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May 2016 Moms
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Charley horses waking you from a dead sleep?

emsnedemsned member
in May 2016 Moms
Ever gotten one and just thought "yep, this is how it ends."

I've only had these kind of leg cramps twice in my life before becoming preggers. But last night I woke up twice from incredibly painful charley horses in both calf muscles. It woke me so unpleasantly and it was hard to go back to sleep after each one.

Has anyone else started getting these little devil pains yet? I read that it is common in the second trimester of pregnancy, and most likely caused by the new weight of our bellies.

The magical internet suggests that we stretch our legs and ankles often to prevent it, but holy crap, it was excruciating.
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Re: Charley horses waking you from a dead sleep?

  • alijeff2313alijeff2313 member
    I haven't had them yet this pregnancy, but with my last one I thought I was going to die multiple times! I used to get them growing up and in college right after the softball season would start. Smack dab in the middle of the night....there is nothing worse! Try pointing your toe or flexing your foot when they happen. Sometimes one way works, sometimes the other. It makes the pain bearable! Also in the morning, massage and bananas help! Good luck!!
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  • JessicaB0627JessicaB0627 member
    I haven't gotten them yet this time but I am anticipating them in the next few weeks. I would wake up with them at least a couple times a week, every week with DD. Another one of those wonderful pregnancy things that no one tells you about! ;)
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  • kami09kami09 member
    The first time I got one with my last pregnancy, I woke up & started straight up screaming bloody murder. My husband was downstairs watching TV and thought something very serious was happening. I felt so bad lol
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  • emsnedemsned member
    kami09 said:

    The first time I got one with my last pregnancy, I woke up & started straight up screaming bloody murder. My husband was downstairs watching TV and thought something very serious was happening. I felt so bad lol


    Hahaha! It's funny because it really does hurt! Sometimes I wonder if this is just the universe's way of preparing us for labor, like a little preview of the pain we'll experience. I don't think stretching will help me when that day comes though!
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  • asummerbrideasummerbride member
    Yes!!  This happened with my first pregnancy.  Eat a banana every day, I promise this will help! You need more potassium.  And stay hydrated, which I am sure you already are. Mine completely went away. Good luck!
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  • kbrands7kbrands7 member
    edited November 2015
    I got these last pregnancy, and sometimes even when I have not been pregnant. Increasing potassium and magnesium a bit in addition to warming up and stretching muscles before bed helps. Mine was worst in the second trimester and went away when I started eating half of a banana and a handful of nuts before bedtime. (OB suggested I do this; bless her!)
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  • Pascal86Pascal86 member
    Not had one yet during pregnancy, but definitely felt little twinges of cramping in my calves now and then, so I'm getting nervous I'll get a real one soon!

    I got the worst charley horse of my life the first night my husband-to-be ever spent the night with me. Freaked him out so bad by waking up screaming, and the next day I had a torn muscle and a giant bruise where it happened - these things can be brutal!!
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  • TunieBeeTunieBee member
    With my first, I would wake up in tears from leg cramps in the middle of the night. Rubbing was the only thing that helped, no amount of water or stretching made any difference. GL.




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  • missnc77missnc77 member
    Agreed on adding potassium. When I would get bad cramps pre-pregnancy, I read that potassium can help. At the time, I started eating a banana a day in addition to yogurt, and it eventually went away. I eat a banana a day now because it's almost the only fruit I can stomach, and so far, so good!
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  • LovingLife!LovingLife! member
    Haven't had them yet in this pregnancy but had them in my 3rd tri with the other two. SO AWFUL! It would help if DH massaged the cramp out while it was happening. I've been told eating bananas prevents them, too. 
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  • and_peggyand_peggy member
    I have started getting them too. Definitely not as bad as yours, it sounds. I also have been getting cramps in my feet.
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  • MellieRoseVargasMellieRoseVargas member
    I actually use to get them religiously prior to my pregnancy and now I don't get them anymore lol
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  • Dasha420Dasha420 member
    I had one in the dead of night last week. I haven't felt a cramp in a very very long time and to wake up jerking up to get my calf was horrible. I didn't know what to do- I just grabbed it and massaged like crazy and pulled my toes back.

    I am not looking forward to more of those. I'm still struggling with the congestion and rhinitis.
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