eat bananas. I did. I'm not sure I noticed a great deal of difference. DH massaging behind my ankles helped for a while though.

I'm watching this with interest-my legs are a nightmare at night!

Restless legs doesn't have to be iron-deficiency related. Could just be hormonal. I get it (thankfully not too bad though) and my iron levels are fine -midwife says I just have to accept it as part of pregnancy.
Advice is to do exercise in the afternoons, and I find that lots of stretching/massaging works too.
I've also heard that drinking tonic water helps -the quinine apparently does something. Not tried this myself.

I never heard of it being due to low iron before? I had it quite badly as a teenager and into my twenties. Then had it again with each pregnancy. We used to give quinine tablets to people with it in hospital.
I find a bath in the evening helps....it doesn't seem to bother me in bed thank goodness. It does go after the baby comes though!

Bath , massage sleep with a pillow under your feet and calves

I've had it on and off since I was a kid. A while ago I read an article from a guy who used mindfulness meditation to deal with very bad restless legs: since then I've tried to use very, very basic mindfulness techniques, and I've been really surprised at how much it's helped me.

When you get a restless leg, concentrate all your attention on the area you feel the restlessness. Let yourself feel it, and just focus on it. It sometimes takes a few goes with some leg-shaking and swearing in between but it genuinely works.

Just realised I wasn't very specific about what actually happens! Within a few minutes, the restlessness dissipates.

Hi,
I have been suffering with restless legs since about 24 weeks and it has got progressively worse to the point i have sat here with my head in my hands crying as the electric shock sensations etc have just been unbearable. I have tried so many things; calcium, magnesium, banannas, no caffeine atall, lavender baths, massages... you name it i have tried it.
The dr's tell me the baby is laying on a nerve which causes it and with the extra blood and fluid there is alot of pressure but that after the birth and once the pressure etc has gone the legs will get better.
I miss sleeping at night. It is now 5:36am and I haven't been to bed.
All I am doing now is sleeping when I can; which is in the daytime... but there have been times I have been awake for over 30 hours straight.
Anyone suffering with this has my full sympathy. I would rather have puked for 9 months as at least you can still sleep. Sleep deprivation is torture.
At least when bubs is here I will be able to sleep when he does etc and not wake up (on the rare times I can fall asleep at night) with this horrible tingly, weird feeling.
All the best to all the mummy's to be.... it will all be worth it once we have our little ones x

Try eating a banana everyday - the potassium might help.