Restless legs - help

[willithappen]

Still up at 1am because I can't sleep, to the point I'm close to tears
I'm 26 weeks and been getting horrendous 'restless legs' but in my feet and near ankles. I can't get settled or comfortable for ages to fall asleep

Anyone any tips to help??

Tonic water was the only thing that worked for me

I was told it was due to being anemic. Only had it during my pregnancies and currently suffering with it due to being quite badly anemic thanks to heavy, heavy irregular bleeding (have recently had a hysterectomy so fingers crossed with time this will rectify itself). Also why i am up at this godforsaken time too so i feel your pain.

I wish I knew, I'm another up at this time with stupid jumping legs and for the fun of it arms 😡 I do take magnesium (not sure if it's allowed during pregnancy) it does help most of the time but I've just had my flu jab and seem to have had it every night since.

A bar of soap under the sheet it meant to work 🤷🏼‍♀️

It has to be lavender soap.

I used a lavender/magnesium cream and a magnesium spray, both of which help a bit. I got both on Amazon.

Same here tonight, got sciatica too all down my left 😢

Magnesium is the only thing that helped me. I've just googled and it is ok to use during pregnancy, In fact it's good for you and baby.

We can get Magnesium through our diet but loads of people are deficient. To get it as a supplement it is FAR better to get a cream or a spray as it's absorbed in to our system more effectively.

I use a lavender scented "better you magnesium sleep" spray at night - you can get it on Amazon prime.

Magnesium sprays or creams can itch a bit when you first use them so my Dr suggested applying to the soles of the feet until I got used to it and this really helped. I use it on arms and legs now. My restless legs have eased massively (and quickly too, within days of using the spray)

You can also use Epsom Salts - from any supermarket - dissolved in a bath. They are basically magnesium (not the scientific description!)

Hope you get it sorted, it's so annoying, and enjoy some decent sleep for the rest of your pregnancy - and also,
CONGRATULATIONS
to you OP

I had acupuncture when I was pregnant for restless legs & took magnesium. Having a warm bath with Epsom salts in helps, you can buy a 10kg bucket full on Amazon.

Tonic water is your friend

Magnesium spray!!

I have suffered with restless legs for years and years. It’s in my back and sometimes my arms too.

I have tried all the tonic water, iron, soap, magnesium, sprays etc numerous times. The only thing that always works to calm it down is to have an organ. Either through sex or masturbation. Sounds ridiculous but it works instantly. I’ve Googled it and there are studies showing it works because of the hormones released.

An orgasm, not organ

It calms it down long enough to get to sleep.

Iron deficiency is a very common cause. You don't have to be actually anaemic for it to affect your muscles. Try some gentle iron like floradix? It should start to make a difference in about a week.
Other people get relief with magnesium, supplements or spray/lotion.
Also heard tonic water works for some, sadly no effect for me!
Over and above a long-term solution like the above suggestions, short-term relief can be found by raising your dopamine levels. Anything that makes you feel 'ahhhh'. Exercise is good, plus orgasms, masssages, maybe a nice bath etc. Whatever does it for you!

I suffer hideously with this in pregnancy! I cant sit still at night as ny legs feel like my muscles are twitching and crawling. I have to stretch them out well, eat a banana (odd but does work) and as others have said magnesium xxx

Try propping yourself up a bit more in bed with more pillows. Mine is worst when I’m quite flat on my side.

Thanks everyone! I'll get midwife to look into iron levels and will try the magnesium as well!

I found a soak in magnesium bath salts was the most effective thing for my restless legs in pregnancy

I had it really bad in my first pregnancy and then I was taking magnesium for something else in my second pregnancy and barely got it at all!

A heavy hot water bottle filled with cool water really helped me too.

Another tip for when it gets unbearable is standing your feet in cold water for as long as you can bear. Agree with the exercise option above, but don’t do anything too strenuous before sleeping because that can exacerbate it.

Tonic water gas to have quinine in it to be effective and I'm not sure what the deal is with taking quinine in pregnancy.

Other thing to try as lying with your bum against the wall and legs up the wall - either before sleep or if you wake in the night. I do it until my legs tingle and then I go to sleep ok. Paracetamol also works but don't probably want to be taking loads if that!

@Breakingmad

I have suffered with restless legs for years and years. It’s in my back and sometimes my arms too.

I have tried all the tonic water, iron, soap, magnesium, sprays etc numerous times. The only thing that always works to calm it down is to have an organ. Either through sex or masturbation. Sounds ridiculous but it works instantly. I’ve Googled it and there are studies showing it works because of the hormones released.

I was contemplating suggesting an orgasm too, because it does work, but was worried people would just think I'm a perv! 😄

😂😂 I did hesitate, then thought ‘nah to hell, it’s one of the few things that actually works’.

I thought I was imagining it helping for a long time because there was so little reference to it online, then a few years ago a study came out backing it scientifically.

I'd be happy to show my partner that an orgasm helps 😂😂
The pregnancy hormones heightening my libido and my partner being freaked out at having sex when our daughter is in my stomach is not a good combination so this could maybe help hahah