Restless legs- any solutions?!?

[Rumplestrumpet]

I'm going slightly crazy and hoping someone has some advice to help.

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and haven't slept properly for several weeks due to restless legs. I sleep for an hour or two and am awoken by twitching in my legs. I have to pace around for at least 30 mins before I can lie down again. Sometimes I then fall asleep but other times I start twitching again within a few minutes and have to pace around shaking out my legs again. I've spent over 2 hrs some nights pacing up and down the hallway before finally being able to sleep - for a couple of hours and then it all starts again.

It's becoming so exhausting it's really getting me down. I dread bedtime and just feel so low

Has anyone had this and found something that helped?

Bananas! Eat bananas!!!!

Hi I always rub vicks vapour rub on my legs and massage it in and I always add it to the soles of my feet nothing else has helped me apart from this also see the doctor because you might be lacking in something xx

It is often a sign of anaemia. Are you taking any iron?

Thank you so much for replying!

Currently peeling a banana and adding Vicks to the shopping list. Welcome any other tips!!

Ah that's interesting endoftheline as I just found out my iron is low and have started taking supplements. Fingers crossed that will start to help

Magnesium can be helpful. Especially as a spray directly onto your legs:

betteryou.com/magnesium-oil-body-spray

You can buy it in Boots and Holland & Barrett.

The quinine in tonic water can help.

Magnesium oil spray worked wonders for me.

Hi, I had this too earlier in my pregnancy and when I got my bloods re-checked my iron was severely low.
I've been on iron supplements now for 3 weeks and the restless legs has totally gone!
Currently 34 weeks pregnant.

You are short something, take multivitamins. Good luck.

I had this throughout my 2nd pregnancy it was horrible. I also had this during this pregnancy untill I got put on iron tablets within a week of taking them it had stopped and I've not had it since so deffinately get your iron levels checked.

Magnesium

Oh God I feel your pain! Just started getting this and it's so annoying .
Have yet to try magnesium - where can you get spray? Do you have to order online?
According to blood test a few weeks ago my iron was ok but I have tried taking a bit extra and think it might have helped.

Last night I tried compression (looked for compression socks, found none, found ankle support thing so tried that. Seemed to have helped as I slept after, but my sensations are mostly around the ankle /foot /lower calf). I might get some proper ones. Otherwise the only thing is getting up and walking around or jumping about which is very annoying to have to do in the wee small hours!

I should probably try doing that just before sleep. Going swimming today so will be interested to see if that helps as exercise in general is meant to.

Stay strong, you've not got long to go!

Electrolyte tablets really helped me

It's always been a sign of low iron for me, so hopefully yours will improve once the supplements kick in.

Eurgh I feel your pain. As other pp's have said, iron tablets worked for me. I did get magnesium spray but be aware that you need to build it up slowly over time or it itches like MAD.

Dates are a good source of iron and also research shows taking them in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy reduces the length of labour. Yummy too!