While carrying a child, a woman faces many ailments. Leg cramps are especially common during pregnancy. This condition can be caused by many reasons, so external measures alone are not enough to prevent it. A pregnant woman should tell her doctor about cramps. He will order additional tests and determine their causes. Only if you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, follow your daily routine and diet, can you prevent frequent cramps or make them less painful.
What are cramps
Convulsive contraction of the leg muscles periodically occurs in almost all people. In this case, the muscle tenses sharply, hardens for a while, and it is impossible to relax it. This condition causes severe pain. This is due to overexertion, stress or disturbances in the electrolyte balance of the blood. Leg cramps are very common during pregnancy. It cramps mainly the calf muscle, less often the muscles of the thigh, foot or arm. Most often this happens during rest, when a woman relaxes. In this case, a sharp pain occurs, the foot stretches.
Most often, cramps bother a woman during her sleep. This is due to the fact that blood circulation slows down at this time, which is why the muscle receives less nutrients. In a healthy person, seizures do not require special treatment. But this condition in pregnant women indicates certain pathologies. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures, otherwise the convulsions will become more frequent, which will disturb the calm and well-being of the woman.
Causes of cramps in pregnant women
Before prescribing a set of measures to prevent cramps, the doctor will find out why your legs cramp during pregnancy. There are several reasons for the appearance of night cramps, and basically all of them are present during pregnancy:
But the main cause of seizures in pregnant women is a violation of the electrolyte balance of the blood and mineral metabolism. A lack of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, B vitamins and glucose leads to muscle spasms. This is due to many factors.
In early pregnancy, this condition is caused by an increased need for nutrients. A woman’s body must provide not only for itself, but also for the growing child. And sometimes women do not change their diet, which leads to a lack of essential substances.
Leg muscles can become cramped due to drinking drinks containing caffeine, smoking, or improper eating habits. If a woman eats rarely, eats a lot, especially at night, mineral metabolism in her body is disrupted, and a decrease in glucose levels is observed. In addition, frequent vomiting is observed during this period. And a woman’s body loses many essential nutrients through vomit.
Cramps can occur due to increased physical stress on the legs
In the middle of pregnancy, the fetus grows spasmodically; it experiences an increased need for minerals and vitamins, which it takes from the mother’s blood. Therefore, convulsions often occur in later stages. They can be caused by poor diet, as well as uncontrolled use of diuretics. Often women drink them, wanting to get rid of edema, but such drugs wash out essential minerals from the body. In the last trimester of pregnancy, these causes of seizures are also accompanied by circulatory disorders of the extremities: inferior vena cava syndrome, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.
Magnesium deficiency
The most common cause of cramped legs during pregnancy is a lack of magnesium. It is involved in many processes in the cell, in particular, it regulates muscle contractility. The bodies of women and children experience an increased need for this microelement. Its deficiency is caused by stress, diseases of the digestive system, diarrhea, and frequent vomiting. A lack of magnesium is observed if a woman consumes little fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy products, and fish. The absorption of this microelement by cells is slowed down by drugs such as Almagel, Maalox, Eufillin, diuretics and some others. Its absorption also decreases against the background of a sedentary lifestyle and frequent consumption of coffee or tea.
If a pregnant woman is found to be deficient in magnesium, this may be the cause of leg cramps. But this condition is dangerous because, as it progresses, the lack of this microelement can lead to uterine spasms and miscarriage. To avoid this, you need to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, herbs, and seafood. There is a lot of magnesium in egg yolk, cod liver, and dill. You can also take Magne B6 and others. It is advisable to drink them in the first half of the day, so they are better absorbed.
It is very important that a pregnant woman’s nutrition is complete and balanced.
Potassium deficiency
This trace element is also involved in muscle contraction. Potassium deficiency can be caused by taking diuretics, frequent vomiting, and drinking caffeine-containing drinks. In addition to muscle weakness and cramps at night, potassium deficiency leads to edema, low blood pressure, depression, and tachycardia. A pregnant woman has an increased need for this substance, so she needs to eat more dried fruits, bananas, dairy products, broccoli and legumes. You can also take vitamin supplements containing potassium iodide.
