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Pregnancy

leg cramps

9 replies

Mammina · 27/02/2009 15:04

I'm 19 weeks pg with my second & have just started having painful leg cramps in the middle of the night. does anyone know of anything I could do/take/eat to either get rid of them or at least make them less severe?

thanks

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dinkystinky · 27/02/2009 16:11

Get down to your local healthfood store (or online) to order some magnesium phosphate tablets - they were the ONLY thing that worked on my leg cramps. I tried bananas by the bunch, indian tonic water, milk and none of those worked.

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Mammina · 27/02/2009 17:07

thanks dinky will give them a try

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laweaselmys · 27/02/2009 17:18

When you get leg cramp if you straighten your leg and point your toes up towards you (instead of down) that usually stops the pain.

(Whilst you are waiting for a cure to stop getting them!)

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Mammina · 27/02/2009 17:19

thanks, I do that and it helps a bit but it's so strong it doesn't go completely or it goes for a few seconds and then comes back. I was jumping out of bed on and off all night last night!

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Qally · 28/02/2009 02:02

If in the calf muscle, get out of bed and stand on the painful leg. I know it sounds nuts, but it works instantly - I spent much of late pregnancy doing it.

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meep · 28/02/2009 07:17

train yourself not to point your toes when you stretch in bed! Flex your foot upwards instead.

I found eating a banana before bed helped - but that may be an old wive's tale!

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anon624 · 02/03/2009 03:31

A quick change of name here so that I can give you the most embarrasing but useful piece of advice.

I am a chronic RLS sufferer, and have tried every remedy and treatment ever recommended and its done nothing. However, when it gets bad any form of sex helps (given as this is quite a lot and DH is squeamish about pregnant sex, this is generally something I have to do for myself, if you follow).

As RLS is basically caused by an imbalance of brain chemistry (as a long term sufferer I've read up on this a bit), I think it is the endorphin rush that does the trick. But whatever the reason, it's the only thing that works for me.

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LadyPenelope · 02/03/2009 04:26

When I got this my doc perscribed calcium supplement which solved it for me.

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Mammina · 02/03/2009 15:31

anon that's very interesting! DH not squeamish at all but I'm the one who's knackered all the time and can't be arsed , although is RLS the same as cramp? I though it was when your leg sort of jumps by itself in the middle of the night (which I also get)

ladyp thanks for that i may go and see my gp