Why do cramps occur during pregnancy and how to get rid of them? Cramps of the calf muscles at night in pregnant women.

Pregnancy is a severe test for the fairer sex. Changes occur in the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems, internal organs.

So, many women experience cramps in their calf muscles during pregnancy. Why do these contractions occur? How to get rid of spasms?

Why do leg cramps occur during pregnancy?

Every third person experienced cramps in the calf muscles. For a pregnant woman they are especially painful.

Cramps are sharp and sudden, long-term or short-term muscle spasms caused by overexertion. Doctors note that contractions in pregnant women appear in the second or third trimester, when the belly is already clearly visible. During this period, the uterus also increases in size, which compresses the blood vessels of the pelvis.

There are many reasons for abbreviations:

• impaired blood circulation;
• deficiency of potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, glucose and vitamins (B6, etc.);
• excess sodium and phosphates;
• lack of hemoglobin;
• dehydration of the body;
• insufficient or excessive physical activity;
• severe toxicosis;
• blockage of the inferior vena cava;
• dilation of venous vessels;
• swelling;
• anemia;
• myositis;
• diabetes;
• neurological diseases;
• hormonal disbalance;
• foot deformities;
• abuse of medications that increase the rate of blood filtration by the kidneys;
• bad habits (smoking, drinking strong coffee, tea, etc.);
• tight shoes and clothing;
• uncomfortable position in sleep.

Deficiency of vitamins and microelements

A woman who is carrying a child must consume a certain amount of nutrients every day. A lack of vitamins and minerals can lead to digestive problems and muscle cramps in your calves or feet.

Magnesium, calcium, potassium are the three pillars on which the health of the body rests. A diagnosed low level of one of the components will lead to disruption of the metabolism of other substances.

Enlarged uterus

The uterus grows with the baby. The larger the size of this organ, the more pressure it puts on the blood vessels of the pelvis. As a result, blood circulation is impaired, which leads to spasms.

During sleep, spasms are most often felt in the lower extremities. To prevent cramps from bothering you, after 7.5 months of pregnancy, doctors advise sleeping on your side. Another important point is gymnastics. This point will be discussed in more detail later.

Convulsions due to toxicosis

The first sign of pregnancy for many women is vomiting. Due to toxicosis, dehydration occurs, loss of essential substances, which ultimately leads to spasms in the limbs.

Night cramps and severe vomiting are a signal that it’s time to see a doctor. You can't sit and wait for it to be over. You need to take care of yourself and your baby.

Bad habits

The following bad habits can lead to seizures:

1. Poor nutrition during pregnancy can trigger not only seizures, but also a number of diseases.
2. Coffee leads to dehydration of the body. Muscles lose elasticity, which can result in cramps during pregnancy, as already noted.
3. Nicotine negatively affects the health of any person. Cigarette smoke causes a chronic lack of oxygen, which leads to cramps in the limbs.
4. People who abuse alcohol get a whole bunch of diseases. It is quite logical that the expectant mother should not drink this drink.
5. Sweet and fatty foods overload blood vessels. Tubular formations have to work in enhanced mode.
6. Wearing tight clothes and narrow shoes.

Phlebeurysm

Due to increased stress on the legs and hormonal imbalances, the expectant mother may develop varicose veins. Doctors note that more than half of all women inhabiting our planet suffer from this disease. The signs of this pathology are:

• fatigue;
• swelling;
• swollen and dilated veins;
• convulsions.

If a woman observed these signs in herself even before pregnancy, while carrying a child, varicose veins may again appear. Inflamed venous nodes may appear in the legs, increasing the risk of blood clot formation. The vessels will not be able to function normally, so blockage of the tubular formations is possible. In such a situation, compression garments will help.

Excessive stress on the legs

The motor activity of a pregnant woman should be gentle. The expectant mother needs to think not only about herself, but also about the child.

In the later stages of gestation, it is difficult for a woman to cope with loads that were previously habitual. Weight has increased, it is difficult to walk and sit, varicose veins and vena cava syndrome may occur.

Doctors note that circulatory disorders are often diagnosed in women who are carrying a large child. Twins or triplets can also cause vena cava syndrome. The uterus grows along with the fetus (fetuses), puts pressure on the internal organs and blood vessels, which leads to problems with blood circulation in the body.

What to do?

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If a woman experiences calf cramps at night during pregnancy, the expectant mother should consult a doctor. Problems in the functioning of the body are signals that cannot be ignored.

If a cramp suddenly cramps your leg, you should not panic. Below are some tips that the expectant mother should heed.

Proper nutrition

Doctors note that food should be balanced. This should not only apply to pregnant women. A healthy person will never have problems such as caries, damaged hair, brittle nails, etc.

Due to the growth of the fetus in the womb, iron and folic acids are rapidly consumed. Fermented milk products will help replenish the reserves of these substances, which will relieve the woman of cramps.

