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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Getting bad leg cramps at night - help!!!

21 replies

Tryharder · 26/05/2010 12:46

I am 30 weeks pregnant with DC3 and am suffering from hellishly bad leg cramps in the middle of the night - mostly in my calves but also thighs and knees. I had cramps when I was pregnant with DS2 but nothing like as bad as now. The pain is worse than being in labour. The midwife suggested drinking tonic water which I tried but it didn't seem to have any particular effect. Any tips from wise mumsnetters appreciated....

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Bumperliouzzzzzz · 26/05/2010 12:52

Same here, am taking magnesium at night, also bananas meant to help. Haven't had them since, though I have woken a couple of times on the verge, but managed to stretch it out before it hit. It's hideous isn't it?

nymphadora · 26/05/2010 12:55

Low salt diet is supposed to help and lots of exercise but not before bed.

I was up last night with this & googled it!

SparkleRainbow · 26/05/2010 12:59

I had exactly the same thing with each of my 3 dc. Midwife suggested glass of tonic water every day, might have helped, not sure really. Found that it was set off if I screwed up my toes, so spent most of my time in bed trying not to do that, but stretching out my foot instead. DH got very good at waking up and helping me stretch my leg to stop it. Sorry not of much help.

AuntieMaggie · 26/05/2010 13:01

bananas, calcium, and plenty of water I read in a mag at the docs

BigMommaOfAlmost4 · 26/05/2010 13:18

I get this (am 32 weeks with DC4)and find the only thing to help it is getting out of bed immediately and walking around. In a few seconds, it disappears.

To avoid it completely try stretching out your calves before bed. Standing in front of a wall, hands stretched out in front of you (palms flat on wall), legs apart hip width and without moving your feet, stretch out you calves for as long and as many times as you can, you will definitely feel it in your calves if you are doing it properly (like doing press ups standing up basically). I find this really helps (when I remember to do it)!

I find the pain excruciating as well. I startle DH by waking up shrieking .

saltcod · 26/05/2010 13:25

I used to find sleeping with my legs raised on a few pillows used to help.

ChiefBrackenStomper · 26/05/2010 13:50

I had that and was told by a doctor that I wasn't eating enough salt. Started putting more salt on my food and never had it again.

loonyrationalist · 26/05/2010 14:19

I got this with DD1, As BigMomma says I found that calf stretches immediately prior to bed really helped.

BottleOfRum · 26/05/2010 14:24

There is NO scientific basis in this whatsoever... just something my Grandma told me many years ago! She said that a couple of wine corks (those cork-y ones, not the new fangled smooth ones) wrapped in a hanky sitting at the bottom of the bed stops you getting cramps, because it dries out tme moisture in your bed or something. I tried it, and I didnt get cramps again, but that could be purely co-incidental! If it works for you, let me know, because I've always been somewhat suprised it worked for me, and would love to know if it was just a coincidence that I stopped getting them!

Original poster

Tryharder · 26/05/2010 14:52

Thanks everyone. Am going to try a few suggestions out tonight although am a bit stumped by the suggestion that I follow a low salt diet and then later on to eat more salt... I particularly like the wine corks one - definitely worth a shot. Am trying to think whom I could get wine corks off at the moment 'cos clearly we are an alcohol free home at the moment

OP posts:

toja555 · 26/05/2010 16:47

Magnesium helps. I used to take magnesium supplement in my first pregnancy, it definitely helped to relax muscles and avoid these terrible ? I know ? leg cramps in the middle of the night! Will do the same in this pregnancy if I reach that stage.

harley85 · 26/05/2010 16:57

hi
i was getting bad cramps in calves too and ive started body brushing (really hard dry brush) it really helps- do it morning and night, it improves blood circulation. i was about 32 weeks when it started im 39 now, hope it helps

CrankyTwanky · 26/05/2010 17:57

Bananas.
I needed one a day at least to stave them off. In smoothie form first thing worked for me.
Contain poassium.

(bfing hence curtness, soz)

japhrimel · 26/05/2010 18:07

If your electrolytes are out of whack at all, that can cause muscle cramps. So too much salt can cause them, but so can too little salt.

I'd definitely try magnesium and potassium (bananas).

You may find that myofascial release (a specialist kind of massage) helps.

del1 · 26/05/2010 19:35

Hiya, I put a thread on here about leg cramps when I was about 30 wks (ish)
I took advice, and drank lots more water, ate a banana a day, and stretched before bed.
Just stretched out my calfs. Also, when I went to bed, I tried not to curl up, but keep my legs straight. Including my feet straight.
Apparently if you bend your toes, and foot in an arch whilst asleep it makes it worse?
I am now 36 wks, and pleased to say, it only lasted for about 3 weeks?
Fingers crossed !!
Know how you feel, the pain made me shoot straight out of bed and scream in pain - ouch!! x

Kiwiinkits · 27/05/2010 06:05

Oh my goodness! MY Nana did the corks-at-the-bottom-of-the-bed trick too, and she SWORE by it, bless her. I always thought it was a wive's tale so I'm fascinated that it works for others!

OP, I'm with the other posters. You could be low on magnesium + potassium. Eat miso soup (with seaweed) and bananas, and take a pregnancy supplement if your diet's not that great.

TheArmadillo · 27/05/2010 06:15

I find swearing loud enough to wake up dh helps - well helps me to feel better anyway.

Second the bananas.

Am going to try the massage thing.

Haven't had them as bad yet as had with ds but was camping when they were really bad then so the cold may have affected it.

Summerhols · 27/05/2010 13:34

TheArmadillo - Yes I find sharing my pain with my happily sleeping DH makes me feel marginally better. Though he is not very sympathetic as he thinks it is just like cramp you get from playing sport - I had to explain that it was WAY worse than this. I've got to say I have never expereinced pain like it (my sister said it is worse than labour pains) and it has reduced me to tears on more than one occassion.

So TryHarder - I feel your pain! The thing that I find helps me is stretching my toes up towards me NOT stretching them out AND (this sound mad but works) get out of bed and stand on the leg with the cramp in - put all your weight on it.

zippy79 · 27/05/2010 21:29

You have my sympathy- I suffered with this terribly last year. It seemed worse in hot weather. Eating a banana a day helped it to stop and my husband would massage my leg each time it happened

accessorizequeen · 27/05/2010 21:32

I had them so badly with my last pg (dts) I was screaming in agony every night. Banana & calf stretches before I went to bed helped, but the best tip I got was to keep an oven tray under your bed and put your feet on it if you get cramps, the cold will make them go away much more quickly. Felt like an idiot but it did work!

burmesegrumbler · 28/05/2010 07:31

Essential fatty acid's. Try IQ capsules (evening primrose with fish oils) or other similar products. I have been taking them from the off and not had a single leg cramp - they were recommended to me by my yoga teacher who suffered terrible leg crams in her first pregnancy and none in her second - only change to diet being increasing essential fatty acid intake. Bananas also are high in potassium which helps ease cramps for runners etc, but not sure middle of the night pregnancy cramps are the same as runners cramps.....

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