How to treat RLS in pregnancy
It feels like your legs are plugged into an electrical socket and getting all juiced up. A 15% of expecting moms experience this tingling, creeping, and crawling in their feet accompanied by the urge to move them- especially when trying to get a good night’s sleep!
Restless legs syndrome is a disorder that causes an overpowering urge to move your limbs. It’s also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, and doctors consider it a sleep disorder because you usually experience the symptoms or get worse while resting at nighttime when people normally don’t want their bodies moving around too much.
You might have trouble sleeping or sitting for long periods of time without getting restless like in theater seats during movies, cars on road trips with lots of traffic jams (which can make them really bad), etc., but if left untreated they will worsen over time!
Pregnancy brings with it many other psychological conditions which exacerbate RLS symptoms including anxiety, stress, tension, and insomnia – all of these are temporary side effects from being pregnant but they should go away soon enough once the baby arrives.
RLS generally afflicts those who are sitting still and has been linked to a deficiency of dopamine. Knowing this information about the disorder might help you realize why it’s so hard to get some sleep at night: your brain needs time off from movement in order to produce more dopamine.
This disorder can be so frustrating for pregnant women and it often keeps them up at night! But if you’re too tired by this point, try not forcing yourself into a sleepless episode of RLS – just take things one step at a time.
Overcome restless leg syndrome with the following treatments:
Exercise
Exercise is great for your health and can actually help both physical ailments as well as mental ones. Whether it’s simple stretches, walking, or swimming; exercise should be a staple in everyone’s life.
Get enough Magnesium
To help relieve muscle tension, try taking magnesium supplements. You can talk to your OB or midwife about the best dosage for you and they will be able to share any other tips that may work well with it.
One way to get more magnesium in your diet, especially if you don’t want to take a supplement is by eating leafy greens like spinach and kale. If that doesn’t sound appealing enough for you then try legumes including chickpeas and black beans which also contain plenty of magnesium!
Epsom salts are not only great for your skin and detoxing, but they’re also the perfect way to wind down before bed. They contain magnesium sulfate which helps reduce stress levels by relaxing muscles and improving sleep quality.
Heat or Cold
There are two ways to reduce the constant tension in your legs. One is by using warm cloths, such as a heating pad or hot water bottle. The other way is through cooling treatments like ice packs and cold compresses that will help soothe the pain away.
Massage therapy
Swedish massage in particular can relieve RLS by applying pressure directly to your calves and giving them a good rubdown for deeper stimulation. This technique has been proven successful in clinical trials with patients suffering from this condition receiving relief after three weeks of treatment following two or more episodes per week during that time period – which lasted up to months afterward.
Relaxation techniques
Meditation is an ancient practice that has a specific focus of attention and attitude. It lets thoughts come and go without judgment, so it can do wonders for insomnia-sufferers like you! There are several types of meditation – find the one that’s right for you today to start your journey towards sleepiness bliss.
Yoga promotes healthy activity habits, sleep problems management, and provides stress relief. Yoga can also help improve mental well-being and lessen physical pains.
Doctors recommend that pregnant women suffering from RLS seek relief with home remedies or non-prescription pain relievers. If your symptoms haven’t cleared within a month of delivery, make an appointment with your doctor.