Calcium deficiency
Cramps in the legs at night, when there is already a severe lack of calcium in the body. This is dangerous for a pregnant woman, since the child will take this essential microelement from her bones and teeth for its development. In addition, calcium is absorbed only in the presence of magnesium, so the deficiency of these two substances is closely related. Because of this, it is not enough to simply increase the amount of dairy products in the diet or take Calcium Gluconate. If there is a lack of magnesium and vitamin D3, it simply will not be absorbed. Because of this, pregnant women are recommended to take special medications, for example, Calcemin, during the entire period of bearing a child.
Anemia
A reduced level of hemoglobin in the blood often occurs in women when carrying a child. This condition can also cause cramps during pregnancy. This happens because with a lack of hemoglobin, oxygen starvation of the muscles and disruption of mineral metabolism occur. Anemia most often occurs due to a lack of iron in the blood. It is impossible to compensate for its deficiency with diet alone, especially in pregnant women. Therefore, in this case, iron-containing drugs are prescribed, for example, Fenuls.
During pregnancy, you need to rest more often with your legs elevated
Circulatory disorders
If your leg muscles cramp during pregnancy in the last trimester, this may be due to poor circulation. Almost half of expectant mothers suffer from varicose veins. This happens because the enlarged uterus compresses the blood vessels and disrupts the outflow of venous blood. As a result, muscle nutrition deteriorates, which can lead to pain in the legs, rapid fatigue, and cramps at night. To prevent varicose veins, it is recommended to wear compression tights, do a contrast shower for your legs, and rest your legs more often during the day.
After 30 weeks of pregnancy, many women suffer from inferior vena cava syndrome, which can also cause cramps. This vein runs to the right of the spine and is involved in the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities. The enlarged uterus puts pressure on it and interferes with blood circulation. This happens especially often when a woman lies on her right side or on her back. Therefore, in the last trimester of pregnancy it is recommended to sleep on your left side.
It’s good if during the onset of a cramp there is a close person nearby who will help the woman
First aid for seizures
Many women do not know what to do when their leg cramps at night. Sharp pain disrupts sleep and leads to stress. It is best if the woman is helped by close people at this moment. After all, sometimes the pain is very strong. There are several techniques to help alleviate the condition during a cramp:
- pulling your toes strongly towards you will have an effect even if you only pull your big toe;
- stand barefoot and walk on the floor, stepping on the entire foot; it is recommended to walk on a hard surface;
- rub the contracted muscle vigorously, pinch it, prick it with your nails;
- warm the muscle: place your foot under a stream of hot water, apply mustard plaster or a heating pad to the calf;
- After a cramp, to prevent its recurrence, you need to lie down with your legs elevated, for example, on a pillow.
Preventing seizures
Cramps in pregnant women are not as harmless as they might seem. Treatment for this condition should be done under the guidance of a doctor. A woman needs to change her diet and eating patterns. It is necessary to provide the body with the necessary amount of nutrients.
It is recommended to eat more foods containing magnesium - nuts, buckwheat, oatmeal, seaweed, fish, cottage cheese. To compensate for calcium deficiency, you need dairy products and greens; there is a lot of potassium in bananas and dried fruits. On the recommendation of a doctor, during the entire period of pregnancy you need to take multivitamin complexes that will help prevent mineral metabolism disorders and anemia.
It is also recommended that pregnant women review their daily routine by including gentle exercises. Hiking, swimming, yoga are useful. More often you need to give your legs a rest by raising them higher and wrapping them in a warm blanket. This will help improve blood circulation and relax the muscle. You should regularly do a light foot massage, possibly using essential oils. Exercises to improve blood circulation in the leg muscles are useful: rolling from heel to toe, lifting on toes, walking on a massage mat.
Gentle physical activity is very important for the prevention of seizures
Hypothermia and overwork should be avoided. You cannot sit with your legs crossed or with your legs crossed - this interferes with the blood supply to the muscles. Pregnant women should also avoid tight shoes and high heels. The heel should be stable, no higher than 4-5 cm. To prevent cramps, it is recommended to take warm foot baths with sea salt, herbal decoctions or essential oils before going to bed. This will help relax your muscles and improve blood circulation.
