During our regular Monday playgroup (we all have 2 year olds that play together), one of my friends who is pregnant was complaining about her legs; they have been bothering her at night to such an extent that her sleep is interrupted. (This is above-and-beyond her sleep being interrupted from other usual pregnancy symptoms).
She said she had searched online for information about her symptoms, tried different remedies, but nothing seemed to work, as she was unsure if her symptoms were related to something like RLS (restless leg syndrome) or a problem with her sciatic nerve.
Her doctor referred to her symptoms as "pregnancy-induced restless leg syndrome". The strange thing--it was recommended that she take an additional 1200mg of Calcium and extra B9 (Folate)...and after a week of this new treatment...she is happy to say that her symptoms have disappeared!
I wanted to share this information with all of you, as from my online research, the recommended treatments consist of taking folate, iron, magnesium, vitamins B12, C, and E...but no mention of extra calcium. Many treatment options include drugs that are not safe during pregnancy, so for women who are suffering from any of these symptoms listed below, you may want to ask your doctor about "pregnancy-induced RLS, and their recommendation of taking extra calcium:
* Feelings of tingling, creeping, pulling, prickling, "pins and needles," or pain in the legs during periods of rest or inactivity—Half of patients complain of restlessness in the arms as well as legs.
* Symptoms typically get worse at night
* A strong urge to relieve these uncomfortable feelings with movement
* Restlessness, including floor pacing, tossing and turning in bed, and rubbing the legs
* Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
* Hypersomnia—recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep
[Source: EmpowHer's Encyclopedia on RLS
For More Information:
- National Institutes of Health: Restless Leg Syndrome
- EmpowHer article on Pregnancy and Sleep: Contradiction in Terms?