Cramp in legs at night!

[YummyMummyOf2]

Hi - I have reached that time in my pregnancy that when i stretch my legs in bed at night (usally early hours of morning) i get the most AWFUL cramp in my legs/feet.. Its absolute AGONY!!!
I had it also with my 1st pregnancy ... and its the only time in my life that i get cramp!!!!
Has anyone got anything to stop it/calm it down ... other than stretching it out? I got cramp on friday night/saturday morning, my muscle went that tight i couldnt even move my leg to stretch it out!!!
Anyone else going thru this too?!

[ZiaAries]

Eat bananas for potassium. Leg cramps have been attributed to low potassium.

[ZiaAries]

PS I'm not pregnant but I do get leg cramps.... Bad! I immediately bring bananas back in my diet. It works for me.

[boingo]

Zia's correct.
A look in the "Disease and nutrient requirements" in my fantastic reference book "The Nutrient Bible" suggests these possible deficiencies:
E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium
Low potassium levels are the most common cause, but it's best to see your GP for advice on specific recommended daily allowances for pregnancy because pregnancy puts a huge
Unfortunately pregnancy wasn't covered with my certificate of diet and nutrition. I'll be learning it later.

In case you're interested I found a bit about nutrition during pregnancy on the Australian Dietitian's Association web site:
http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834450

[boingo]

Zia's correct.
A look in the "Disease and nutrient requirements" section of my fantastic reference book "The Nutrient Bible" suggests these possible deficiencies:
E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium
Low potassium levels are the most common cause, but it's best to see your GP for advice on specific recommended daily allowances for pregnancy because pregnancy puts a huge
Unfortunately pregnancy wasn't covered with my certificate of diet and nutrition. I'll be learning it later.

In case you're interested I found a bit about nutrition during pregnancy on the Australian Dietitian's Association web site:
http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834450

[boingo]

Oops. I didn't mean to quote myself there. I meant to edit my post for better wording.

[Captain]

Hi - I have reached that time in my pregnancy that when i stretch my legs in bed at night (usally early hours of morning) i get the most AWFUL cramp in my legs/feet.. Its absolute AGONY!!!
I had it also with my 1st pregnancy ... and its the only time in my life that i get cramp!!!!
Has anyone got anything to stop it/calm it down ... other than stretching it out? I got cramp on friday night/saturday morning, my muscle went that tight i couldnt even move my leg to stretch it out!!!
Anyone else going thru this too?!

Besides the potassium thing, try to avoid pointing your toes cause that seems to trigger them. Putting a pillow at the foot of your bed (under the blankets) can help to stop you accidently doing it, I've been meaning to do the pillow thing but sleeping is so uncomfortable now I have this system where I strategically place 5 pillows in the bed and I can't bear to spare one or it messes the whole thing up

[YummyMummyOf2]

Zia's correct.
A look in the "Disease and nutrient requirements" in my fantastic reference book "The Nutrient Bible" suggests these possible deficiencies:
E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium
Low potassium levels are the most common cause, but it's best to see your GP for advice on specific recommended daily allowances for pregnancy because pregnancy puts a huge
Unfortunately pregnancy wasn't covered with my certificate of diet and nutrition. I'll be learning it later.

In case you're interested I found a bit about nutrition during pregnancy on the Australian Dietitian's Association web site:
http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834450

Hi Thanks Boingo - I will check out the website! Im seeing the midwife tomorrow, so i will also ask her if there is anything i can do to stop it... Ive also got a extreamly bad lower back too - so i will be asking her about that too!!! There usually useless tho - and more bothered about the baby/pregnancy than any symptoms im having!


Your all seeming to be saying the same things - Bannanas it is for me then!!! Thanks guys

[YummyMummyOf2]

Hi - I have reached that time in my pregnancy that when i stretch my legs in bed at night (usally early hours of morning) i get the most AWFUL cramp in my legs/feet.. Its absolute AGONY!!!
I had it also with my 1st pregnancy ... and its the only time in my life that i get cramp!!!!
Has anyone got anything to stop it/calm it down ... other than stretching it out? I got cramp on friday night/saturday morning, my muscle went that tight i couldnt even move my leg to stretch it out!!!
Anyone else going thru this too?!