You should tell your doctor about any health problems during pregnancy. After all, even such a seemingly harmless condition as leg cramps can indicate serious pathologies. Therefore, the earlier treatment is started, the faster they can be dealt with.
Pregnancy is different for every woman. But the condition when legs cramp during pregnancy is known to almost all expectant mothers. Muscle spasms or cramps cause not just discomfort, but severe pain that cannot be controlled and eliminated until the muscle relaxes on its own.
It is not always possible to name the exact cause of this phenomenon. If the frequency of cramps in the leg muscles increases, you should tell your doctor about it. The specialist will not only try to clarify the cause of the condition, but will also help correct it so that convulsive leg spasms no longer haunt the expectant mother.
As a rule, seizures are not an independent disease. It is known that this problem occurs more often in expectant mothers than in other people. During pregnancy, legs may cramp due to poor circulation in the lower extremities, excessive muscle strain, or a certain disease.
Causes of cramps in the first trimester
With the onset of pregnancy, many expectant mothers are faced with the phenomenon of early toxicosis. This condition is most often accompanied by and. Against this background, the woman’s body loses a large amount of essential vitamins and microelements. Their deficiency usually leads to a situation where leg muscles cramp during pregnancy.
In this case, cramps may bother the expectant mother throughout the first trimester. To avoid this, you need to consult a gynecologist who is managing your pregnancy. The specialist will try to select medications that will help replenish the loss of essential microelements.
Causes of cramps in the second trimester
Starting from the second trimester, a woman’s body begins to consume a huge amount of minerals and trace elements for the development of the fetus. Sometimes this is due not only to the rapid growth of the unborn baby, but also to the uncontrolled use of diuretics or an incorrect diet.
To eliminate the cause of this condition, it is necessary to adjust your diet, consult with your doctor about taking any medications of medicinal or herbal origin that have a diuretic effect and, if necessary, stop taking them. A specialist can also select a vitamin and mineral complex to meet the increased needs of the expectant mother and baby for microelements.
Causes of cramps in the third trimester
In the last trimester, the fetus has already grown noticeably, so it becomes increasingly difficult for a woman to cope with the stress associated with daily activities. The problem can be aggravated by excess weight gain.
There are usually two reasons why legs cramp during pregnancy in the third trimester (they can be combined with each other):
- Varicose veins;
- compression of the vena cava by the enlarged uterus.
Often, a condition where cramps in the calves of the legs appears against the background of varicose veins. In this case, cramps are combined with increased fatigue of the lower extremities, a feeling of heaviness in them, especially after physical exertion.
With varicose veins, the outflow of venous blood is disrupted, which leads to a deterioration in the trophism of the leg muscles. This causes an imbalance of microelements in the tissues with the subsequent development of seizures.
Muscles may cramp due to inferior vena cava syndrome, especially if the woman has a large fetus. In this case, the enlarged uterus puts excess pressure on the inferior vena cava when the pregnant woman lies on her back or right side.
As in the case of varicose veins, this leads to disruption of the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities. The mechanism for the occurrence of seizures will be exactly the same.
Which doctor should I contact?
The situation when pregnant women experience cramps in their legs is, in most cases, not a harmless symptom that did not arise by chance. Therefore, it is important to discuss the problem with your doctor. In order to correctly determine the cause of the pathological condition and select the necessary treatment, a woman may be recommended to undergo tests, consult an endocrinologist, therapist and phlebologist.
If the cause of seizures is a violation of the outflow of venous blood due to varicose veins, the expectant mother is referred to a phlebologist. In this case, a specialist can prescribe venotonics to the pregnant woman - drugs that tone the walls of blood vessels and prevent congestion in the veins.
These drugs are available in the form of gels, ointments and tablets. The doctor may also prescribe the patient to wear compression stockings.
If diabetes is suspected, the expectant mother needs to take a blood sugar test. An elevated level may indicate a metabolic disorder, which negatively affects the functioning of the entire body, including muscle trophism. The sugar content of a pregnant woman is adjusted by an endocrinologist after additional examination of the patient.
