Tips for avoiding night time leg cramping

[Lizbiz89]

I'm 35 weeks and keep waking in the night with terrible leg cramps. Then I get up and go to the toilet and go back to bed, fall back asleep, only to wake up an hour later with the same cramps. It's really affecting my sleep now to the point of exhaustion. Does anyone have any tips on how to stop them?

My midwife recommended quinine and magnesium – keep a bottle of Indian tonic water by the bed & have a glass before bed. I also keep a tennis ball handy to roll up and down my leg.

I recommend shrieking in pain when you wake with them & shouting, "DP, DO! Ow ow ow ow! Craaaaaamp!" without specifying leg cramp. Watching your partner hurtle out of bed in the middle of the night before you meekly add "cramp in my calf" is a thoroughly entertaining distraction from the pain

Magnesium supplements plus a warm bath in epsom salts before bed. Then wear bed socks

A midnight snack of a banana, contains magnesium and potassium, was recommended to me by Both my colleagues with babies when I was pregnant.

Magnesium oil spray and / or Epsom salt baths. Makes a massive difference. I had an inflatable foot bath and had Epsom salt foot baths most days from mid pregnancy onwards, really helped with my painful legs (twin pregnancy which sucked me dry of all nutrients I think!)

Tonic water really helps me. Not suffered since drinking a can of it each evening (i buy ones from tesco with elderflower in it).

• flight socks
• plenty of drink during the day
• magnesium supplement before bedtime

Bananas before bed worked for me!