leg cramps

n_walsh22 · April 2010

I am 32 weeks along and for the past week or so I have been waking up in the middle of the night with horrible charlie horse knots in my legs. Last night I woke up four times its awful and extremely painful. I have been taking all my vitamins and been drinking plenty of water...any ideas??

j&r62808 · April 2010

I read that you may need some more calcium and otassium too. Good luck!

jCamsquared · April 2010

I found out recently that this is a normal pregnancy symptom. It sucks - happens to me every morning when I start to wake up. It's quite the rude awakening, that's for sure!

KiwiChampagne · April 2010

I've been dealing with foot & leg cramps for weeks! They sometimes hit in the evening but are usually the worst overnight. I've found that drinking a lot of water helps but doesn't always help to stop it. I saw that stretching can help so in the past week I've been trying to stretch my legs & feet a few times every day and definitely right before bed. I have had a LOT less cramping. It may just be coincidence but I'll keep doing it just in case.

Stretch Routine = Rotate foot in circles to the right at least 10 times, switch direction and rotate foot in circles to the left at least 10 times, and point/ flex toes at least 10 times. Switch to other foot. Repeat whole routine at least 3 times a day.

saturdaynightdoubletree · April 2010

hate to say it, but it's definitely just another "symptom" that comes with pregnancy, and there isn't much you can do about it. Sometimes elevating your feet/legs helps. Hope it goes away soon for you!

shar0805 · April 2010

Taking extra calcium ABSOLUTELY helps! I had the same problem with both of my pregnancies. My cramps went away after taking calcium. I took 2 calcium pills a day. It was miraculous.

curlyhairedboys · April 2010

Okay, this is going to sound really weird (really weird!) but someone told me that if you put a wrapped bar of soap (a bar of soap that you just bought at the store w/the wrapper still on type thing) at the foot of your bed underneath the sheets, then that will stop the leg cramps.

I tried this when I was about 37 weeks pg w/my second. I suffered from horrendous leg cramps - upper/inner thigh leg cramps that couldn't be walked or massaged out. So for the last 2 weeks that I was pg, I tried this and no cramps. I can't swear by it, but it can't hurt, right?

I gues it's an old wive's tale. Not one that I've ever heard of before. Don't ask me what magic powers a wrapped bar of soap has on leg cramps. Nothing I can think of makes any sense what-so-ever. Again, can't hurt and it's cheap!

Good luck!

51008LeoneLefrancois · April 2010

Someone just told me about the " soap" trick last night and she swears by it. I have been waking up at least once a night with a charlie horse so I am going to try the soap trick tonight and see what happens

51008LeoneLefrancois · April 2010

Just htought I woudl share that the last two mights I slept and put the sopa at the foot of the bed wrapped up and it worked.

Seriou · April 2010

Elevation and flexing the foot so your toes are pointing up toward your face help me most in the moment. I try to stretch the leg with the foot pointed up several times a day (when I am waiting in line, when I'm cooking dinner, etc). Also I found that exercise like walking or bike riding helps to prevent them or at least makes the cramps less intense.

Good luck

tbkm011500 · May 2010

Bananas Bananas Bananas !!!

Their high levels of potassium will prevent the leg cramps. My first one was so bad I woke up screaming, I ate a banana every day thereafter and didn't get them anymore. I thought I was safe but after not having a banana in a couple of weeks it happened again ! Now I eat bananas at least twice a week but if your getting them often I would eat them once a day!

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