If no serious reasons are found to explain why the expectant mother has cramps in her calves during pregnancy, the therapist prescribes the woman vitamin complexes designed specifically for pregnant women, for example, Vitrum Prenatal, Complivit Mama and others.
Their goal is to compensate for the lack of microelements, in particular magnesium and calcium. Multivitamin complexes can be taken throughout pregnancy, until the birth of the baby.
What to do if you have leg cramps?
If an expectant mother experiences a cramp in her leg, she should not be nervous. It is necessary to perform actions that will stop painful muscle spasms. What to do?
To eliminate discomfort:
- You need to slowly pull the toes of the leg that has cramped towards you. Then relax your leg for a short time and repeat the stretch again. As a result of these simple actions, the cramp should go away.
- After the spasm has passed, warm up the muscles with a massage of the lower extremities, hot water or using a heating pad.
- Walk around to restore blood circulation in your leg.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods used for cramps in the lower extremities are aimed at replenishing the lack of microelements and improving nerve conduction. Traditional medicine recipes can be combined with medications prescribed by a doctor.
Liquorice root
An infusion from this plant improves nutrition of the muscles of the lower extremities and tones the nerve fibers, normalizing their conductivity, which reduces the frequency of seizures. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour 100 grams of licorice into 500 ml of boiling water and leave until it cools completely. Take 1 teaspoon of infusion orally 3 times a day.
Eggshell
This is the richest source of essential microelements for bone and muscle tissue. To prepare the medicine, you need to wash the shell of a raw egg (not boiled!), crush it in a mortar to a powder and add 5 drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the resulting pulp. Take the prepared product once a day.
Hawthorn
This plant normalizes the functioning of muscle cells and restores the structure of nerve fibers. To prepare a medicinal decoction you will need 3 tbsp. spoons of herbs and hawthorn fruits and 500 ml of water. Bring the broth to a boil, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, cover the dish with a lid and leave for at least 3 hours.
The finished product is taken warmed 5 times a day, 2 tbsp. spoons. Duration of treatment - 3 weeks.
Valerian and nettle
The combination of these plants helps reduce the excitability of nerve fibers and improve the conduction of nerve impulses in the muscles. To prepare the remedy you need 2 tbsp. spoons of nettle leaves and the same amount of valerian root, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for at least 10 minutes. It is recommended to drink one glass of infusion in the morning and evening.
Prevention
To prevent such an unpleasant situation as leg cramps during pregnancy, it is necessary to pay attention to prevention. Firstly, it should be aimed at preventing vitamin deficiency and lack of microelements in the body.
Eat several explanations for the reasons of this phenomenon. And based on the trimester in which it first manifested itself, one can understand what caused such a nuisance.
If seizures occur in the first trimester, then this may simply be the body’s reaction to the development of the fetus, which is popularly referred to as toxicosis. They can often appear during the first 16 weeks, not only as an additional background to vomiting, but also as a consequence.
When vomiting, the body literally washes away the necessary microelements that maintain overall health in harmony. And after losses, the body needs additional nutrients.
Necessarily You should contact your obstetrician to choose the right medications.
If seizures occur periodically over a period of time last two trimesters, then this can safely be associated with the increased need of two organisms: both a woman and a child, to receive additional minerals and trace elements.
After all, the fetus grows rapidly, develops, systems are formed, and “building material” is consumed for this, which is generously provided by the body of the expectant mother.
Another answer to the question why pregnant women cramp their legs may be simply feature of the physiology of the female body.
Most likely, the uterus and fetus in your body are close to the venous arteries in the pelvis, which are responsible for the correct and stable functioning of the blood circulation in the legs.
Women at increased risk include those who drank alcohol or smoked for more than six months before pregnancy. For example, nicotine constricts blood vessels, making it difficult to saturate the muscles with blood, and therefore with oxygen and necessary substances.
After prolonged nicotine addiction, the walls of blood vessels become thinner, to the point of threatening obliteration. And muscle cramps are very similar to this process of muscle necrosis. Only a spasm is a short-term obliteration and therefore a process that returns to tissue revitalization.
