Stretching causing leg cramps????

[Miralen]

For the past several nights I have (sort of) woken during the night and felt the need to stretch my legs, like I normally do when I wake in the mornings, you know that stretch before you start to move out of bed? Sort of tighten the muscles a bit before relaxing them again - does that rings bells with anyone or am I just weird?

I have felt like I needed to stretch several times during the last several night, only problem is when I do I can feel that both calf muscles are getting too tight and I know that a cramp would be just around the corner if I continue so I stop doing it to avert the cramp even though I haven't satisfied the need to stretch feeling yet.

I think it usually happens when I am on my back, though not always I have had it stretching when on my side and sometimes I've only been on my back a few seconds as I've been on the process of turning over.

Any one else have/had this? Everything I've read about cramps (both in pg and not) says stretching is meant to help reduce the likelyhood of cramping.

This morning when I stretched I stopped at the usual warning sign but it was no good and I cramped anyway (ouch!!!)

[MandaMoo]

Yep, I get this too! If I point my toes when in bed I get awful cramps. I find stretching but having my feet flexed helps.

[Mindy]

Miralen - your post mirrors my past week exactly.
On Saturday and Sunday morning I woke and tried to stretch with flexed feet and crmped in my calves both times...horrendous and even worse when you can't quickly jump up to releive the cramp because of the big belly...my calves still have that aching sensation now 3 days later.

I have been taking caltrate all pregnancy as advised by Ob to prevent PE so maybe try some magnesium.

[gorgeous]

I had the same problem during my first pregnancy. I would wake up in the middle of the night with this need to stretch/move my legs and when I did I'd end up with a cramp.

I spoke to my pharmacist who recommended a Calcium & Magnesium supplement (in addition to my pregnancy supplement) and that really helped. If you're unsure, speak to your caregiver.

[MeNThem]

I too would second the suggestion of caltrate - I took it while pg but actually take it every night as a muscle relaxant for my muscles (in my neck and back). My osteopath actually said when of you can up the dose to be 3+ tabs per day (I use caltrate plus - it's calcium, vit d, magnesium, zinc etc) which together help to relax muscles and helps your body to help itself when under a heavy workload.

I take 2 tabs per day - both at night before bed as it helps for more restful sleep. I take 3 when my back is playing up or if I'm due to get AF (nearly impossible to predict with PCOS but that's another story lol) so I'm sure if you started on one tab at night and worked your way up to a couple it would probably be ok. Talk to your Dr or pharmacist incase other things you are taking have high levels of one of the components and it's too much in total, but I know the osteo has told me you can take a LOT of these things before they could harm you.

Hth
Kristan

ps congrats on the pregnancy! I remember you TTC for ages so it's great to see you pg and getting towards the end!!

[Samantha2]

Hi Miralen

I was the same - would generally get cramps from stretching. I found though if I stretched my toes either towards me or away from me (can't remember which one - sorry!!) that I wouldn't get them.

[jacs]

yep, up your magnesium intake!
i use Bioceuticals 'Ultra Muscleze' - it's fantastic (got mine from a health food store).

[Meredy]

talk to your doc before you start taking magnesium
I took it with ds for my leg cramps so this time when i started getting them I went to the chemist and had a chat to the naturopath there and got some after taking them for about a week i started getting these weird heart feelings maybe once or twice a day and a week after that I got them about 20 or 30 times in the one day so went down to the hospital to get checked out and they ended up keeping me for two nights because the magnesium was giving me an irregular heart beat. I asked the doc what else I could take and he was not very helpful lol he said you're pegnant you shouldn't take anything just deal with it but then a friend told me to drink tonic water so for the last couple of weeks I've been having a glass of it everyday though i forgot the last two days and had terrible cramps last night! so had on e as soon as I got up lol
tonic waters a lot cheaper than tablets horrible stuff though

[Goannabanda]

Originally Posted by Meredy

a friend told me to drink tonic water so for the last couple of weeks I've been having a glass of it everyday though i forgot the last two days and had terrible cramps last night! so had on e as soon as I got up lol
tonic waters a lot cheaper than tablets horrible stuff though

My obs says to have either Tonic Water, Schweppes Bitter Lemon and to take Caltrate for leg cramps. They work AFIAK.

Schweppes Bitter Lemon tastes a whole lot better than tonic water. They both have quinine in them, which is what helps with the cramping.

[mrsw]

OMG I have the exact same thing!!! and we are due around the same time, I thing I remember this with DS1 also.

Its really only been from about 28 weeks on.