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Ask A Midwife

Q.I'm in my 21st week of pregnancy and lately I've been having problems getting up from a chair or bed. I weigh 130 lbs and am 28 yrs old. The pain radiates from my lower back, down to my legs. It almost feels as though my leg is falling asleep. What is this and how can I deal with this discomfort?

Sincerely,
Carrie

A. You didn't say if this was a first pregnancy or not. Sometimes this happens because of the way the baby is lying causing pressure on the nerves going into the legs. For some, extra calcium gives a lot of relief. 1000 mg is what I recommend for the first 7 months and thereafter take 2000 mg for the duration of the pregnancy. Some women get relief by wearing a maternity belt like the Reenie belt or the Prenatal Cradle. Hope this helps.

Ollie Anne Hamilton, CPM is a lisenced Direct Entry Midwife in Montana. As a midwife for over 20 years, she has primaried over 600 births. She has three children Two were born at home, all born naturally.