How to prevent charlie horses?

Well with the weather changing and getting colder, thats one reason that they are coming on. The whole pregnancy well starting around probably 16weeks or so, I always felt as if I was going to get one, never did until oh last week or the week before, and I thought OMG im gonna DIE! It hurt for days after that.

The best bet is to maybe start walking and to also stretch your calves and stuff more. Try and keep your legs under covers, but if you are like me and throughout my whole pregnancy I have been using just the sheet and not the comforter, and usually im ALWAYS cold especially at night, but not during pregnancy.

Also maybe a warm heating pad can help sooth the pain.

Im soo ready for them to go away, im 33weeks 3 days today, and I sure hope I dont get another one! I feel for you hun!

dont stretch when you wake up - thats what made mine come all the time in pregnancy!

They are common and i think its lacking potassium so try to eat a lot of banannas.

Also just gotta make sure you move rgith or they come on quick! those are nasty lil buggers!

Oh I didnt mean stretch when waking because yeah thats what brings mine on as well, so I dont stretch my legs in the morning, im thinking of just stretching during the day, it has helped me....and yeah they are HORRIBLE lil buggers, I HATE HATE HATE them!

lol, i knew what you meant - i wasnt scolding but im sure you know me better than that :)

And yes, stretcing during the day is such a good way to keep those things at bay!!

haha I do :)

Just wanted to make sure she knew I didnt mean stretch when you get up, that will sooo bring one on...ugh I hate the thought of them.

I would get them so often in my calves while sleeping.. The trick when you are stretching is to NOT point your feet and toes straight out with your stretch... Instead, have them pointed upward towards the ceiling, lol does that make sense?

I would start stretching, still half sleeping and I would feel one coming on and forget that my feet/toes were pointed so I'd quickly flaten my foot and point them up and they would go away before getting to that point where you want to scream, and its sore for days...

I read that helped in one of my pregnancy books and realized it really does work:)

i get them bad and have to take potassium pills daily. Avoid caffeine, as it only makes them worse.

Makes total sense Tanya, thats excatly the stretch I do for my calves, but I also point, its habit from dancing growing up.

Mandolyn, oh that stinks you used to get the soo often. I hadnt had one in years until being pregnant, acutally I might of had one last year as the weather got colder and I know I always drank caffeine. Dont while im pregnant, so I know thats not it, as I know they are common during pregnancy. They stink though!

I have (had them) really really bad to I would cry everynight..I now drink a big glass of milk and eat a bananna every night before I go to bed.

hope you feel better soon

I always tried eating bananas, never helped.. Its just one of those pregnancy things we have to deal with I think... I know it will be coming soon for me again but luckily I haven't had any yet..

As a habit I always point my toe also, but always catch myself when I start to feel the tiniest one coming on...I've noticed I've caught myself the last couple mornings, even though I haven't had any yet, I know they are coming soon, lol... I know how horribly painful they get!