Signs of low calcium include the following:

• nervousness;
• sleep problems;
• hypertension;
• cardiopalmus;
• tooth decay;
• bleeding gums;
• brittle nails;
• skin rashes;
• convulsions.

If the calcium content is low, the expectant mother should include sesame seeds, onions, broccoli, cheese, almonds, seafood, legumes and, of course, dairy products in her diet. You will have to avoid foods that interfere with calcium absorption:

• vegetables containing oxalic acid (sorrel, spinach, etc.);
• products containing high levels of phosphates (caviar, canned fish, raw smoked sausages, etc.);
• soda and coffee.

Indicators of low magnesium levels in the blood of the expectant mother are the following:

• irritability;
• dry mouth;
• gagging;
• low blood pressure (we recommend reading:);
• slow heartbeat;
• low body temperature;
• numbness in the limbs;
• deviations from the norm of coordination of movements;
• pain in the lumbar region;
• convulsions.

Magnesium, as doctors note, is found in almost all products, but they are especially rich in it:

• whole seeds and nuts;
• buckwheat grain;
• watermelons (nitrate-free);
• greenery;
• seaweed;
• carrot.

A healthy person should consume 360-380 mg of magnesium daily. Pregnant women will need a little more of this microelement: 400-450 mg.

Signs of low potassium in the blood of a pregnant woman are the following signals:

• convulsions;
• problems with stool;
• swelling;
• low blood pressure;
• cardiopalmus;
• thirst and dry mouth;
• nervous excitability;
• dry skin;
• acne.

The lack of potassium can be compensated for by introducing bananas, dried apricots, carrots, rye bread, legumes, and beef liver into the diet. Fermented milk products are also rich in this beneficial substance.

It is worth noting that diet alone will not always be able to replenish the reserves of necessary elements. In some cases, doctors prescribe vitamin and mineral complexes to expectant mothers. You can take them only after consulting your doctor.

Gymnastics and massage

To get rid of cramps in your calves, slowly pull your toes towards you, then relax the limb. Repeat these same movements until the spasm is relieved.

If discomfort occurs in the toes, you need to apply pressure to the foot. This must be done until the convulsions stop.

Sometimes pinching and pricking with something sharp, such as a needle or pin, can help get rid of cramps. When your legs cramp during pregnancy, massage movements help get rid of the discomfort. Rub the muscles of the feet, legs, and thighs to improve blood flow. Apply a thermofor or a bottle of warm water so that the nagging pain disappears. You can also warm your feet with a shower. An alternative to acupressure can be needle mats or balls. They need to be rolled on the floor with their feet.

Get plenty of rest. When sitting, try to place your limbs on an elevated position. If you are lying down, put your feet on a blanket folded several times or on a pillow. This will increase blood flow from the lower extremities.

Folk remedies

Everything that nature gives to humanity must be used. Many argue that even tablets can be replaced with decoctions and infusions. Sometimes this treatment really helps. However, during pregnancy, a woman is responsible not only for herself, but also for her child, so before using any remedy, you need to consult a doctor!

A cramp is a sudden strong contraction of a muscle, after which it cannot relax. It can remain in this reduced state for several seconds or even minutes. This causes a person severe pain, which remains for some time after relaxation. Cramps appear mainly in the lower leg muscles. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but most often cramps in the calves during pregnancy. Many pregnant women suffer from this problem, especially in the second and third trimester.

Features of seizures during pregnancy

Muscle contraction occurs under the influence of nerve impulses. Various mineral salts participate in their passage. During pregnancy, their balance in the body is disrupted, so cramps are common. The lower leg muscles are especially susceptible to this, as they experience a lot of stress. During a cramp, the calves contract and become hard, often causing the foot to stretch out. The cramp is accompanied by severe pain that can spread to the entire leg.

Mostly such spasms occur at night. When a pregnant woman lies down, the uterus puts pressure on the pelvic vessels. This leads to poor circulation in the legs. If a muscle spasm occurs before bedtime, the pain is not so severe, but it still causes suffering to the woman and prevents her from falling asleep. Cramps in the morning can cause a bad mood for the whole day and pain in the legs.

Why does my calves cramp?

Pregnancy progresses differently for every woman. Possible troubles may be associated with non-compliance with the daily routine, improper behavior or nutrition. There are different causes of cramps, a woman needs to know them in order to be able to prevent this unpleasant condition.

