restless legs syndrome.
last revised · reviewed 2026-07-05
Restless legs syndrome — a crawling, fidgety urge to move the legs, worst in the evening and at night — affects around 1 in 5 pregnant women, peaking in the third trimester. Low iron is a common contributor worth testing for, and the condition almost always resolves within weeks of birth.
what it feels like
An unpleasant creeping, crawling, tingling, or itching sensation deep in the legs, paired with an irresistible urge to move them — appearing when you sit or lie still in the evening and easing the moment you move or stretch. It can make falling asleep genuinely difficult.
why it happens
The exact cause is unclear, but pregnancy RLS is linked to how the brain handles dopamine and iron — and pregnancy stretches iron reserves hard. Rising oestrogen may also play a role. The pattern peaks in the third trimester and characteristically disappears within days to weeks of delivery.
what helps
- Ask your midwife or doctor to check your ferritin (iron stores) — topping up low iron often improves symptoms markedly
- Build a wind-down routine with movement: gentle stretching, calf raises, or a short walk before bed
- Massage the legs, or try a warm bath in the evening
- Limit caffeine, especially after midday
- Keep good sleep habits — tiredness makes RLS noticeably worse
- Distraction during still moments (a puzzle, conversation) genuinely dampens the urge
- Avoid antihistamines that cause drowsiness where possible — they can worsen RLS; check alternatives with a pharmacist
when to call your midwife or doctor
- Symptoms severe enough to seriously disrupt sleep most nights — call your midwife or doctor; iron testing and safe management options exist
- Restless legs with pallor, breathlessness, or exhaustion — possible anaemia, worth prompt review
- Pain, swelling, or heat in one calf — that is not RLS; possible blood clot, seek same-day assessment
- Symptoms persisting more than a few weeks after birth — see your doctor
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call — no midwife has ever minded a careful question.
common questions
Why do restless legs get worse during pregnancy?
Pregnancy draws heavily on iron stores, and low brain iron disturbs the dopamine signalling that RLS is linked to; hormone changes add to the effect. The third trimester is the peak, and symptoms characteristically vanish within days to weeks after birth.
What actually relieves restless legs at night?
Movement is the reliable short-term fix — stretching, walking, calf raises — plus evening massage or a warm bath. Longer term, having your iron checked is the highest-value step, along with limiting caffeine and protecting your sleep routine. Ask your midwife about testing.
Is restless legs syndrome harmful to the baby?
No — RLS is miserable for your sleep but poses no risk to the baby. Its main cost is your rest, which is reason enough to raise it with your midwife rather than suffering through: iron correction and simple evening routines help most women.
read it in context
Restless legs syndrome tends to show up around these weeks of pregnancy:
related symptoms
- Haemorrhoids (piles)
Haemorrhoids — swollen veins around the back passage, also called piles — affect up to 4 in 10 pregnant women, most often in the third trimester.
- Pelvic girdle pain
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is pain around the pelvic joints — the pubic bone at the front, or the sacroiliac joints at the back — affecting around 1 in 5 pregnant women.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome — tingling, numbness, and aching in the fingers and hand — affects up to a third of pregnant women, usually in the third trimester.
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