im just over 5 months pregnaut and get real painful leg cramps EVERY night during my sleep. ive asked my doctor about them and he said they are perfectly normal and alot of woman experience it in pregnancy but everyone i have spoken to have never heard of it and i didnt get them in my first pregnancy. Was just wondering if anyone else got/gets them.

Now I think about it I did get them especially when I was laying down or in the middle of the night. Yes they were very painful

I have had them will all of my pregnancies. Try doing calf stretches before bed, keep your muscles warm with a hot water bottle and make sure you are taking lots of calcium. I've read that leg cramps are thought to be caused by a lack of calcium. You have my sympathy!

THEY ARE ACTUALLY CAUSE BY LOW POTASSUIM. I HAD THEM WORSE THAN A NORMAL WOMAN WOULD BECAUSE OF A SYNDROM I HAVE WHERE MY BODY DOESN'T RETAIN POTASSUIM AND MAGNISUIM LIKE IT SHOULD. TRY EATING FOODS RICH IN POTASSUIM AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER THIS SHOULD HELP IN THE LONG RUN BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE TRY POINTING YOU TOE TOWARD YOUR HEAD AND MASSAGEING YOUR LEG WHERE IT IS CRAMPING! HOPE THIS HELPS!

I just copied this from a website.





Why am I getting cramps in my legs at night?


Just as running, playing a heated game of tennis, or simply standing all day can tire your muscles so much that they cramp, so too can being pregnant. The added weight on your leg muscles often leads to night cramps, which can wake you out of a sound sleep. Leg cramps hit hardest in the second and third trimesters.

Some other possible causes of pregnancy-related leg cramps are thought to be an excess of phosphorus (found in processed meats, snack foods, and fizzy drinks) and a shortage of calcium circulating in your blood, or the pressure of the expanding uterus on the nerves leading to your legs.


How can I relieve the pain?



Fortunately, leg cramps are one of the pregnancy complaints you can do something about.

When a cramp strikes:

• Stretch. Start by straightening your leg -- heel first -- and gingerly flexing your ankle and toes. This will hurt at first but gradually make the pain go away.

• Massage the cramped muscle.

• Take a warm bath or place a hot water bottle on the cramped area.

• Walk it off. Pacing for a few minutes should help.


Can I do anything to stave it off?


• Stretch before bed. Stretching your calf muscles several times (as described above) before you go to bed could help prevent night cramps completely.

• Avoid standing for long periods or sitting with your legs crossed.

• Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes when sitting, at work, at dinner, or watching TV.

• Eat calcium-rich foods. If you really have trouble with leg cramps, ask your midwife or GP about taking a calcium supplement. (But avoid using any calcium supplements with dolomite or bone meal in them; these often contain lead, which can cross the placenta and harm your baby.)

• Avoid soft drinks, which contain a lot of phosphorus.


What if the pain persists?


If the pain is constant and not just an occasional cramp, or if you notice swelling or tenderness, call your doctor. You could have venous thrombosis, or a blood clot, a fairly rare (one in 2,000 pregnancies) but serious condition requiring immediate medical attention.

i used to get leg cramps when i was heavily pregnant, they were so painful it made me want to scream. y doctor said it had something to do with the weight of the baby pushing on my nerves, which causes cramps and shooting pains down your legs. i've never had it again since i gave birth.