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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Restless legs and insomina :(

21 replies

MrsCrimshaw · 06/11/2015 03:49

Has anyone found any good remedies for restless legs? I'm 35 weeks and this week the night-time twitching has just gone out of control. Even so far as I will drift off then my body will jerk and twitch itself awake again. I'm still at work until the end of next week but the sleep deprivation is taking its toll.
I am getting up at 3am in the morning and doing squats and stretches to try and tire my legs but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I have been using magnesium oil on my legs too, but to no avail. It does not seem to matter how active I have been in the day either, the twitching comes anyway and its even in my arms tonight. I'm feeling quite desperate now!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsCrimshaw · 06/11/2015 03:52

Oh and I have had blood tests and have no deficiencies. The midwives I have seen don't seem interested either - I think they just think it's one of those things...

OP posts:
Bubblesinthesummer · 06/11/2015 04:02

Don't know of any remedies I'm afraid but I sympathise with the insomnia.

The amount of medication I'm on I should have no issue sleeping. Seems no one told my body that Shock

Original poster
MrsCrimshaw · 06/11/2015 04:30

I would like some medication right now...!

OP posts:
CalypsoLilt · 06/11/2015 08:45

I've found I get restless legs when I am overtired and/or too hot. Can you try and rest/nap in the day? Or go to bed early? I've found that turning over the duvet to the cold side (like flipping your pillow) helps to cool down my legs.

MaisieDotes · 06/11/2015 11:58

I've just posted on another thread about this. I get restless legs and taking extra iron helps.

In my last pregnancy (DS is 14mo) I was driven demented by restless legs and was told at about 30 weeks that my iron was fine. In desperation I started taking iron (Spatone sachets) anyway and I saw a big improvement.

This time hasn't been as bad but I'm starting to get a it a bit in the evenings, I'm 28 weeks. I'm going to start on the extra iron again. Also I'm suddenly exhausted again all the time so it generally helps with that too.

Original poster
MrsCrimshaw · 06/11/2015 12:49

Thanks for the tips. I couldn't go to work today as I didn't get to sleep in the end until 5am and (this probably sounds silly) I've really strained the tendons in my groin area from all the squats I was doing throughout the night, so it really hurts to walk!

Calypso, going to bed early seems to make it worse as I wake up after about an hour and a half with really bad twitches and then I'm awake for the next 3-4 hours.

Masie, I will try that and see if it helps.

I'd kill for a few hours of quality sleep!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsCrimshaw · 06/11/2015 16:57

I phoned my local midwife triage line and they said Piriton could help me sleep and was safe to take in pregnancy. They also suggested I tried swimming and also that halycon copper bracelets work for some people. I'm going to try them all!

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Rollermum · 06/11/2015 17:00

Hope those ideas work for you. I found not being to tired helped but that is easier said than done.

Also gentle walking, and foam rolling legs and butt muscles before bed.

Purplehonesty · 06/11/2015 17:31

This is going to sound really odd. But bear with me...
Get a bar of soap and put it under your bed sheet, at the bottom near your feet.
I have no idea how or why this works but I suffered from awful restless legs when pg and an old lady told me to try it.
So laughingly I did and it worked a treat! The only time I had restless legs again was when the soap slipped out of the sheet onto the floor one night.
Of course there may have been a totally rational explanation for it but I could never figure out what.
Give it a try tonight Smile

BiscuitMillionaire · 06/11/2015 17:37

Yes, try iron supplements.

loosechange · 06/11/2015 17:40

A friend suggested I try 1-2 Paracetamol and hour before bed when I had this. It helped.

Good luck. I can recall that desperation to have some sleep.

LumelaMme · 06/11/2015 18:33

I had appalling insomnia with my last DC: I remember weeping in the bathroom one night, telling DH I just would be able to cope with the other DC the next day (I am pretty tough so this was unheard of).

All I can offer is Flowers.
And if it continues post-pregnancy, magnesium supplements worked wonders for me.

tinyme135 · 06/11/2015 23:41

I was suffering this really bad a few weeks ago but mine was due to low iron so I'm on iron tablets now and I hardly have an attack now but before I knew this what I found was drinking tonic water helped me could give that ago ? hope it does down soon I know how horrible it is

redstrawberries101 · 09/11/2015 22:46

Hi! I suffered from severe restless legs like yourself after major surgery a few years ago. I cried every night for a year and slept no more than an hour at a time, totalling maybe about 3-4 hours. It affected every area of my life and I felt I needed to be sectioned. It really was bad.

I tried lots of things but what helped the most was magnesium and iron supplements (despite the doctor saying my iron levels were ok). It will take a few weeks to make a difference but I promise it will.

Also stretching 2-3 times daily can help.

It's a lot better now but as soon as I get overtired it flares up and I just got my BFP yesterday and I had noticed it had been flaring up over the last week or so. I will be starting the supplements tomorrow!

redstrawberries101 · 10/11/2015 11:55

Also, instead of squats etc do stretches which lengthen the muscles. For me, it feels like the muscles need ironed out and after a good stretch it feels much better. I've also got one of those electric heat pads (flat) that I put under my legs which helps the muscles relax.

Original poster
MrsCrimshaw · 10/11/2015 14:45

Thanks for all your suggestions. Still no better :( I have had some reduction in the number of times I have been getting up in the night to exercise since taking Piriton, but am getting restless legs more in the day now. I'm a desperate woman!

I tried the soap (and a potato!) under the sheets. I've tried a heat pack, foam rolling and massage from my OH. I've tried bathing before bed. I tried avoiding daytime naps. I even went so far as to buy a mini-stepper to wear my legs out more before I go to sleep, even though I am on my feet a lot at work (teacher) and I walk the dog in the evening. The stepper arrived yesterday and I used it on and off throughout the evening. Then I went to bed and sure enough - whole body twitching ensued. After about half an hour I gave in, got up and did my whole squats n stretches routine on the landing. I got some sleep after but was awake at 5am with more twitches.

I have an MW appointment tomorrow, if she can't help I'll see my GP and see about looking at iron levels, although my last blood test was normal. I got restless legs on the drive home today. My fear is I will be too exhausted for labour if this keeps up! 36 weeks today...

OP posts:
Dogsmom · 10/11/2015 16:09

I agree with the iron, I had exactly the same and it helped, my bloods showed borderline low and the doc prescribed supplements however the mw said it was a level that they usually wouldn't mention so it could be your bloods were low-ish.

ChicaMomma · 10/11/2015 16:42

Magnesium supplements.. this is very often a sign of low magnesium. I take one before going to bed and it really helps with the RLS. 300mg is the recommended dosage in pregnancy and for whatever reason, Pregnacare (etc) never has anything like this amount.

HalfStar · 10/11/2015 21:24

Take iron woman! Honestly this was me in two pregnancies and it's misery. Iron supplements will sort you out within a week or two.

redstrawberries101 · 11/11/2015 08:03

You need to keep at the routine of stretching, soaking in bath, magnesium and iron supplements etc everyday to see a difference

MrsSoDown · 11/11/2015 10:03

Run your legs under a really cold tap for about 3 mins. Then get into bed. Restless legs disappeared :)

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