How to prevent and avoid?
Prevent and avoid seizures During pregnancy, you can rationally take microelements, which, during the formation of the main body systems in the fetus, are consumed at an increased rate.
These primarily include calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Modern people, and especially pregnant women, have heard a lot about calcium, because it is one of the main materials that the human body needs from the moment of conception.
But few people know that even though you can take it, but without an additional source of vitamin D3 and magnesium, the usefulness of calcium alone is zero.
It is these two substances that determine the ability of the intestines to deliver calcium “as intended” during the process of over-poisoning.
Potassium the most important element present in every cell of the structure of human physiology. After frequent vomiting or diarrhea, the body lacks potassium, which leads to rapid muscle fatigue, neuroses and cramps. This should not be allowed during pregnancy, and it will not be difficult to replenish potassium in the daily diet.
Quite often the presence potassium found in such well-known products as: potatoes, beans (like the entire legume family), dairy products, dried fruits (especially).
Per day required about five grams of potassium to an adult. Additionally you can take potassium iodide, since potassium forms the basis of this complex mineral-vitamin preparation.
An important mineral during pregnancy is magnesium. An insufficient amount of it can lead, in addition to many other troubles, even to...
The following foods are rich in magnesium: green onions, bread (except those baked using new refining technologies), spinach, all types and nuts.
Cramps in calves
If in calf muscles convulsions appear - this may be a signal from the body to a developing seizure.
If cramps in the calves are accompanied by feelings of heaviness and increased fatigue in the legs, then the pregnant woman should overexert herself less and give the opportunity to completely relax the muscles.
It is advisable to do it over an area from the fingertips to the pelvis, warming up the leg muscles with circular movements and patting.
If your leg cramps, the pregnant woman needs to pull her toes up and down several times. Do not do the exercise in a hurry, but smoothly. You can grab your big toe, lifting your foot smoothly up and lowering your toes down, as if pinching it.
In order to normalize blood circulation after massage procedures, it is recommended to lie down for a while with your legs elevated. This will ensure the flow of blood into the muscles previously drained of blood by pinching the artery and will help avoid recurrence of cramps.
It is important for the health of your feet during pregnancy to wear comfortable shoes and tights. Among the proven folk advice, the most effective one was found - rub your feet or calves, wait until they dry completely, and only then get dressed and put on your shoes.
Within two weeks of constant repetition of procedures with lemon, massage and physical exercises in combination with a rational diet, then cramps will no longer occur again!
Convulsions- This is an involuntary and rather painful muscle contraction caused by poor circulation in this area of the body.
Quite often, women first experience leg cramps during pregnancy. “Legs together,” as they say in common parlance, can happen for a variety of reasons, the main ones of which are described below.
Why do pregnant women experience leg cramps?
Most often, seizures are not an independent disease. Cramps of the lower extremities are more likely a symptom of some disease, a sign of poor circulation or excessive muscle strain.
Your legs may cramp due to:
- predisposition or presence of varicose veins (since this disease leads to poor circulation in the extremities);
- muscle fatigue;
- improperly selected shoes or wearing high heels;
- uncomfortable posture or prolonged stay without movement during sleep (the legs become numb and cramp);
- swelling of the legs of various origins;
- cold feet syndrome;
- metabolic disorders (potassium, calcium and magnesium deficiency), which leads to muscle weakness and spasms;
- the presence of inflammatory processes in muscles or ligaments;
- diabetes mellitus (since this disease disrupts the peripheral circulation of the legs);
- neurological problems, in particular diseases of the lower spine;
- hormonal imbalance (but then the pregnant woman is diagnosed with “threatened miscarriage” and she undergoes hormonal therapy), but if nothing threatens the pregnancy, then convulsions can occur due to changes in hormonal status (when the body has not yet had time to adapt).
But as a rule, leg cramps are observed in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The reason for this is the increased load on the muscles and ligaments of the legs, because the pregnant woman’s tummy is constantly increasing in size and weight. In addition, the enlarged uterus often compresses the large blood vessels of the pelvis, which disrupts the venous outflow and cramps the legs.
