Charlie horses - owww!

[Anonymous]

I'm in my third trimester and I get terrible leg cramps/spasms or whatever they are in my feet, shins, and in my calfs. So painful and always at night when I'm sleeping. Is it just me?
My mom suggested I try to stretch the muscle of the affected area, but to no avail. I'll have to ask the doc. next time I go, but until then any advice for preventing or even easing charlie horses?

[Anonymous]

I used to get these all the time in high school (I played a lot of sports). Try stretching your leg muscles before bed time, and eating a banana for potassium too. When you get a cramp, resist the urge to curl into a ball and instead stretch your leg out and foot out so you are extending your calf muscle. You should flex your foot so your heel is extended (as opposed to pointing your toes). Breathe deeply and it should subside in a few moments.

[Anonymous]

You need to get more calcium. I used to drink a glass of milk before bedtime during my third trimester. Eating banannas can help as well. You could also call your OB and see what he recommends.

[Anonymous]

Second the recommendation of drinking a glass of milk before bedtime - worked like a charm for me, and I used to get them every night, to the point where I felt like I was paralized in my bed and could not move. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'll chime in here too with the two PP. Milk and Bananas worked like a charm.

[Anonymous]

I ate a banana every day, tons of calcium too, but for me, the spasms didn't get better until I increased my water intake. I had been purposefully drinking less water after dinner so that I wouldn't have to get up several times each night to pee, but as a result the spasms in my calves were horrendous! Once i started drinking more water, they stopped.

[Anonymous]

If you are referring to restless leg syndrome, where you feel the urge to constantly move your legs, then all I can do is offer sympathy! That was the worst part of my pregnancy and fortunately it went away after I delivered. I wish I had known to try the milk and banana before bed.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks or all the great advice. I'll give bananas and milk a try tonight.

[Anonymous]

I had a lot of Charlie horses while pregnant. For me, the only way to relieve them was to get out of bed and walk around. Good news is this always worked quickly.

[zumbamama]

I say keep stretching and second the drinking lots of water. But for stretching to work, you have to stretch everyday. Stretching here and there won't do much. Forward folds, lunges, calf stretches. Also have your hubby massage you from your feet up to your lower back. and like the pp's said...keep moving! All of that helped me tremendously from those wake me up in the middle of the night spasms.

[Anonymous]

Bananas and milk! I think you can interpret that as a banana split if you want