Cramp!

[CL1982]

I have it in both calves and sometimes it wakes me up at night it's so painful. Ouch!

Does anyone have any advice? So far midwife said 'you just have to grin and bear it'. Nasty.

Tried stretching, massage, walks...still here! Getting desperate ladies!!

I had this, sooooo painful.

The best advice I got was to train yourself not to point your toes down when you stretch (which seems to be a trigger) but instead to flex your feet towards you.

I found that really made a difference.

During an attack have your DP/DH old your leg up straight and flex your foot up and slowly down.

Thanks-I'll give that a go! It's almost constant in my right leg atm 😩

Agree on the not pointing toes.....I want to cry when I wake up and forget and the cramp hits 🙁

Try a sports drink with electrolytes and a banana before bed.

Great plan @Oysterbabe I will try that. Isn't coconut wanted meant to be amazing for that? I'll go get some supplies in. Deep heat worked a bit last night and some massage. It's so horrible!!!

I used to get them a lot in the night. I found standing up quickly and putting my weight on it really helped. But I guess it depends how far along you are and whether you're able to jump up quickly

I hope they pass soon OP.

Tonic water really helped me when I was pregnant last time. I was getting painful leg cramps every night and only resolving them by walking up and down stairs. A colleague then said tonic water is meant to help so I drank a small glass before bed (just before my gaviscon!! ) and it helped me immediately.

Thanks guys-got some coconut water as well. Finger's crossed it works!!!

Yes I second what pp said, don't point your toes down when you stretch. Definitely whet used to set it off for me. Oooh it was horrible.

I've suffered with this since my teens and much worse in pregnancy so I've tried pretty much everything. My current routine is as follows, please feel free to try any of it and see if it helps;

Before bed, I put my feet in hot water as circulation is a major factor for me. Then stretch my legs and ankles and massage my calves and feet with a bit of moisturiser.
Next, I sleep with my feet elevated on a pillow, if I sleep on my side, I put another pillow between my knees for comfort.
When a cramp occurs, put your feet down on something cold, and apply a cold wet flannel to the calf. I swear, I was in agony before I discovered this. Slowly stretch the muscle until the pain goes.

Hope it improves soon, they'll disappear as soon as you give birth.

Update!

I did the following and it seems to have sorted it:

• stretched it out
• got coconut water and did a smoothie with it, a banana and some milk before bed
• put some deep heat on it
• swore a lot

Something worked. It has cleared up. I am hoping that's the solution. Might keep the coconut water and banana up latish at night.