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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What causes nighttime leg cramps in pregnancy?

20 replies

LadyTophamHatt · 05/10/2006 14:40

Last night was the first night in about 2 weeks where I have slept relatively well (PG imsomnia) but I had a the the most annoying cramp at 4am this morning.
It was the fastest I'd got out of bed in weeks trying to stop it but I could hardly straighten my leg at all.

Why does it happen? can I stop it happening again?
Didn't happen when I'd been lying awake half the night with insomnia but I'm hoping thats not the solution....

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anniediv · 05/10/2006 14:41

My MW told me that as my BP was okay, to eat a bag of ready salted crisps before bed as the cramps are caused by low salt. Obviously if your BP is high then best to avoid salt, but it did help the cramps.

MerlinsBeard · 05/10/2006 14:42

read somewhere its something to do with potassium and lack of it BUT happens to me still if i am too hot or too cold. best thing to do is bring ur ankle up so its at right angles to ur leg (IYSWIM) hurts like crazy but makes it go quicker.

How is the rest of your pregnancy going LTH? are you about 25 weeks now?

sfxmum · 05/10/2006 14:42

bananas bananas bananas, eat them v. good for that really works

anniediv · 05/10/2006 14:43

Oh yes, I forgot that, she also told me to wear long PJs or knee socks to bed!! Very attractive...

Kidstrack · 05/10/2006 14:43

i got terrible cramp with both preg, it was hell, "youre in a nice sleep and you stretch your legs out and WHAM its agony". I just pulled my toes towards me and that would end it. Midwife said it can be a lack of something and i was told to have more calcium and eat banana's if i can remember correct, someone will know and come along soon!

Elibean · 05/10/2006 14:43

Poor you, its horrid - have had them this time too (and no, doesn't happen on nights when I'm awake with reflux/insomnia/coughing/etc - v annoying).

Some say its a lack of potassium (I think) and bananas are the answer.

Personally, I find tonic water - a supposed cure for restless legs - is good for cramps too. I have a glass of it every evening.

But the remedy I've heard praised above all others is getting out of bed (sorry) and standing on a cold surface: a pal of mine kept a tin tray under her bed in winter, and would hop out and stand on it, end of cramp.

sfxmum · 05/10/2006 14:43

yes the potassium thing - bananas

Kidstrack · 05/10/2006 14:44

there we go i knew someone would know!

princessmel · 05/10/2006 14:45

Oh I had that, its horrible isn't it?
Actually I have bad circulation anyway and get achey legs if I don't put them up on the sofa, flat out, for a good while before bed. I'm not preg now.
I get Raunauds syndrome in my boobs and thats bad circulation too.
When I was preg I found that the more I did in the day, walking, standing, pushing prams, trolleys etc the worse it was. My excuse to sit down lots!! With my feet up. I sat in the garden on my sunlounger watching ds.

ScreamandYellowFeathers · 05/10/2006 14:45

I was told it was lack of calcium but have heard about salt too and potassium!

My MW suggested a milky desert for dinner and a hot milky drink for bed and to try and drink milk if I could through the day.

singersgirl · 05/10/2006 14:45

I suffered from this and used to have a glass of milk and a banana before bed, and then massage my calves for a few minutes before I lay down - I got DH to do it when I was very big. That seemed to stop it.

anniediv · 05/10/2006 14:47

Isn't it amazing that we are all treated by MWs who should have had a fairly standard training and all know different remedies/causes??!

2MwahHaHaHappy · 05/10/2006 14:56

Kitkats have high potassium too, not that I need an excuse to munch chocolate before bed...

Munz · 05/10/2006 15:00

mine was the same as annie - came and went thou - mum recons to stand in a bath of stone cold water works - but at 4am u can hardly be arsed to waddle to the bath room! instead I lent over the end of the bed and streched my calf out. if that makes sence? around the same time I had a thing from ready salted crisps - 4 packets later I realised it was for the salt not the actual crisp iycwim.

Munz · 05/10/2006 15:00

my mate used to say drink loads of water as well - (like u're not up enough during the night to pee without adding to it! lol!)

Elibean · 05/10/2006 15:20

Munz, your Mum is right - but any cold surface will do.

Original poster

LadyTophamHatt · 05/10/2006 15:51

Ok, so it's a ready salted crisps, a banana and glas of milk before bed...all at once or separately do you think

MoM, I'm 26 weeks now, it's going bloody slow now.
How are you feeling? will you try again or just let things happen when they happen?

OP posts:

Daisypops · 05/10/2006 15:52

I've had cramp in my legs too. Found this... (sorry don't know how to change it to a one word link )

www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/prenatalhealth/250.html

marymillington · 05/10/2006 15:53

i heard it was lack of magnesium - try tonic water.
and you need to stretch the calf muscle regularly try doing a bit of yoga, triangle pose in particular

MerlinsBeard · 05/10/2006 18:39

i would go for separatly

Unless of course u feel u really have to mix them all up (vomit!)

(I'm finding it really hard at mo tbh LTH esp as due date creeps closer and RL friends get bigger of bump but we are just seeing what happens without actually trying iyswim - thank you for asking Still think of you lots and laughalot and nemo and others from the first due in jan thread. Take care of yourself and that blue bump )

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