Leg cramps... HELP!

Sorry to say, but it comes with being preggo.  No one knows why we get them, just that we do.   Mine hurt so much and you can get them at any time.  they go away when they want to.  I know, i've tried the stretching also and no luck, but if you come up with something, please please please let me know.     And sorry I don't have any good info for you.  julia

I have had the same problem! Mine legs cramp so bad with this pregnancy that there are days I am limping! Its insane. My doc. recommended soaking in a hot bath with Epson salt for 20 minutes. It helps to relax your muscle. He also said to rest legs on ice packs as well for about 20 minutes to help loosen the muscle even more. Well I hope this helps. I know it helps me a little bit.

Yep, comes with being pregnant! I've had leg cramps that have lasted for weeks and my dr checked it out with an u/s to make sure it wasn't a blood clot (it wasn't). but ya theres really nothing you can do about it. For me, sometimes if I ate a banana they got better, but at other times it didn't help at all. Try drinking some water which generally helped me out.

I would get them so bad when i was pregnant what really helped me was drinking lots of water and eating bananas I would eat 1-2 bananas a day and it worked most of the time..Good luck.

Maybe this might help. Kinda long. I'm just quoting directly out of "What to Expect When You're Expecting"

Leg Cramps
"I have leg cramps at night that interfere with my sleep"

          Between your racing mind and your bulging belly, you probably have enough trouble sleeping without having to suffer from leg cramps. Unfortunately, these painful spasms, which occur most often at night, are very common among pregnant women in the second and third trimesters. Fortunately, there are ways of both preventing and alleviating them.
          Because fatigue and fluid accumulation in the legs are thought to be possible contributing factors, wearing support hose during the day and alternating periods of rest (w/your feet up) with periods of physical activity may be helpful in eliminating or reducing the frequency of leg cramps. And be sure to get adequate fluids (at least 8 glasses a day).
          If you do get a cramp in your calf, straighten your leg and flex your ankle and toes slowly up toward your nose. This should soon lessen the pain. (Doing this several times with each leg before retiring at night may even help ward off the cramps.) Standing on a cold surface sometimes works, too. If either technique reduces the pain, massage or local heat can then be used for added relief. If neither reduces it, DONT massage your calves or apply heat. DO contact your practitioner if the pain continues, as there is a slight possibility that a blood clot may have developed in a vein, making medical treatment necessary.

If you need any other help, my MIL got me this book. If its got advice in here I can tell you what it says. It's helped me alot in learning what's normal and what's not. Also helps with what to prepare for (as in what your body MIGHT do in the future).

Thanks ladies... My mother told me about the banana thing.  I am going to try the 2 a day.  I was eating one about every other day.  I have the "what to expect book" on my nightstand and I read it like the bible, lol.  I did up my water intake however my belly was SO full that I was more uncomfortable with the fullness.  I tried to drink it slow throughout the day but wasn't getting nearly enough.  I would drink the suggested 8 oz. an hour but like I said, my belly would fill up before it could reach my bladder. 

I have to say that I was at Circuit City and sat on thier massaging chair with the calf massager.  It hurt like hell but it was a bit better afterwards.  I haven't had one since Xmas morning but the pain is still there like I pulled a muscle.

Thanks again and will let you all know if I find out any tips.

Angie

oh yes aren't they just the best, waking up in the middle of the night and having to jump off the bed and work them out. OUCH.

anyway my doctor said its dehydtration and lack of calcium so he is making me take calcium supplements and of course drink a lot of water. i was skeptical but it seem when i forget to take the calcium they come back when I keep up on it they stay away.

try it, it might work for you. worked for me.

I got these too... my sister knew of an old wives tale which says to put a bar of soap in the bed with you, I did it and my cramps stopped. Maybe it had nothing to do with the soap but it didn't hurt- you can google that old wives tale too. Good luck!

Bananas and water.  This is what I had to do the other day to kill a nasty cramp (which woke me from one of the few good sleeps I have had!).

Quoting babydsmommy18:

I would get them so bad when i was pregnant what really helped me was drinking lots of water and eating bananas I would eat 1-2 bananas a day and it worked most of the time..Good luck.

Oh man..

I was actually catching some good sleep when I suddenly jumped up threw the cat knocked stuff off my night stand crying in pain.. My calf muscles were so tight with spasm that my feet were straight out I couldnt even work them out.

I finally got the courage to stand up to loosen them thank goodness I did, it felt like it was never going to end..

I had been having a little cramping nothing major, today was the first time it had gotten that bad. I drink tons of juice water and milk..I eat tums like there is no tomorrow some days, which my doctor said to do to increase my calcium.

Now both calves hurt and feel like they are going to spasm at anytime..

Just crazy lol.. am going to try the banana thing today and eat a couple of them...31 weeks and 5 days..due march 7th 2009