PUPPP & Leg Cramps

Unfortunately, I've developed the pregnancy rash called PUPPP....again! I also had it with Tyler, but thankfully it didn't develop until the last month with both pregnancies. I've provided a link below to fully explain the rash if you are interested. The most important thing is that it doesn't pose any risks to mother or baby and is just basically VERY annoying due to the intense itching caused by the rash. I'm very lucky to have mild cases with both pregnancies too.

I did some research and found that drinking V8 juice dramatically helped relieve the itching in many women so of course Ben went out and got some V8 for me. Luckily, I love V8 so I definitely don't mind drinking it, plus it's one of the more nutritious beverages available. Unbelievably, it really does help relieve the itching!! It's my miracle drink! Before I started drinking V8 I would wake up in the middle of the night for 2-3 hours at a time just scratching and scratching to no end, but once I started drinking the juice there have been no more night wakings and the itching is much more tolerable.

PUPPP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritic_urticarial_papules_and_plaques_of_pregnancy

I also have good news to report on the nocturnal leg cramps!! One of my dear friends from high school, Christina, told me that she also had leg cramps in her most recent pregnancy and that her OB said to eat cantaloupe to help prevent them....so of course I tried it right away. Guess what, it worked!! I haven't had any leg cramps since I started adding cantaloupe to my daily diet. A possible cause to leg cramps in pregnancy is a lack of potassium and calcium (not to mention all the extra fluid in your legs) and cantaloupe is a great source of both. I've also been eating bananas and have tried to drink at least one glass of milk daily throughout my entire pregnancy to ward off cramps. I'm so thankful to have found these easy and healthy home remedies!