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STM - contraction vs leg cramp

mishmardhionomishmardhiono member
in June 2015 Moms
Last night I was thrust awake by a lovely leg cramp that felt like I was going to die. Holy moly. I forgot how brutal leg cramps are.. Then it got me thinking.

Are contractions worse than leg cramps pain wise? I know they go on for longer but are they as violent and brutal as a leg cramp... God help us if they are
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Re: STM - contraction vs leg cramp

  • karaelaine1991karaelaine1991 member
    FTM here so no experience to offer on this. But someone in the Charley Horse thread yesterday did compare the two - I think it was @henrytviii?

    To be honest, if it is a similar feeling/similar pain level, that's kind of a relief to me. Leg cramps are by no means pleasant, but I know I can get through them, and concentrating on breathing really does help me when I get one. So if labor contractions are similar, that actually calms me down a lot about the pain level.
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  • ElRubyElRuby member
    The other night I woke up in excruciating pain and all I could think of was this was worse than childbirth (and I had no pain meds with my first)...
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  • mishmardhionomishmardhiono member
    Charley horse ?? I've never heard of that before. Thanks for letting me know..

    Oh god I can't deal with leg cramps I scream, cry and thrash around and turn into a total child. My awesome husband will massage my leg for me but it's a pain I just can't deal with..

    Amazing you can focus on your breathing.. I just feel like amputating y leg
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  • karaelaine1991karaelaine1991 member
    ElRuby said:

    The other night I woke up in excruciating pain and all I could think of was this was worse than childbirth (and I had no pain meds with my first)...

    Sorry you were in so much pain, @ElRuby! This does make me feel more confident about dealing with contractions though!
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  • karaelaine1991karaelaine1991 member
    mishmardhiono said:

    Charley horse ?? I've never heard of that before. Thanks for letting me know..

    Oh god I can't deal with leg cramps I scream, cry and thrash around and turn into a total child. My awesome husband will massage my leg for me but it's a pain I just can't deal with..

    Amazing you can focus on your breathing.. I just feel like amputating y leg

    Charley Horse is a slang term for leg cramps.. Maybe it's a regional thing?

    One thing that helps is if you point your toes to your forehead. If you have a really bad one and can't do it yourself, have your husband do it. It always works for me! Breathing doesn't take the pain away, but it gives me something else to focus on and that helps me not freak out haha
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  • lkr004lkr004 member
    DolphinLover2002 said:

    In my opinion, a charlie horse is nothing compared to a contraction. But I was induced, so they say those contractions are much much worse. I would pick a charlie horse over a contraction any day.

    With my experience, I would much rather have contractions. The cramp I had just a few hours ago was the worst I've ever felt. Ended up rolling off the bed and hitting my head on the nightstand. Just terrible. I'll be limping all morning.
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  • mishmardhionomishmardhiono member
    I couldn't ever imagine something being more violent and unforgiving then a leg cramp.. Oh I hope contractions hurt less than these cramps otherwise my husband may REAAAALLLY cop it haha
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  • lovethatcolosunlovethatcolosun member
    So I guess I would say it varies. In the beginning my contractions were totally tolerable. Like bad menstrual cramps. So in this case leg cramps are much worse. Then as labor progressed for me contractions and back labor while pushing was much worse than a leg cramp. Also when I was having contractions while lying in bed (before epi) they were hell. Getting up and moving around or siting on the exercise ball when contracting made them so much more tolerable.
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  • dancingramdancingram member
    When I get leg cramps at night, the only thing that helps is jumping out of bed and standing on it. Also, I've been taking a magnesium supplement (consulted my midwife first) and extra calcium and that seems to help more than anything. Just FYI on what had helped me ;)
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  • Stephsie94Stephsie94 member
    edited April 2015
    I much prefer contractions, I know it sounds mad! I've had leg cramp since I was 16 weeks and am now 33 and still it gets worse. The pain is worse with contractions but the constant leg cramp gives me nothing but sleepless nights. Also it makes it really hard for me to play with my 2 year old daughter x
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  • auburnmammaauburnmamma member
    At least with leg cramps, I know they will end. When I had DS, I had no idea when the contractions would end. Mine may have been worse since I had pitocin but I'd rather deal with a leg cramp any day.
    04/2008 Biochemical
    03/2009 DS
    09/2013 Ectopic - MTX
    1/2014 Biochemical
    07/2014 Ectopic
    09/2014 Final injectible/IUI cycle prior to saving for IVF. BFP!!! 
    14 DPO: 179
    17 DPO: 547
    21 DPO: 2,180.70
    10/9/14 We have a heartbeat!!!!!
    Due June 5th!


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  • henrytviiihenrytviii member
    Good question, but maybe there's no answer. I did the make the comparison but I think everyone experiences leg cramps differently and contractions differently. Some people have terrible contractions, some have less challenging ones and it doesn't seem like it has to do with pain tolerance or toughness. My leg cramps are sometimes mild and sometimes terrible to the point were I have to have to scream, and coping with them can be similar to how I found I coped with labor. My doula always talked about keeping your noises low pitched to maintain control , this works for me when I have terrible cramp and am looking down at a twisted shin/calf. My contractions were like the worst of my leg cramps and seemed to come one on top of the other without breaks, combined with constant low back pain (like period cramps), and non-stop puking. Nothing beautiful about it. I wasn't technically induced but I was almost 2 weeks late, water broke, not dilated or effaced at all when I had acupuncture at 6pm, baby arrived 12 hours later. Nurses told me the going from nothing to ready in a shorter period of time, combined with a sun-side up baby was why my labor was gross. I said very clearly I was never doing that again, but honestly the high after getting through it and being down was so great, I am actually almost looking forward to it. Not the puking part though. So for me leg cramps are as bad as contractions, but adding in the nausea/back pain and the fact that the contractions lasted all night instead of just 5-10 minutes, labor definitely takes the cake.

    Tonight I've had my head in the toilet all night (yeah 3rd trimester all day sickness) and my back is killing me from work so bring on the leg cramps. Excellent practice.
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  • MissIntentionalMissIntentional member
    I went med free the first time and a leg cramp feels like a vacation compared to transition. Sorry ladies.

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