Jul 17 2008
Cramping my style
I should know better. Or I should have knocked on wood when I wrote it.
In a previous entry, I mentioned that I had managed to dodge the bullet on a good number of prenatal discomforts that plague many pregnant women. Well, no sooner than I mentioned that, I was rudely awakened at 3:21 am by searing pain in my right calf. My muscle felt as tight and as round as a baseball.
It’s not so much the pain itself that is difficult to deal with, but the suddenness upon which it comes and in the middle of an otherwise peaceful slumber. I’m sure as I get closer to my due date and sleep becomes more elusive due to physical discomfort and fetal movement, these nighttime leg cramps will really prove to be a bane.
Perhaps it’s my body’s way of waking me up, because when the leg cramp came I was sleeping on my back — which, they say, is a big no-no after the fifth month of pregnancy.
I jumped out of bed, as gracefully as a third trimester gal can at 3 o’clock in the morning, and did calf stretches until it loosened up a bit. Back in bed, I massaged my muscle until the cramp subsided enough for me to fall back asleep. This happened probably within a span of 2 minutes. In another minute or two, I was fast asleep again.
Luckily, I can stay in zombie mode even in the midst of pain, so that I can get back to sleep quickly. I use this technique for my nighttime trips to the bathroom, too — which comes in handy since those trips are much more frequent now. It’s a skill, to be able to stay in a state of semi-sleep, navigating my way through the darkness, doing my business, and falling asleep again in less than 60-seconds flat.
My calf was sore for the next two days following the nighttime cramping episode. I’ve been doing calf stretches before bed ever since. I hope this won’t be a regular occurrence.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. A new mom to her miracle baby, born on October 4, 2008. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
hi donna, sorry about the diabetes test and the leg cramp. Where was hubby during the cramping anyway? I remember it happened to me twice and I think I almost scared my hubby to death. Luckily he’s great with massage. I hope you don’t experience that again. I read somewhere you should stay hydrated to avoid it, but then there’s the need to pee. that’s one thing i hated about being preggers. Anyway, just thought i’d drop a line and say how excited i am for you and hubby. your 3D baby pics are cute and i’m sure you’ll get the nursery done in time. btw, are you taking your classes at pali momi with shelly? your stories sound familiar. =) happy weekend!
you put a memory smile on my face…i remember when i had my first leg cramp …hubby thought i was going to give birth… had to tell him that it was only a leg cramp !
Ok, never have been pregnant so don’t know anything about that.
I do know leg cramps are from dehydration. I used to get the nightime cramp nightmares all thru high school & college until my sports trainer friend told me I am probably not drinking enough.
Always some water now right before sleep (~5 to 8 oz is enough to do the trick) and seems to have taken care of it.
Not sure what to do about the water making you have to get up at night. I’d rather get up though than experience a leg cramp. Its so painful !
When I did get one, I used to put my leg up on the wall at an upward angle while still lying down. Then, I would lean upward while keeping my leg straight to stretch the muscle out and stop the cramp. I would imagine this move is probably not so easy when pregnant so maybe your hubby can help you the team sports way. You stick your leg up at an angle while lying down & then he presses your foot down so your leg gets essentially the same stretch.
That should be “lean toward the leg” (not upward) in the stretch.