Pregnancy Restless Legs...

I would highly recommend seeing a Chiropractor. I saw one throughout my whole pregnancy (both of them, actually) and it made a HUGE difference with my comfort level. If you would like a recommendation, I can give you one. Send me a private message if you want me to get you a complimentary consultation at the clinic I go to. They are in St. Louis Park. Good luck!

I second the magnesium comment below! There is a calcium-magnesium powder you can get at Whole Foods called A to B Calm. My midwife recommended it for my restless legs and charlie horses in my calves while I was pregnant. It made a big difference!

Powered magnesium helped me so much during my pregnancy. This mineral is deficient in almost all of us. You can buy it at health food stores. I added mine to orange juice. It's a natural body relaxer. My doctor totally approved of it during my pregnancy for my jumpy legs. Take it right before you go to bed or 15 minutes before. Trust me it helps! I still use it when I'm over-tired and just want to relax.

I know this sounds crazy, but it can't hurt to try! Put a bar of soap under your sheet. I put a couple of soap-scraps (like the almost-used-up bars) under my sheets and the RLS is gone. I still get it when I nap on the couch, but not in bed. Try it -- what do you have to lose?

I get this pretty regularly but, like most other people, mine was worse during pregnancy. I found that if I cut sugar out of my diet in the evenings, it wouldn't be so bad. I would drink water with dinner and then no sugar after that. I tried the potassium thing too and it didn't seem to help. When it got really bad I would just take a tylenol and go to sleep. Hang in there, it gets better after the baby comes.

That happened to me when I didn't get enough exercise during the day. My husband and I started going on nice long walks every evening and that seemed to help since I was pooped when we got back.

I dealt with this with both of my pregnancies. I couldn't ride in a car for more than 5 minutes or sit on a couch. I would go crazy. About half way through my second pregnancy (last year) I did some research and discovered that being low on Iron was one of the reasons this can happen. I was already supposed to be taking iron supplements twice a day, but because of constipation I hadn't been taking them. Once I read that iron can be a culprit for making this better I started taking religiously and low and behold with in a week I was much better. I did reading on Restless Leg and it said that low iron can cause it. Check with your doctor and see if you might be low on iron. I know this may not be much consolation but I seems to go away as soon as you go into labor. I hope this helps.

I had that with my second pregnancy as well. It was awful. The only thing that helped me sleep, was to ask my (wonderful) husband to go sleep in the guest room. When I had the whole bed to myself, I did better. I think I was less anxious about it because I knew I wasn't bothering him and I could stretch out. The only silver lining I can give you is that it was gone the first night after I delivered my daughter. I actually slept much better with a newborn than I did when I was pregnant. Good luck!

take a tylenol and put a pillow between your legs for support. Had to do it then...still have to.

I had the same thing and unfortunately you can't take the medication bc of pregnancy. One solution the Dr.told me to try is not doing any activity 30mins before you go to bed. It helped somewhat. Try having someone lightly rubbing them too. Be careful though bc too long or hard can cause contractions. I did try holding them as still as possible when I was in bed,even though I felt like I had to move them. It was a lil tortuous but seemed to help it go away faster. Hope these help and good luck.

I don't have a solution... but I suffered with that quite a bit in my first pregnancy as well. Everyone said "go see a movie while you still have the chance".. but I couldn't sit still in the theater seats.

It did not recur with our 2nd pregnancy, so who knows. Maybe some extra B vitamins or magnesium might help? Ask your OB, he might have some ideas from other patients' experiences that might help you (and he will know what you should NOT do/take as well).
Sorry. I hope it goes away soon.

Hi R.
Bummer-- you might be deficient in a nutrient as you baby is taking a lot from you.
Restless leg has on origin from 3 diff. sources-- two neurological based at that level that can require drugs, and one nutrition imbalance. You can try different supplements that you're not getting in your PG vitamin as an easy-- extra calcium or eat bananas.
I have restless leg-- and it was terrible in my twin pregnancy. I wish I had known what I do now- somehow I got through.
I actually am a wellness coach now as a result of 2 year post PG hounding from my friends to switch from my line of nutritional supplements to theirs-- I did it -- albeit 2 years later to help regain my pre-PG shape mostly and found out that the nutritional shake mix I use daily -- within 3 days made my restless leg symptoms I had for over 20 years go away. IE: I slept through the night!!! I used to get up at least 2x a night. There happens to be in that shake mix something I'm either deficient enough in, or absorb differently in food- that wasn't in anything I had previously used. I have 2 other clients that have had the same relief. Needless to say I not only switched supplement lines, but continue to use them and now also distribute them part time as part of my wellness coaching if people want them.
If you want to know more, email me at ____@____.com and put momsource in the subject line. I'm on call this week for my other career so I'll get back with you as soon as I'm able.
I do offer momsource discounts and it's a $ back guarantee and super safe during pregnancy. In fact one of our main Docs in the company is an OBGYN one.

Blessings on a healthy delivery... and congrats.

