things that go cramp in the night

[Fetacat]

Hey,

I have been waking up in the middle of night with the most agonising cramp in my calf or in my feet that takes ages to massage away. Is this normal? How can I make it go away? I have had a look on the internet and it says to massage your legs and feet before bed but by the time I get to 10pm I literally pass out so can never find the time to do this. Also am concerned how if I can't cope with the pain of cramp (I'm practically in tears) how will I ever cope with labour?!

yours pathetically.

Oh you poor thing, leg and foot cramp is a killer. On the plus side it is a completely normal pregnancy symptom. I've had it both pregnancies and can just about stop myself from shouting and try to massage it away but it's the worst thing.

I've been told drinking water helps but then you have to go to the loo even more often! I don't think there's much else you can do, hopefully others will have ideas.

I have to be especially careful first thing in the morning and remind myself to not stretch my legs before getting out of bed or my leg might convulse and I'll be limping for the next 24 hrs.

It's not possible to compare cramp pain to labour pain because it is so different. Labour is as much a mind process as a physical one (in that you are working with your body to get the baby out) but that's why they offer you gas and air, epidurals etc. You might well surprise yourself at what you can cope with.

Feeling your pain Fetacat and Badger - I spent the evening hobbling round Tesco as my foot went in and out cramp last night. Ended up just stood there, in middle of random aisle, giggling, cos it was so ridiculous.

I also have to be careful about stretching when in bed - my right calf is especially keen to spasm if I tease it.

I've heard bananas can help (potassium) as can tonic water as it has quinine in it (and helps muscles) - not sure if that's pg safe or not though.

The essential cause of cramp is, as I understand, not just dehydration, but also a reduction in vital salts and electrolytes, so a still lucozade sports drink may be useful?

Good luck!

Magnesium tablets from health food shop have all but cured mine, takes a week or two to get into your system but i certainly know when I've missed out a day!! Also reduces restless legs syndrome symptoms.

It's definitely true that cramps can be to do with a mineral deficiency, as posters have said: Potassium and Magnesium.
I got dire calf cramps with DD (DH had to massage them away in the middle of the night). Drinking bitter lemon (quinine) and eating bananas seemed to reduce it.
I also found a better way to stretch my legs - if I didn't point my toes but flexed my whole foot up instead (IYSWIM) that seemed to make a huge difference.

I'm taking the same measures at the moment (14weeks with DC2) because I can feel I'm sometimes on the edge of getting that agony again.

yes i get the same is horrendous. pretty sure that a glass or two of tonic a day has reduced frequency though.

Thanks everyone. I think I will definitely buy some tonic or bitter lemon and see if that helps.

Interesting to hear that bananas might help as since being pregnant I have not been able to eat bananas! I used to have one every day before. I couldn't even eat the banana bread my mum made - such is my banana aversion!

badgerwife you have made me feel a lot better about labour. thank you. its really resonated with me and made me feel a little bit less scared!

I used to have very bad cramps and took tissue salt tablets from the health food shop for ages. Interesting that they can help restless leg syndrome as well, I have always had fidgety legs when I am tired but it is a million times worse now I am pregnant!