Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Talk to your doc, but when I had leg cramps during pregnancy my doc suggested extra calcium and it helped me.

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Magnesium is important so check into taking a supplement, also ditto on drinking lots of water.

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I was not a banana eater, so when I got leg cramps, I was at a loss. My doctor told me to stretch my calf the other way when the cramp happened. Also, rubbing it seemed to help. The pain would gradually lessen. So, if you are not a banana eater, you may want to try this.

As a childbirth educator and birth doula I deal with this topic at length. Your mineral balance is the issue @ hand. Taking one mineral @ a time is not helpful! That is why food is the best way. Hydration is the other key; Most people do not hydrate enough. This means plain water, or water with lemon. In addition to teas if you wish. Pickle juice is great to prevent or even help with a cramp in progress. You can take a Ca/Mg. supplement before bed if food is not helping.
L.

Bananas and lots of water helped eliminate them for me with both of my pregnancies.

When I had cramps in my calves I would lie on the bed on my back, bend my knees up and dig my heels in the mattress - it hurts a little at first but then the cramp magically disappears. I still do it to this day to relieve leg cramps. I also have my son do this when he has leg cramps. Potassium also helps - eat bananas. When my sons are having growth spurts w/ leg cramps I have them eat a banana each day. It has always helped.

Ask the Dr. how much potassium you should take-and stay hydrated-uh-not with tap water-drink reverse osmosis water-Aqua Fina or maybe Dasani.

Hi C.,

This is going to sound totally crazy, but I tried it and it worked for me!

I got terrible cramps too, during both of my pregnancies that would wake me up in the middle of the night no matter how many bananas or glasses of water I consumed. Then a friend told me about an old wives' tale...put a bar of soap (any kind will do) at the end of your bed between the fitted sheet and the top sheet. Put it down against the side of the mattress - you won't even know it is there, unless you let your feet hang over the end of the bed.

It was AMAZING. The leg cramps stopped immediately. I still had some aches and pains in my legs that come with pregnancy, especially in the later months, but never while I slept with the soap in my bed. My husband moved it on me one night without me knowing to try to prove it was a coincidence...got cramps that night!! lol

It cannot hurt to try, right?

Good luck and congrats,
L.

bananas, getting lots of water, and getting some exercise too, even just walking. I had them really bad in my first pregnancy and barely at all in my second. Ugh.... I dreaded that restless leg feeling and was so glad it ended when my baby was born!@

Potassium- and you need sodium to absorb potassium and make sure you are drinking plenty, as you need sodium to stay hydrated as well. The 3 are all tied up together! Also as noted, magnesium and calcium are very important right now as well.

drink your weight in orange juice and throw in a few bananas, no more leg cramps during pregnancy. been there, done that
K. h.,

Yes -- eat bananas or any other food with potassium. And if you do get a leg cramp, jump out of bed and stand on that leg; push down hard. When you put pressure on it, the cramp goes away.

I agree with the other moms. A banana a day keeps the calf cramps away during pregnancy. Make sure you're taking a really good vitamin (not the one the ob/gyn gives you--blech!). Go to a health food store--If it's just one vitamin a day, then it's too hard for your body to break down and absorb. If you're getting magnesium, get the citrate. There are actually some really nice drinks (mixes) that have it in them. And of course, lots and lots of water. When you think you've drunk enough, drink another glass! Good luck!

Eat a few bananas each week with breakfast. That helped me.

It could also be because of the change in weather. Every fall my muscles get really tight.

bananas are high in potassium which are good for cramps and a few light stretches will also help good luck............

Keep yourself hydrated that has a lot to do with cramps. My husband gets them on occasion and it will wake him up because its so bad. We keep a bottle of apple cider vinegar next to his side of the bed, he takes a painful swig and follows it up with some water. Point your toes at the ceiling and ride it out.
But chances are you are deficient in a certain mineral or vitamin and a little dehydrated.... definitely something to make your OB aware of and I'm sure he/she will advise you accordingly.
Congrats on your up and coming blessing.

I am not exactly sure which part of the leg you are talking about - if it's the calves, then I can certainly relate! What has helped me is stretching them every day. One way is to stand on a stair, place one leg on the edge of the stair and push the heel of that leg down towards the bottom stair (which stretches the calf muscle). Good luck!