How to prevent calf cramps during pregnancy?

More than likely a lack of potassium. Try eating bananas or when you do get the cramps at night try drinking pickle juice. Sounds weird but works.

I didn't drink the pickle juice, but I drank a shot of vinegar, which is basically the same thing. I used to get the leg cramps like every night when I was pregnant.

I had those leg cramps so bad my first pregnancy but hardly at all with the other four pregnancies. I was told to keep a soda can by my bed and step on it to work out the cramps. It's sometimes hard to stop screaming long enough to get to the soda can, but it might help you. Also, try to wear better shoes during the day. I had to wear dress shoes for work during my first pregnancy, but I wore tennis shoes (with padded inserts like Dr. Shoals) the other pregnancies. That may have something to do with my having no cramps for those. Good luck with your pregnancy and first baby. Hooray!

Hi M.,

Yes...one of the side effects of pregnancy...you may be probably a little dehydreated and need more potassium. Drink a little more water, you need at least 8 glasses a day (yuck, I know...hopefully you like water, I had to schedule my glasses like meds) and also you need to eat more pottasium, bananas, potatos etc.Keep up with your vitamines and specially Folic acid in dark green vegetables.
I had those and those tips helped a lot.

Good luck and remember, this too shall pass...
A.

I hated those! The thing that worked for me was straightening out my leg, pushing me heel down and my toes toward my face. It was the ONLY thing that worked. Sorry, hope it gets better!

I got those as well and all I can say is WATER! Drink water until you can't remember what you had since water. The baby inside you (as precious as it is) is sucking you dry of all nutrients and fluids. You probably have already noticed your skin (especially your feet) drying up. Plenty of H2O to hydrate your muscles will keep them from cramping as well as your prenatals, at least 10min. a day of excercise, and streching should do the trick. I had a 15 min. yoga video that was my savior. And it helps if your honey will help stretch you when you pop up in the middle of the night writhing in aggony. Trust me I've been there with 2 pregnancies and this will help but you really have to stick with it. GOOD LUCK & CONGRATS! Oh yeah and the banana thing helps too....in conjunction with the others. Take care.

I have teenage boys who play sports and when they got cramps in their calf's coaches always told them that it is because of a deficiency in potassium they should eat Banana's or drink gatorade the potassium helps with muscle cramps. Hope this works.

It sounds crazy but put a bar of soap under your fitted sheet down by your legs. My grandmother did it for years and you know how older women can cure anything with stuff from around the house. Good luck!

Hi M., I used to get those too when I was pregnant. I was told it could be either a potassium or calcium defficiency. I would suggest eating at least 1 banana a day, and make sure you take your prenatal vitamin every day. Also drink plenty of water, that always helps. Hope they get better, and congratulations on your first baby!

Hi M.,

I agree with Stacey and Andrea that it's a lack of potassium and possibly calcium.(Please don't eat Tums for your calcium! I can give you details why if you like.) Drink lots of water and eat a banana a day. Wearing the same supportive shoes everyday can help also. Remember that your little one is taking what it needs from YOUR body. That's why pregnant women get these! Whatever it's taking from you is something you need to replenish. Make sure your Prenatal vitamins are absorbing and not just slipping through your system.

If you need a recommendation on one that I know absorbs let me know. And just in case you didn't know, Omegas are terribly important for baby's cognitive development.

Congratulations and hope these leg cramps disappear!

M.

M. -- I don't know why you get them, but I got them too when I was pregnant. Believe me, I understand your pain! I found that eating a banana once a day helped...something about a potassium deficiency or something. Hope that helps. Also, just slide out of bed and into a calf stretch (I know this hurts) and it will subside more quickly. Good luck!

my calfs did this alot when i was pregnant in the middle of the night. my doctor told me to eat more bananas and to point your toes upwards when it first starts to come on. good luck!! them things suck!

I read in a book that you need potassium, so when I got a cramp in my leg I ate a banana every day and never got another cramp while I was pregnant.

Congrats on the pregnancy, M. and kudos to you for being able to wait...I couldn't. Flex your legs and point your toes everytime you wake up in the middle of the night. Not sure if its related or not (so don't freak out), but I had this when I was pregnant, too and I ended up having a DVT (blood clot) in my leg that was discovered 9 days post partum. I don't know if I had it while I was pregnant, too or if it developed after she was born.

Hey, I never tried this but a girlfriend of mine said she drank tonic water with quinine in it. She said when she was prg it helped her not be muscle cramps she also said look it up online. Something to try. Best of luck...I had the leg cramps to and tired drinking milk everyday it helped a little and what really helped to me was finally having the baby.lol

My calcium was low so my doc had me chewing tums if or increasing my calcium intake. Your potassium could be low. Eat a few bananas.

I got those too when I was pregnant; they are so painful! First of all keep exercising and stretch your muscles. Maybe do a few stretches before bed, but don't push it, just enough to loosen them up a little. I slept in a recliner a lot and that helped. Then make sure you are eating bananas which are rich in potassium. Lastly, just keep the thought in the back of your mind not to stretch your legs while you sleep. I know that sounds silly but just like an internal alarm clock in your head, tell yourself before you fall asleep to not straighten your leg muscles fully while your sleeping.

Oh sister, I feel your pain and literally have felt your pain. My baby is 7 months now, but when I was preggo with her I woke up crying begging my husband to cut off my legg. Try to get on web md and read about it, I heard if you eat more bannana's and try to drink more water. I was drinking water like crazy and still got them but see if it helps. Im so sorry, because I know exactly how you feel. Keep on hanging in there. Your almost there, girl!!!

charlie horses. I used to get these when I was in Basic Training.

Here's a Wiki explanation for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_horse

Hope this helps!

eat bananas!! the cramps are from a lack of potassium and bananas are rich in potassium and lots of other good stuff. one a day should help.