I totally assumed I wouldn't get this painful symptom

Christina_Diane · February 2012

Painful cramps in my calves. I just assumed that because I am healthy, in shape, and drink plenty of water that I wouldn't get the leg cramps. Wrong...That is what I get for ASSuming. They wake me up nightly. If I catch it early enough, I can stretch it out and it isn't as painful, but there are some that I catch. Early this morning, one woke me up and I felt my right calf. It was like a hard baseball was underneath my skin.

How are you ladies dealing with these if you are getting them?

shouldbworkin · February 2012

I've gotten them every time. I thought maybe this time I'd escape without them, but they hit at around 30 weeks. Every morning, I wake up, stretch my calves and OUCH! Doesn't matter how well I've hydrated, stayed in shape or eaten, I get them. I think it might have to do more with my center of gravity shifting and me using my calf muscles differently than anything else.

katieh1017 · February 2012

The other night one woke me up at 4am in my left calf. I hopped out of the bed and starting putting pressure and walking on it and it went away immediately. I get them in my feet sometime, like right on the arch of my foot. Again, walking on it works although it's the last thing I want to do on it.

I didn't think this would have anything to do with being in shape. If that's the case I should be having them daily. I drink tons of water and eat bananas daily, as I've heard they could be related to potassium levels.

JillyOlsen · February 2012

I've had them off and on since first tri Tongue Tied Like you, if I catch it early enough I can sometimes hop out of bed and work it out before it is excruciating. I also try to be very mindful of stretching when I start to wake in the morning. Nothing feels quite like a good morning stretch, but the price isn't worth it.

Unfortunately, sometimes there is nothing I can do so I just whimper (or scream on one particularly bad one) until it passes and then limp most of the next day.

Good luck Sad

irish625 · February 2012

I've been getting them fairly frequently the last 4 weeks or so. I usually just jump up and walk around and that seems to get rid of it pretty quickly. I had one in my foot the other day that made it all twisted and hard to walk on, it was very strange.

alie78_80 · February 2012

I don't post a lot, but I can totally relate to the painful calf cramps. I talked to my MW about it on Friday, she said to make sure you are getting enough potassium and magnesium. I went out after the appointment and got some magnesium (I have a banana everyday for potassium) and the last few nights have been SO MUCH BETTER. Hope it helps!

tiannalee · February 2012

I have been told that the reason this happens is your potassium is low.

cepeeler · February 2012

My OB has had me take a calcium/magnesium supplement since 20 weeks and I have not had any leg cramps. She says this helps and keeps away the cramps. I am now at 34 weeks.

lauranicole91 · February 2012

Ugh yeah I starting having these about a month ago. I get them when I first wake up in the morning and give my body a nice stretch. I coupe by curling up in a ball mumbling ow ow ow for a few minutes. Haha. Sorry I am no help.

LesleyT · February 2012

Only happened to me once a few weeks ago (knock on wood). But, as another post stated- muscle cramps are usually due to low potassium/magnesium. **Try a low cal gatorade**- the electrolytes help tremendously. Gatorade always worked for me when I had muscle twitches and cramps from working out. The new trend with athletes is pickle juice instead of gatorade...so that may work for you if you're craving pickles

starshollow · February 2012

I get these occasionally, and I definitely keep myself well hydrated. I am so sick of bananas, so I have been drinking coconut water because it has as much potassium as 2 bananas plus electrolytes. It helps a little, but I still do get them on occasion.

When I get a bad one, I make sure to flex my toes towards my knee, and that usually gives enough relief to let me fall back to sleep.

mystiandcasey · February 2012

Ugh I hate them so much, they actually wake me up when I START to feel one coming on, and I sort of move my foot and stretch it in the other direction and it will stop and I fall back asleep. I've been trying to eat banannas too...

devotchka81 · February 2012

This started for me at the end of my 2nd trimester - and I did some research on it, hopefully this will be helpful to you. My midwife recommended that I drink a small (8 oz or so) glass of coconut water every day or every other day. It has the perfect balance of electrolytes/minerals that helps with cramping. She said that the combination of magnesium and potassium helps - but it's kind of easy to get too much magnesium for your pregnancy diet, so this is the perfect amt.

The effect was almost instantaneous! I stopped feeling them on the 2nd night. I have been lazy lately and haven't gotten more of it so I've been feeling theme every once in a while at night but they're still not as drastic as they were a month ago.

Pretty awesome stuff. I found one that I really like that tastes very fresh - Harvest Bay coconut water.

Good luck! Hope you feel better.