Leg cramps

[letsdothis123]

I'm 26 +3.
I woke this morning to the most uncontrollable leg cramps. I shouted for my husband and it took about 8-10 minutes of his force to stop them. I was in so much pain. From my thighs to my toes, my whole legs were stuck in cramp/spasm (as in the muscles were stuck and I couldn't move them). Even after it stopped, my toes kept curling back uncontrollably.

Is this yet another pregnancy related voodoo thing?

Thanks Team. Xx

Yes it is! I'm about the same stage as you and started getting foot cramps but had full leg cramps in my last pregnancies. They'd wake me up and were always when I was asleep.
I think I heard there's something that can help, maybe magnesium?

oh I am so sorry you had this! I had terrible cramp with DS, I used to live in fear over bed time due to cramping at night. My mum told me to get tonic water with quinene in it, cant say whether it helped or not as by time I started regularly drinking it DS came (early).

Going to watch this thread though in case cramps come back for me.

Good luck OP, hope it is a one off

Totally a pregnancy thing. I had if from 16 until about 30 weeks. It was awful particularly when waking up at night or falling asleep on the sofa.

Interestingly it appears it is often caused by dehydration during pregnancy. Makes sense why we get it at night! Maybe try drinking more before bed and having a glass by your bed?

I’ve had in my calves quite badly but as PP said it seems to happen most if I haven’t drunk enough. Since I’ve been drinking better I haven’t had it.

For non-pregnancy cramps, often people say it can be due to low potassium. Maybe eat more bananas?

I had this from about the same stage as you, it was excrutiating and often in both legs. I was drinking about three litres of water a day without other drinks, so not sure it's always dehydration. I'd stopped taking pregnancy vitamins as they seemed to make me constipated, but started taking them again and it did help with the cramps. Frozen water bottles to use as muscle rollers help, and for me hot power shower aimed straight at the calf. I still get weird pre cramp feelings in my legs but the really bad cramps eased after a few weeks. Make sure you massage the muscles daily, mine felt so tight and bruised it affected the way I walked, which then threw out my sacroiliac joint and did some ligament damage and I could barely walk for about three weeks.

so horrible for you! I've been having them since about week 28 (am on week 35 now). My number 1 tip is as soon as you feel a cramp coming on in your calves then point your toes upwards towards your knees and this should stop it in its tracks. If you point your toes forward it essentially lets the cramp happen so toes towards your knees is the best bet! Really hope it eases up for you although to be honest mine still try and cramp up a good few times a night! x

I had this the other night in my calf and I'm only 15 weeks!! Woke up screaming and it was locked for ages was then sore for 4 days afterwards and couldn't put my foot flat! At midwife next week so will ask her if I can do anything x

Thanks everyone. What a mission this growing a baby thing is! I shall add cramps to the list of annoying side effects and move on. The list is so very long lol.

Thanks again everyone x

I have been having bad leg cramps in this pregnancy. Got them in my first pregnancy too but much later (currently 29w and been having them for past 3 weeks). But wanted to share this as a friend reccomended it: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VPDX56/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_h3C9BbHA1MRZR?tag=mumsnetforum-21 It has been MIRACULOUS. It makes your skin tingle and feel a bit weird but the cramps have basically gone away at night. And I even was able to wear boots with heels yesterday which I couldn’t even contemplate before. Definitely worth a try if you’re suffering!

I'm really struggling to sleep due to leg cramps :(

Apparently when my mother was pregnant with me my Dad was convinced she was going into labour when she woke up screaming with leg cramps.

I've had these since my teens and they're far far worse during pregnancy (to the point where I couldn't walk for hours) so this is a list of things that were suggested to me, some of which I found helped;

Stay hydrated throughout the day.
Eat a banana before bed (it can be caused by low potassium)
Tonic water for the quinine
Stretches before bed
Massage your legs before bed
Hot water bottles to relax the muscles
Sleep with a pillow under your legs so they're elevated.

When a cramp happens:
Do not panic, it makes the muscles spasm more.
Apply something cold. Have a cold tray by your bed or dash to the bathroom if you can so you can put your feet on the cold tiles. Apply cold wet flannels. Then when it starts to ease, slowly stretch the muscles.

Yes, started with the cramps first thing in the morning over the last few days at 17+5 - not every morning but a couple of times over four or five days I'd say. Also regular nose bleeds for the last 2 weeks, headaches at various degrees of severity over the last 4 weeks and I got my first stretch mark yesterday. I thought the 2nd trimester was supposed to be the fun one?