B. j

About me: 49 yo perfusionist, wellness coach also doing a nationwide online biggest loser for up to $599 in winnings, wife, mom with 8 yo twin girls.

what i did when i was pregnant was if it happened around 7 or 8 pm i would jump into a nice warm bath and just relax and it waould go away. If it was any later then that i would just rub my feet and stay up and watch t.v. and it would go away. the bath works the best

Are you eating enough protein and healthy fats during the day? Are you going to bed with an empty or full tummy? You need to eat some protein with every meal, and eat at least 5 times/day. Protein can come in the way of a hard-boiled egg, nuts, peanut butter, tuna, etc. These foods contain magensium (which someone mentioned) and influence the production of seratonin, which helps you relax and sleep.

If you're still drinking pop, think about switching to Emergen-C packets. That way, you get your fizz and vitamins. It's a lot cheaper and doesn't contain chemical sweeteners like aspertame.

Updated

Are you eating enough protein and healthy fats during the day? Are you going to bed with an empty or full tummy? You need to eat some protein with every meal, and eat at least 5 times/day. Protein can come in the way of a hard-boiled egg, nuts, peanut butter, tuna, etc. These foods contain magensium (which someone mentioned) and influence the production of seratonin, which helps you relax and sleep.

If you're still drinking pop, think about switching to Emergen-C packets. That way, you get your fizz and vitamins. It's a lot cheaper and doesn't contain chemical sweeteners like aspertame.

Updated

Are you eating enough protein and healthy fats during the day? Are you going to bed with an empty or full tummy? You need to eat some protein with every meal, and eat at least 5 times/day. Protein can come in the way of a hard-boiled egg, nuts, peanut butter, tuna, etc. These foods contain magensium (which someone mentioned) and influence the production of seratonin, which helps you relax and sleep.

If you're still drinking pop, think about switching to Emergen-C packets. That way, you get your fizz and vitamins. It's a lot cheaper and doesn't contain chemical sweeteners like aspertame.

Taking a Magnesium supplement before bedtime should really help. It is completely natural so it's safe for you and the baby. Magnesium acts as a muscle relaxer. Hope that helps!

I have always had this but never so bad as when I was pregnant. I am so sorry for you, this can miserable! As far as i am aware, there is nothing you can take. What helped me was also bicycling, but couldn't do that much b/c I had sciatic pain. Pressure also helped, so tucking in your legs nice and tight under the blanket, and I also used the pillow. I have been told to try extra potassium, but never noticed that it helped me personally. But the biggest thing is to not get too tired. If I passed into that too-sleepy territory by even half an hour I would be going crazy. I actually used to think that this was just something that everyone had when they got too tired when I was a lot younger. I would call it "getting twitchy from being too tired" and people would think I was crazy. That's when I realized not everyone gets this. Good luck, I hope it passes soon!

The only thing that helped a little when I was pregnant was to take a warm bath. (well, I actually liked HOT baths, but thats me) Just make sure if you start to feel like you are getting too over-heated than get out. I know some say no baths in pregnancy, but if it is your own tub I am sure you keep it clean enough. I used to take them at 2 am to relax, in the dark and even light a lavender candle since the smell is supposed to be relaxing. Good luck, it will be over soon!

Hi,
I am pregnant,too,and have this feeling very often at night!What I do (and it really helps me) is,I turn the shower on really cold and take the showerhead and run the cold water over my feet legs (front and back) and don't dry my legs ,just put my pj's on and go to bed right away!You'll be amazed how much better you are going to feel!!

The only thing that helped me was to "bicycle" my legs laying there in bed. I found that tired them out more than just the shaking. Also little kicks like I was swimming the backstroke helped. I had it the worst in the middle of my pregnancy, so hopefully it passes quickly. Good luck!

I also had this so bad with my first pregnancy that I couldn't even sit down and watch a whole movie. The only thing that helped me sleep was walking for at least 30 minutes about an hour before I went to bed. I had to do it at night but not too close to going to bed so I wouldn't be too wired to fall asleep. Good luck!

R., I also have restless legs and both times I was pregnant it got worse. I have been taking a product called OPC-3 and it really helps. I have had 2 knee surgeries and have some arthritis in my knee and also in my hands. I did stop taking it for a short time and when I did the arthritis and the restless legs came back! I will not stop takeing these for the rest of my life. It also has helped my migranes. I used to get them 3-4 times a week and now I rarely get them and if I do they are very mild. I ended up becoming a distributor to cut down on the costs but the products really do work. Here is the link if you want to check it out, http://www.marketamerica.com/pamrorman/index.cfm?action=s...
If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
P.

I am 26ks pregnant and have the same problem. My mom works for an obgyn who told her some of his patients swear by these natural remedies. Eat a pickle every day! Eat one tbsp of yellow mustard! I have tried these two and they seem to work. Or, maybe it's all in my head!! But I'm all about whatever works and helps me sleep at night! The last one sounds crazy and I haven't tried yet but prob would if my restless legs got bad enough. Take a bar of soap and put under your sheets..down by your feet. Any bar soap! Might be an old wives tale but couldn't hurt to try lol!!