A
sharp, shooting pain in the middle
of the night that jolts you out of
the bed is unnerving not to mention
painful. Most pregnant women go through
these leg cramps that hit the calf,
thigh or foot; the cause is not definite
but there are probable possibilities
as to why it happens more often during
your pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses
and your girth grows, so does the
pain. It is most common during the
final trimester and in the nights.
What causes
them during pregnancy..
• It seems to run in families
• It seems to happen more
during pregnancy due to circulation
changes
• It seems to happen because
the weight of the uterus presses on
the leg blood vessels
• It seems to happen because
of muscle fatigue which you are prone
to during pregnancy
• It seems to happen because
your body is deficient in minerals
such as calcium, potassium and magnesium
• It seems to happen due to
lack of salt in your diet
• It seems to happen when you
are getting too much phosphorus which
then interferes with calcium absorption.
When you
get a leg cramp attack..
• When you get a cramp attack,
stretch your leg out heel first, and
gently flex your toes. It may hurt
for a while and this pain may take
a while before it subsides.
• You can also use a hot water
bottle on the affected area
• Get your partner to massage
your calf vigorously straight away
What you
can do to prevent leg cramps during
pregnancy
• Studies show that multivitamin
with minerals and magnesium is helpful,
take one that is recommended by your
doctor.
• Do some simple exercises during
the day to keep your circulation going
• Avoid sitting or standing
with your legs crossed for long periods
of time
• Exercise your calf muscles
by stretching your legs several times
a day, and before you go to bed
• Rotate your ankles and wiggle
your toes when you sit to have your
meals or watch TV
• Drink lots of water to stay
hydrated
• Have warm baths to relax the
muscles before bedtime
• Try to go for walks everyday
unless you have been advised not to
• Try not to get too tired;
take rests by making time to relax
Constant muscle tenderness, pain or
swelling in your leg is not the annoying
cramp but could be something more
serious. Have your doctor assess the
pain; it could be DVT which will require
immediate attention.
