Holy EFFing leg cramps

skio · December 2010

This is starting to get annoying. Several nights a week, I wake up out of a dead sleep writhing and yelling as I try to dig myself out of my mound of blankets/animals/body pillows because of a charlie horse in either my foot or calf. I mean, OUCH! As if sleeping well isn't hard enough already. I was up for 40 minutes at 1am last night using DH's arch stretcher thingy and massaging my calves after a wicked cramp that spread from my arch up to my calf.

Is anyone else having these regularly? Any tips to help ward them off? I'm seeing my doc Saturday and plan to ask her for evasive measures, but I'll take any tips anyone can offer.

KatieRL1979 · December 2010

You're probably not drinking enough water and getting enough potassium in your diet. Drink a glass of water before bed and try to up your electrolites if you can. Eat a banana or drink something with some extra electrolites before bed and that will help.

kabarbanel · December 2010

I got them with both pregnancies, always in the calf

No advice though! But I know the feeling.

tokenhoser · December 2010

My doctor's advice was to add a calcium/magnesium supplement. I figure that can't hurt.

I've also been doing my best not to sleep with my toes pointed, but that's easier said than done.

FWIW, the doc also said they won't "do any damage". I find the pain and lack of sleep kind of damaging, though.

Mrs.EMS · December 2010

Light stretching before bed along with the water and potassium.

jteneback · December 2010

Try getting your calcium from a variety of sources - not just dairy or a supplement but foods like kale, almonds, etc. It's helped me a lot.

MrsKatie07 · December 2010

I haven't yet with this one, but with my last pregnancy I had the same thing. My OB told me to take 1200mg of calcium (with Vit D) daily, and I didn't have any leg cramps after that. I thought I got plenty of calcium because I drink lots of milk and eat quite a bit of dairy, along with dark green veggies, but apparently I needed more.

I just started taking it again this time because I started getting cramps in my feet, and I sure as heck didn't want to wake up with charlie horses again! Those things are killer!

STBMrsSJuly06 · December 2010

I have been getting a ton of this as well.They hurt like h*ll when they happen. My dr told me to add more calcium into my diet along with potassium and lots of water.

mpiemont · December 2010

I literally was just about to post about these night time killers. I've been getting them in my calf, thigh, and even the front of my legs. I stretch out one area, and another cramps up. I will have to try the calcium thing. I already drink a ton of water and a banana a day!

stahlop · December 2010

Totally understand, I've been getting these regularly for the past month or so. I haven't been told anything about the calcium, just that it's part of being pregnant. I'm not sure why, but it is. Mine have subsided a little, they aren't as painful as they were a month ago. Now, I can get them to go away just by flexing and pointing my foot when they wake me up.

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Holy EFFing leg cramps

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