Leg cramps - OWWW!

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

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.

I was told by my MW to take Calcium supplements to prevent them.

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.

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!

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.....

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

Edited by rachel25

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.

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.