Besides the potassium thing, try to avoid pointing your toes cause that seems to trigger them. Putting a pillow at the foot of your bed (under the blankets) can help to stop you accidently doing it, I've been meaning to do the pillow thing but sleeping is so uncomfortable now I have this system where I strategically place 5 pillows in the bed and I can't bear to spare one or it messes the whole thing up

Aww Captain - i have only one pillow at the moment - placed between my legs and under my bump - that seems to be working well - but then i get to role over and i have to re position the pillow so i sometimes give up and throw it out!!
Suprisingly - Hubby is being really nice about the uncomfortable sleeps im having with Cramp and Back problems - last night he braught up the heat pack for my back, and has offered to massage my legs before i go to sleep to see if that helps with the cramps!

[Captain]

you're lucky!!
I've had one leg massage this whole pregnancy and it was a distracted 2 minute one, he kept stopping to watch tv

I have a tripillow under my bump and legs, then another between my legs, then one behind my back one in front that I hug sort of and one under my head

[Captain]

(sorry to double post, can't edit my posts in here)

I made a picture to explain better

http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs130&d=08343&f=pillow980.jpg

[YummyMummyOf2]

(sorry to double post, can't edit my posts in here)

I made a picture to explain better

http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs130&d=08343&f=pillow980.jpg

Love the detailed picture!!!! I have just taken over the bed .. Hubby has 1/4 of the bed and i have the rest!!

Gone to see midwife yesterday afternoon - Shes referred me to physio about my back, and nothing i can really do about cramps!!!

[boingo]

Zia's correct.
A look in the "Disease and nutrient requirements" in my fantastic reference book "The Nutrient Bible" suggests these possible deficiencies:
E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium
Low potassium levels are the most common cause, but it's best to see your GP for advice on specific recommended daily allowances for pregnancy because pregnancy puts a huge
Unfortunately pregnancy wasn't covered with my certificate of diet and nutrition. I'll be learning it later.

In case you're interested I found a bit about nutrition during pregnancy on the Australian Dietitian's Association web site:
http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834450

Hi Thanks Boingo - I will check out the website! Im seeing the midwife tomorrow, so i will also ask her if there is anything i can do to stop it... Ive also got a extreamly bad lower back too - so i will be asking her about that too!!! There usually useless tho - and more bothered about the baby/pregnancy than any symptoms im having!


Your all seeming to be saying the same things - Bannanas it is for me then!!! Thanks guys

You're welcome.

In case it turns out you need more of any of those nutrients, here's some sources listed in the same "The Nutrient Bible" by Henry Osiecki.

Vitamin E
Sources: Almonds, apricot oil, beef, corn, egg yolk, hazel nuts, safflowers, sunflowers, wheat germ.

Calcium
Sources: Almonds, broccoli, bone meal, buckweat, dairy products, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, molasses, sardines, soybeans, turnips.
*Calcium sourced from animal products are much more readily absorbed than calcium from plant sources.

Potassium (vitamin K)
Found in All vegetables, apricots, avocado, banana, citrus fruit, dates, herring, milk, nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans), parsley, potato, raisins, sardines, sunflower seeds.

Sodium *This is highly unlikely as the Western diets of Australia, USA and UK usually contain levels of salt in excess of our needs.

Unfortunately I can't list all the levels of each nutrient each food provides because the list for each one would be huge. (There's 24 products listed for calcium alone in my nutrition workbook.)-I'm also trying to find a comprehensive nutrient book with individual foods and the average quantities of nutrients in each food, but I haven't found one as yet.
If it turns out you do need more of a specific nutrient, then I'll take a look through my books for info. You'll likely find some great, accurate, info on reliable websites, such as those for Universities, Colleges, Nutritionists etc.
This site may be useful too: http://www.nutrition.org.uk/

[babyface]

both my pregnancies i suffered terrible leg craps through the night luckly my hubby was nearby and used to rub them, he used to get such a fright as i would jus jump up in bed screaming - my god the memories also suffered terrible heart burn - i remember after i had my first child it was such a relief i said to the midwife thankgod no more heartburn was the first thing i said even before i looked at the baby

[daystrom]

piping in really late on this, but i suffered from these before, nasty.

Drink 1x8oz glass of tonic water (as in the stuff that you mix with gin). It contains quinine HCL and if it does not get rid of yer leg cramps then I will eat my beret.

Ray