Leg cramps

[LostGirl]

I am at week 25 of my first pregnancy and I've started getting cramps in my calves in the last two weeks, when I'm sitting at my desk. It's odd. I have also gotten super painful Charley Horse cramps - once in the dead of night, and the other while swimming.

Anyone else experiencing this? I especially would love to hear from women in their 3rd tri or who have already given birth to hear their tales.

I have been eating bananas in the hopes that it has something to do with a potassium deficit. My friend who is an ob-gyn says that the baby is probably stealing my electrolytes (sodium and potassium) as it gets hotter here and it's important to replenish them.

WHOA! More fun for the pregnant... Lostgirl

[meg12]

Ugh--I had the leg cramps, too. Potassium did seem to help--I hate bananas, though, so it was a real struggle to make myself force one down every day. But if I did, it seemed to make a difference. Are they not helping you?

[LostGirl]

Meg,
I was already eating a banana a day or every other day when the cramps started up so now I made sure to eat one daily and also to eat potassium rich vegetables like asparagus. But I still get the cramps on some days (often the days I swim). That's normal I guess because sweating takes away electrolytes, so I guess I should drink more Gatorade on workout days.
I'm trying to be careful about Gatorade because of the sugar content though...

Lostgirl

[elca]

LostGirl,
I had a few episodes of cramps at nighttime too. It seems normal for pregnant women (what I read). However, I think it is a depletion of electrolytes, you are right. Also, not only Potassium could cause those cramps, but Calcium depletion too. I have started eating more milk products. At this point, I think it helps - I haven't experience cramps since my diet changes.

[tryw8]

LostGirl:

It's only happened to me once in the night. I was sleeping really good only to awake to the most terrible episode of a charlie horse ONLY because I decided to stretch and "point my toes down". I was told not to do this but to stretch it the other way. So when I'm sleeping, I just keep my feet in the "flat" position.

Karen

[beth]

I know this is going to sound a little strange but...

I had terrible leg cramps during my pregnancy and always during the night. I heard that if you stand on a cold floor and stretch a little that it helps.
And it did!
Whenever I got the cramps, I would hobble over to the bathroom tile floor and stand flat footed, the cramps went away.

and of course I ate bananas and more bananas.

good luck!

beth