You’re lying in bed, finally asleep after your second mandatory nighttime bathroom trip - when suddenly, it happens! A sharp jolt of pain wakes you up, and you immediately know what time it is: leg cramps! The notorious nighttime calf cramps of pregnancy are back, and while they’re harmless for both you and your baby, they are incredibly frustrating.
Many pregnant women experience leg cramps, especially at night. It’s as if your body has decided that sleep isn’t that important - first a few trips to the bathroom, and then a sharp, stabbing pain in your calves. Luckily, there are a few things you can try to keep the cramps at bay. Stretching before bed is a great place to start. Gently stretch your calves or try a "toes to the ceiling" exercise by pulling your toes up towards you. Taking magnesium supplements can also be effective - or even better, applying magnesium directly to your skin and massaging it into your calves. Our nourishing Rest magnesium body serum is a game-changer for pregnant women tired of being woken up at night by leg cramps. As a bonus, it can be combined with a gentle massage, which is where your partner comes in. A good foot and leg massage can work wonders, and I highly recommend using our softening Ease magnesium body lotion or our Embrace body oil. Make sure the massage movements go from the ankles upwards - this stimulates circulation and can help reduce the risk of cramps. And you could even (lovingly, of course) claim that your midwife recommended daily massages - for the sake of both you and the baby, right?
Although leg cramps can be painful and incredibly frustrating in the middle of the night, remember that they are just a temporary part of pregnancy’s many surprises. And if you manage to get a little extra pampering out of it in the form of a massage - well, then maybe it’s (almost…) worth it!
