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Original poster

Can't sleep, restless legs! Any suggestions?

21 replies

everythinghippie29 · 09/09/2013 22:58

Totally exhausted at 28 weeks and I really want to sleep but my legs feel horrible and restless. Its been happening for a few weeks when I've been sat on the couch in the evening but now its started in bed too! If I'm not moving them in some way they feel awful and I find it impossible to relax! Anybody had this/ have any ideas to get rid so I can get some sleep?!

OP posts:
Ra88 · 10/09/2013 00:07

I have to wrap my feet in a towel !! strange but works for me I get it a lot

PinkApple86 · 10/09/2013 01:28

Stretches before bed is working for me. Also eating a banana a day. If I don't my legs are so jumpy and I get excruciating cramp in my calf which wakes me up. Don't know why but the banana thing seems to work Hmm

beachesandbuckets · 10/09/2013 01:35

Yes, good heel stretches and bananas helped. Tho afaid I had these from 29 weeks til end of labour with dc1 despite these (but strangely not with later pregnancies).

squinney · 10/09/2013 03:20

A banana a day helped me too!

Fakebook · 10/09/2013 03:56

Magnesium supplements help.

Patilla · 10/09/2013 04:28

I got told to increase my fluid intake as dehydration often made restless legs worse.

It did seem to hold true - the days I really didn't drink enough it seemed lots worse.

Obviously this is only anecdotal and may even have been a placebo effect but a cheap and easy placebo effect that works is better than nothing!

PuddingAndHotMilk · 10/09/2013 05:02

Magnesium!
It was like magic for me - good luck Thanks

rundontwalk · 10/09/2013 05:11

I found gentle leg stretches before bed & a leg massage with body shop calf gel helped a lot. Horrid isn't it!

Thingymajigs · 10/09/2013 09:06

This is my third pregnancy where I've struggled with restless legs. Mine has started earlier and earlier with each one.
I find that stretching, a hot bath before bed, a firm pillow between my legs and other basic relaxation tips helps mine. Sometimes though, nothing will help. Just keep reminding yourself that it will end as soon as you give birth.

MrsMuskett · 10/09/2013 09:22

Feel for u Hun ive been having it since 21 weeks and I'm still having insomnia. As daft as it sounds if I get chance to do FitSugars leg and butt workout (prenatal) I don't get it as bad,my hips feel better when I'm lay down and it's a good workout for preparing for labor,n it's only 10mins.try it nothing to lose,it's on YouTube xxx

MrsMuskett · 10/09/2013 09:24

Feel for u Hun ive been having it since 21 weeks and I'm still having insomnia. As daft as it sounds if I get chance to do FitSugars leg and butt workout (prenatal) I don't get it as bad,my hips feel better when I'm lay down and it's a good workout for preparing for labor,n it's only 10mins.try it nothing to lose,it's on YouTube xxx

mumoftwoboysS · 10/09/2013 10:30

I've been getting this too tho I find its worse for me if my feet are hot. So I use an ice block from the fridge, wrap it in a teatowel and put it under my fitted sheet. I then put my feet on it if I need to in the night and cooling them seems to stop the restless leg syndrome. It's better than the wet towel approach I used in my last pregnancy- a soggy wet bed isn't nice!

LadybirdsAreFab · 10/09/2013 10:33

I was told a glass of tonic water, worked a treat. It also made a nice change as I could load it with ice and a slice of lemon when everyone else was having a glass of wine.

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 10/09/2013 11:23

I'm not pregnant but have restless legs and have done for as long as I can remember. The best thing for me is to elevate my feet when I lie down.

Original poster
everythinghippie29 · 10/09/2013 22:16

Oooh, thanks for all the suggestions! Will get some stretches done and give some exercises a go! I hate bananas but if it keeps up I might give it a go. Tonic water with lime actually sounds delicious...I can pretend there's gin. Grin

OP posts:
mumingball · 11/09/2013 06:52

what works for me is walking at least 30 minutes in the afternoon/evening or doing some step exercises (thank you wii). if i skip it then i'm sure to have very nervous legs in bed, no matter the pillow to keep them high or the cold shower or massage. only way out is doing some exercises for the legs in bed.... luckily dh sleeps very deeply Wink

foolserrand · 11/09/2013 06:56

Lots of water and bananas. This is my third time suffering, but, thanks to keeping well hydrated and lots of potassium (I need 3 bananas or its no good!), I haven't suffered for a few weeks now. Not at all. Its bliss!

FourGates · 11/09/2013 07:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FastWindow · 14/09/2013 18:31

I read this thread and tried the bananas. Thank you!!!

newbie6 · 14/09/2013 21:54

Think restless legs can be due to a lack of iron, are your iron levels ok? X

Oddlife · 14/09/2013 23:18

I seem to have a mixture of restless legs and burning feet. I have 2 bricks under my mattress to elevate them, stick them in icy water throughout the night, use magnesium spray and have started to wear dvt socks during the day. So far nothing works 100% but the socks have definitely made an improvement. Looks like bananas tonight though!

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