https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:19:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706591 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 08:13:50 +0000 swurlygurl 1706591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the advice everyone!! &lt;3</p> <p>I drank a TON of extra water last night and had 2 bananas (throughout the day) - no leg cramps! I did have to get up to pee approximately one million times though, so that's not much better. I'm going to try drinking coconut water all day today to see if that will help me during the night - I've heard that coconut water has a lot of natural electrolytes, so maybe that's why it's so helpful.</p> <p>@mrskc: @Bookish: YES, if I stretch my leg or foot the wrong way it's immediate cramp :(</p> <p>@Silva: Hahahaha, oh yes, my poor husband. He's probably used to it by now, but I've definitely freaked him out more than once, poor guy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706257 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:21:13 +0000 SnowLion 1706257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had them while pregnant, but my doctor said that two things can cause them. Not enough potassium and not enough water. The doctor said to eat a banana a day and drink more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706253 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:15:30 +0000 Mrs. M 1706253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, during my first pregnancy it happened a lot! So far with this one, only once or twice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706079 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:51:18 +0000 bunnylovesbear 1706079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes!! They are the worst. They've been stronger and more frequent with this pregnancy than my last. My suggestions have already been said: drink more water, eat a banana, massage, stretch... The magnesium suggestion is new to me, so I'm going to look into that one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706060 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:37:33 +0000 lemondrop 1706060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, during my first pregnancy only, as mentioned above I flexed my toes toward my head and it went away immediately! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706049 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:33:29 +0000 mrskc 1706049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kodybear: this is exactly what I do, and I haven't had one leg cramp this whole pregnancy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706032 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:25:57 +0000 delight 1706032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man this was my least favourite part of pregnancy. I ended up getting rid of them by doing some stretches that I learned in my pregnancy yoga, taking Epsom salt baths nightly and getting prenatal leg massages. Man those cramps are the worst! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1706018 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:22:10 +0000 Sapphiresun 1706018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, I got them occasionally while pregnant. I tried to make sure I stayed very well hydrated and ate a banana every day and it mostly kept them at bay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705960 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 18:43:01 +0000 wonderstruck 1705960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got these in high school all the time during my overlap between marching band performances and figure skating competitions - basically whenever I was overusing those muscles. They do sometimes pop back up for me during pregnancy, but you already did what was going to advice - standing up and walking it off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705953 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 18:37:07 +0000 Bookish 1705953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: oh gawd those were horrible. I never quite figured out what caused mine, though I do know if I pointed my toes too hard they came on. Ugh. Sorry you are having them! </p> <p>@Silva: Same, I woke DH up screaming more than once. Awful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705950 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 18:32:15 +0000 pl0508 1705950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. Soooo awful. They would make me sore the next day. I always had then after eating something with a lot of salt </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705803 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:40:08 +0000 Tidybee 1705803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my gosh - those were the worst ever! I remember reading something about drinking milk before bed and that helped for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705796 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:35:08 +0000 mrsjazz 1705796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second what @Trailmix: said, coconut water did the trick for me! I don't miss those! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705764 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:16:27 +0000 magnolia 1705764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am only 15 weeks but this just started for me. My ob recommended tonic water with quinine (like what bartender puts in gin and tonic) as well as bananas. It has been helping<br /> Hope you feel better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705557 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:47:31 +0000 Silva 1705557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh man- you made me recall this lovely pregnancy symptom. I used to scare the daylights out of my husband because I'd wake up screaming. They went away after I had the baby. Hope you figure yours out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705540 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:36:55 +0000 MrsScottish 1705540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am currently dealing with this at 20 weeks! Stretching before has hugely helped. My doc said dehydration and low mag/pot can also be a reason. Eat a banana a day and drink extra water and see if it makes a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705535 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:33:08 +0000 Trailmix 1705535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coconut water helped me with this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705532 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:32:21 +0000 autumnlove 1705532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had awful leg cramps in my 3rd trimester. My Dr. told me to stretch before bedtime and eat more potassium rich food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705511 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:23:14 +0000 illumina 1705511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started getting them when I was pregnant, most nights and now at 9 months pp I still get them a few times per month :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705470 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:10:27 +0000 kodybear 1705470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>whenever i feel them coming i always point my toes up towards my head and it stops them right away every time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705450 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:57:47 +0000 mrskc 1705450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I notice I get them when I stretch my leg out straight. Is that how yours start? I can feel them coming on and I quickly flex my foot and it stops it from happening. I got them a lot with my first pregnancy too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705440 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:55:12 +0000 swurlygurl 1705440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I've heard potassium before (from swimming in HS) so I've been eating a ton of bananas. Will look into magnesium now! As if sleeping isn't hard enough already while pregnant *sigh* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705436 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:54:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 1705436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, ugh I remember those killer charley horses well!!!</p> <p>My OB said cramps can be caused by low magnesium. Once I upped magnesium in my diet (through food sources and/or pills) the cramps went away completely. I’ve also heard potassium can cause the same issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bad-leg-cramps-at-night#post-1705428 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:51:57 +0000 swurlygurl 1705428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did/does anybody have bad leg cramps at night?! I usually get woken up maybe once or twice every night or two with a REALLY bad Charley Horse cramp. It's always the back of my calf muscle, and I can massage it out quickly. However, last night it was EVERY muscle in both my legs below my knees, including whatever random muscle is on the top of my foot. That was AWFUL. It lasted for about 30 minutes where I couldn't get rid of it. I had to get up and do laps around the house because as soon as I laid down or sat down they would both cramp up again. Anyone ever have that kind of leg cramp?</p> <p>(I'm 7 months pregnant, and my leg cramps have only been present while pregnant, but I know people can get them without being pregnant) </p>