Leg cramps - OWWW!
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
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Topic: Leg cramps - OWWW!
Posted By: Mrs_B
Subject: Leg cramps - OWWW!
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 11:41am
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Any one else suffer from these? I get them in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning. Sometimes they are only mild and I can get rid of them by stretching my calf out but other times they are SO painful I'm nearly in tears and can't move and my calf is sore for two days afterwards.
I'm sure it is pregnancy related cos I have never got them before. I think it is potassium and magnesium deficiency that causes it? Might have to limp off to the health shop today I think  -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 11:51am
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Yep I do. I've always been quite prone to cramps and usually have cramp in my calf several times a night at the moment. Know what you mean - sometimes if it's a really bad one it's almost impossible to stretch it out and hurts for ages afterwards!
I think it has something to do with circulation as well and that's why you get it more during pregnancy (I'm sure I read that somewhere - not sure where! lol). ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 11:53am
| Yep I got them with Daniel and they were awful. My doctor just said to put up with them. I wasn't lacking in anything, it was just an icky preggy thing. They stopped as soon as Daniel was here. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 12:02pm
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Yeah I have had a few as well, when you feel it coming on point your toes towards your knee, stretching the other way can cause a full blown cramp. I've had a couple of the full blown cramps when haven't stretched quick enough or stretched the wrong way in my sleep like state and it hurts for days and feels like a pulled muscle.
Agree with above is just a preggy thing and will stop once baby is out, as long as you are eating a healthy diet you shouldn't be lacking in anything. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 12:33pm
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I was told by my MW to take Calcium supplements to prevent them. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 12:43pm
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OWWW i got them bad in pregnancy too!!
I was told to take magnesium (helps with muscles cramps & spasms) I would wake up when I felt the cramp coming on, get outta bed & stand up. Seemed to help the lessen the duration & lessen the pain! I still get them occassionally ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: Spirals
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 12:44pm
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I have suffered with leg cramps since my early teens, so have always known how to deal with them.
But these ones I'm getting since being pregnant are like nothing I've ever experienced before!! They are soooooo painful - and there is no getting out of them the usual way. Just like you Mrs_B I'm almost in tears with them (have been twice!). I end up waking DH (unintentionally) every time I get one. They last for ages, and the muscle is sore for days afterwards, sometimes I can't even touch it its that sore. My obs said to sit in a warm (not hot) bath only up to hip height for 10 mins before going to bed. I haven't tried it yet, but I have to say I have noticed that on the nights I have a bath I don't seem to get cramps. Could be coincidence, no idea. |
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 1:42pm
I use to always get them in the middle of the night  Apart from the morning sickness it was the worst!
I feel for you chick  -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 1:52pm
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Owww I got these aswell, I had it really bad once and I threw myself out of bed and rubbed the crap out of my leg, it was sore for a few days aswell.
I agree it was one of the worst things after MS! ------------- |
Posted By: hailstones
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 1:56pm
Ohhh I remember them, had me hobbling for days! I agree with Glow, best to get out of bed and if you have a cooler floor ie Bathroom tiles/ lino it can help as well (standing on them that is) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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cuppatea wrote:Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 2:18pm
Yep I've started getting them this week too I just flex and rub cs it's always in the middle of the night and buggered if i'm gonna run a hot bath then lol. Ah pg is so joyful.....  -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Lulu
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 3:08pm
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I had them during pregnancy and my obstetrician prescribed calcium tablets - they are like berocca, you just put them in water and the fizz up and you drink them. I never got another cramp. ------------- Lou http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 3:42pm
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Yes I get them every night, every time I wake up to go to the loo! They are horrible eh, I have to jump out of bed and stand on my leg then it goes away. But my legs get tired really easily during the day now and I'm sure it's because they are so traumatised by getting cramp several times a night!
Eek and occasionally I get cramp in my feet instead of calf muscles, and when I'm too lazy to get up and just try and bend my foot up and flex it with my hand, I then get cramp in my THIGH! That is the worst, I don't recommend it
My dad reckons a spoonful of sugar helps, and I do that if I get it during the day and it does seem to help. Can't be bothered going into the kitchen during the night to try it though! Edited to add: I agree with the bath thing! I had a bath on Sunday night and didn't get any cramps that night! Doubt the power bill would agree with me having a bath every night though ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Nefertiti
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 4:00pm
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Of all places....I get it on the top of my foot while pregnant....and believe me, it is the worst cramp I've ever had on any part of my body.
With my last baby I got a supplement from the health shop....two bottles of powder, one to take at breakfast, the other at night...and it worked wonders. If I ever forgot to take it, I would definatley know that night! So I'm off to get some more soon! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 7:43pm
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I got these with #3, in the middle of the night. I had to stand up quickly and stamp them out. One night my DH thought I was having a bad dream so he tried to hug and restrain me, saying "it's okay, it's okay" - I responded by shoving his arm off me and saying "it's NOT okay!!!" and then proceeding to stamp all around the room until the cramps had gone LOL.
For me they were a passing thing, only lasted a couple of weeks. But if they had settled in I was advised to take magnesium tablets as well. -------------  |
Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 7:58pm
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Oh the joys of being pregnant.
Two suggestions: http://www.hchformulas.com/crampstop.html - Cramp Stop which is a homeopathic spray that is sprayed into the mouth when suffering a cramp. It is safe for use in pregnancy. http://www.thompsons.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8403&ID=141&SID=950477649 - Thompsons New Era Mag Sulph Cell Salt which is more of a prevention. Again safe to use in pregnancy. |
Posted By: Ella1
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 10:50pm
| At antenatal class they advised the New Era Magnesium. They are tiny tablets that dissolve on your tongue. You actually take them when you are having cramps. I now have them on my night stand, so they're close when I need them. |