It is also worth saying that during pregnancy the need for microelements increases, because the baby takes a certain part of them from the mother’s body. With a deficiency of such important nutrients as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, cramps in the calves and toes may occur. Therefore, if a woman has not yet started taking a special complex of vitamins for pregnant women, it is worth thinking about it.
Why do my legs cramp more often at night?
This may happen due to:
- uncomfortable body position or prolonged immobility during sleep. At the same time, blood circulation in the legs is disrupted and the legs cramp.
- increased muscle excitability due to drinking excessive amounts of coffee or tea during the day. These drinks are muscle stimulants due to the presence of caffeine in them, so excessive intake of coffee or tea does not allow the legs to relax even during a night's rest.
- In most women, swelling of the legs increases in the evening due to the stress suffered during the day. The appearance of edema causes leg cramps.
Nighttime cramps can be longer and more painful than daytime cramps. You need to know how to make your muscles relax and stop the development of pain.
What to do during a seizure attack?
It is necessary to remember the sequence of actions for cramps of various groups of leg muscles and practice in advance to quickly and clearly perform them. This will help relieve spasms without unnecessary fuss in a minimum amount of time.
General procedure:
- Straighten your leg.
- Engage antagonist muscles (see explanation below).
- Activate blood circulation by rubbing the painful area.
Detailed procedures for different muscles
1. If there is a spasm in the muscles of the foot and calves, the first step is to forcefully pull the sock towards you (see Figure 1).
Figure 1 – Method for getting rid of foot and calf cramps
In this way, antagonist muscles will be activated, which do the opposite work. And if they tense, then the cramped muscles should spontaneously relax. This is provided for by the structure of the body of each person.
With the other hand, you need to thoroughly and quickly rub, knead, and pinch the cramped muscle.
Such actions will reduce spasm and increase blood flow in the spasmed muscle.
Also, painful contractions in the calf muscles can be stopped by pressing on certain points. Sharply, quickly and forcefully press your thumb into the center of the popliteal fossa of your flattened leg. Next, you need to press the point above the heel 5-6 cm, and moving your hand up, press the calf three times at intervals of several centimeters.
2. If you have a cramp in the front of your thigh, bend your leg at the knee, pulling it towards your chest with your hands (see Figure 2). If the deadline no longer allows you to do this, then you need to pull your leg as close to your stomach as possible, but without squeezing it.
Rub the cramped muscle and repeat all over again.
Figure 2 - Method for getting rid of cramps on the anterior thigh
3. If you experience spasm in the hamstrings and/or buttocks, lift the cramped leg and straighten it at the knee (see Figure 3). Rub the back of your thigh thoroughly with your hands. If necessary, do this all again.
Figure 3 – Relief from hamstring cramps
This instruction is useful for all pregnant women to study, regardless of whether they suffer from leg cramps or not, because no one is immune from its occurrence.
Seizure prevention
What can I do to avoid or reduce the frequency of seizures? The first step is to identify and try to eliminate the cause of their occurrence.
If the woman does not suffer from any of the diseases listed at the beginning of the article, then the general recommendations should be followed.
1. Eat more greens, vegetables, fruits (dried fruits in winter, for example, dried apricots, dates, prunes) and sesame seeds (a source of calcium). Increase the amount of fermented milk products in your diet. Avoid excessive consumption of tea and coffee, salty, spicy and pickled. Try to drink more clean water, and only 30% of the total amount of liquid consumed should be juices, fruit drinks, and compotes.
Cramps during pregnancy often disturb women at night, which is associated with the stress endured during the day and the lack of certain microelements. Cramps in the legs, arms, facial muscles, and stomach are especially common in early pregnancy, when the body is being rebuilt and the woman requires more microelements, especially iron and magnesium. Leg cramps can also occur during the daytime, which is purely individual for each individual woman.
The reasons for the appearance of cramps during pregnancy may be associated with the body’s increased need for microelements, as well as against the background of poor nutrition, dehydration during gestosis, and frequent use of diuretics.
