help for leg cramps

[magentamomma]

I have been having really bad charlie horses at night when i sleep. so bad that my legs ache for days like i have pulled a muscle. Does anyone have any advice on what I may be lacking dietarily?

[lach]

Potassium and magnesium help. Eat bananas and dark, dark chocolate (upwards of 82%).

But, during pregnancy, they just happen It really sucks. Make sure you're relaxing your leg when you get one. It's really really hard, because your reflex when you're in pain is to tense your muscle, but that makes it so much worse. You have to really, really concentrate on relaxing the muscles in your leg. Someone told me (maybe here? Maybe somewhere else?) to make sure that your feet are flat and pointing towards the ceiling (like you're standing on the ground, even though you're lying down).

Good luck!

[hotharmony]

I agree with the potassium and magnesium get more of those in.

Also keep tonic water next to your bed and have a drink when it happens and the cramp will go away within seconds.

[lotusma]

yup, crank your toes as far towards your shins as you can as soon as you feel one coming on and that helps dissipate them.

supplementing w/ liquid cal/mag is often recommended, too.

[sept04mama]

My midwife last pregnancy had me take a Calcium/Magnesium combo. I think it really helped- it's worth a shot!

[magentamomma]

i started with the cal/mag. i have had charlie horses for years and always relieved them by flattening my feet, or standing on a cool surface, but nothing is relieving them. I had one that went on for hours the other night and all I could do was cry. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't over looking any thing. I have also been trying to up the pottasium. I started sleeping with dried bananas by my bed.

[Choaners]

If you're a data dork like me you might find this Cochrane Review of leg cramps helpful. It suggests that magnesium may provide some help. I'm started taking mag yesterday b/c i got a pretty bad cramp the night before.

http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000121.html

[lach]

I've been getting them in my ANKLES for the past 2 nights! It's so weird. I've only ever gotten them in my calves before (and these are the first I've had them with this pregnancy).

[southernmommie]

I would try to eat a banana right before bed. And stretch them really good right before climbing into bed too. That's what helped me. So far I haven't had a problem with the cramps, but my last two pg's would wake me up with bad leg cramps in the middle of the night.

[corban's mum]

i get heartburn and leg cramps at night, rennie tablets are made for heartburn and are made outta calcium and mag. two birds with one stone baby!

gonna try to tonic water thing - mostly cuz i just kinda like it ^_^

[happythistle]

MW put me on cal/mag and then the OB added potassium tabs at night time. So far for the last 2 nights, I haven't had any. stretching helps but it just seems we are doomed to always have them in the middle of the night!

[corban's mum]

mine were so bad last night that i've torn a muscle in my calf and am having trouble walking *sigh*

[LadyJade]

Get your calcium in - and take it separate from your iron - they cancel each other out. I got a bad one this morning, and I know its because I've been focusing too much on my iron levels! That's what I get!

I have also heard tonic water helps.