Causes of mineral imbalance
Mineral imbalance, when legs cramp during pregnancy, or cramps in the arms and abdomen occur, occurs for the following reasons.
- Unbalanced diet: a woman during pregnancy may refuse some healthy foods when her stomach hurts and nausea occurs. But this condition can accompany a woman throughout her pregnancy, so it is necessary to compensate for the lack of microelements, otherwise cramps in the arms, legs and even the stomach will become more and more painful.
- Frequent use of diuretics: edema in pregnant women occurs very often, and women, in an attempt to get rid of them, begin to use all possible safe diuretic medications. But along with edema, that is, urine, the necessary microelements are released.
- Frequent vomiting in early and late toxicosis: along with the vomit, as in the case of urine, useful substances are released, such as those that were received the day before and those that are part of the digestive enzymes.
- Increased need for all microelements: from the moment of conception, a woman must provide not only for her body, but also for her unborn child.
Deficiency of potassium, vitamin B5 and magnesium is the basis for the occurrence of cramps at night in pregnant women. This can cause cramping in the stomach, legs, muscles of the face and legs. Abdominal cramps can cause indigestion during pregnancy or more serious abnormalities - a threatened miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, false contractions, inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
Other reasons why legs may cramp
Why cramps in the legs during pregnancy, when the balance of microelements is normal:
For some women, arm, stomach and leg cramps are minimal discomfort, while other women suffer excruciating pain, wake up in the middle of the night and are unable to move any part of their body. In such cases, a number of measures are required to relieve symptoms and alleviate the condition.
If cramps in the arms or abdomen recur, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause, because this may be a symptom of a serious disorder in the body. You can cope with a cramp on your own if you follow the recommendations presented.
What to do when your leg cramps
First aid for limb cramps:
- Straighten your toes, even if it is very painful.
- Rub your arms, legs, stomach or other area of the body that is cramped.
- Squeeze and straighten your toes or cramped hand.
- Take your big toe or hand and pull it towards you.
- Place a mustard plaster on the cramped area of the arm or leg, but if you have cramped stomach, you shouldn’t do this.
- After the pain has decreased, walk around a little, and if your hand is cramped, stretch it by swinging and squeezing.
After the cramp has passed, you can massage your arms or legs, stroke your stomach, or try a contrast shower. It needs to be done to improve blood circulation, which will further prevent seizures.
If cramps recur constantly and only get worse, you should consult a doctor, as self-medication will be ineffective, especially when your stomach cramps. During the examination, the doctor will conduct diagnostic measures, prescribe medication, vitamin complexes and physiotherapeutic procedures that will increase blood circulation. If a woman experiences arm cramps during pregnancy, the woman is advised not to wear tight clothes, try not to lie on her arms and sometimes knead them with massage movements. If cramps occur in the legs, the woman is recommended to switch to orthopedic shoes that do not compress the feet and have a minimum heel of no more than 4 cm.
Preventing seizures during pregnancy
- Take contrast showers regularly to improve blood circulation.
- While sleeping, try to keep your legs elevated; you can put a soft and comfortable cushion under them.
- When sitting for a long time, do a light warm-up, walk a little, sit down, and swing your arms.
- If the cause of cramps during pregnancy is varicose veins, you must wear special anti-varicose tights.
- Spend more time outdoors, do gymnastics in nature.
A properly structured diet that replenishes the supply of beneficial microelements can also prevent frequent cramps in the arms or legs.
Proper diet - prevention of seizures
You need to eat more foods containing potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These are dried apricots, beets, raisins, beans, broccoli and all fresh vegetables and fruits. You also need to add calcium-rich dairy products, nuts, egg yolks, and asparagus to your diet. Magnesium can be obtained from carrots, white seeds, green vegetables and herbs.
Some women have cramps in the stomach, legs and arms during pregnancy due to a lack of glucose, and in this case you can trick the body a little by eating candy, cake, or sweet tea. But you should not abuse “empty” carbohydrates, as problems with metabolic processes may arise in the future. This is only suitable for quickly relieving the unpleasant symptoms of abdominal, arm or leg spasms.