• Most often, muscle cramps during pregnancy are due to metabolic disorders. For its development, the child takes from the mother’s body many of the minerals it needs. Therefore, women often have an imbalance of potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are involved in conducting nerve impulses to the muscles.
• Cramps in the calf muscles can occur due to an increase in a woman’s body weight and a shift in the fulcrum. Increased stress on the legs leads to muscle strain.
• A decrease in hemoglobin in the blood causes an insufficient supply of tissues with nutrients. This leads to muscle spasms.
• Uncomfortable tight clothing and shoes can also cause cramps. It is especially not recommended for a pregnant woman to wear heels, tight jeans and tight elastic bands.
• Muscle spasms may be due to low blood glucose levels. In women carrying a child, the need for this substance increases, and its intake from food may be insufficient.
• A common cause of cramps during pregnancy is also poor circulation in the leg muscles. This may occur due to vascular diseases, such as varicose veins. But most often this happens because the enlarged uterus compresses the pelvic vein, disrupting the outflow of blood. It is especially harmful for a woman in late pregnancy to lie on her right side.
• Taking diuretics can also cause seizures. After all, such products remove not only water from the body, but also essential nutrients, disrupting mineral metabolism.
• Calf muscle spasms occur due to caffeine abuse. In addition to coffee, which many women give up during pregnancy, it is found in black tea and carbonated drinks.

A common cause of cramps during pregnancy is a lack of minerals and poor circulation.

What to do during a cramp

Often a woman's leg cramps in her sleep. Such an awakening is very unpleasant; I want to get rid of the pain as quickly as possible. Spasms prevent a woman from getting proper rest, which is very important during pregnancy. Therefore, you need to know in advance what to do during a cramp. In most cases, a woman can cope with the problem on her own.

• If a muscle cramps while a woman is lying down, it is necessary to stretch the muscle. You can lean towards your leg by pulling the toe towards you. But you shouldn't do it abruptly.
• The pain goes away, the muscles relax when blood circulation improves. To do this, you can do a massage, rubbing and kneading the calf, you can pinch it or prick it with a needle, and then walk around a little.
• Thermal procedures help well. You can warm up the muscle under a tap with warm water, using a heating pad or mustard plaster. Heat increases blood flow and accelerates the flow of nutrients.
• Among the traditional methods of treating cramps, pregnant women can use a compress of cabbage leaves. You need to take a large sheet that was in the refrigerator, wipe it with a towel and apply it to the muscle. This will help draw out excess water and improve metabolic processes.

Massage helps with muscle spasms

Preventing seizures

Often women do not understand why this happens. They try to relieve the pain on their own, but it is best to consult a doctor if you have such a problem. Once the cause of the seizures is clear, appropriate treatment can be chosen to prevent them from recurring. Most often, doctors recommend the following methods:

• improve nutrition - ensure the intake of potassium, magnesium and calcium from food;
• take additional vitamin and mineral complexes, for example, “Kalcemin”, “Panangin”, “Magne B6”, “Elevit”, “Materna”;
• Take a daily walk in the fresh air to help your body produce vitamin D;
• do not overwork, rest more;
• Before going to bed, it is useful to take warm foot baths with sea salt;
• wear loose clothing that does not restrict movement and low-heeled shoes;
• do gymnastics to strengthen the leg muscles;
• after a walk, you need to lie down with your legs raised above body level, for example, placing them on a pillow;
• It is best to sleep on the left side to prevent squeezing of blood vessels;
• Avoid overcooling your feet; you can wear warm socks at night;
• rub and knead your calves daily to improve blood circulation; it is better to use the help of loved ones for this;
• To improve blood circulation, relax muscles and relieve pain, it is sometimes recommended to use ointments; during pregnancy, Troxerutin, Fastum or Venitan are allowed.

It is useful for pregnant women to rest with their legs elevated above body level

Nutritional tips to prevent seizures

Since the main cause of muscle spasms during pregnancy is metabolic disorders and insufficient supply of essential nutrients to the tissues, it is very important to follow a special diet. This will help prevent cramps or at least make them less painful. What should be included in a pregnant woman’s diet:

• foods rich in calcium - cottage cheese, cheese, eggs, figs, green vegetables, dairy products;
• to increase magnesium intake, you need to eat carrots, beets, legumes, nuts, buckwheat porridge and greens;
• Green vegetables, potatoes, dried apricots, broccoli, seaweed, peas, lentils, bananas, millet are rich in potassium;
• to increase hemoglobin you need to eat meat, liver, yolk, pomegranates, apricots;
• the level of glucose in the blood can be increased with the help of honey, dried fruits, grapes, and sugar and sweets should be excluded;
• It is better to replace caffeinated drinks with green tea, rosehip decoction, berry fruit drinks, and dried fruit compotes.

Exercises and massage to prevent cramps

Often muscle spasms occur due to poor circulation. You can restore it by regularly performing special exercises, as well as by massaging your lower leg and foot. Stroking the legs, rubbing and kneading the muscles is useful to do several times during the day. Acupressure of the feet is very effective. To do this, you can use needle mats or balls that roll along the floor with your feet.

• rise on your toes, slowly lower onto your entire foot;
• roll from heel to toe;
• Before going to bed, you need to rotate your feet several times, bend and straighten your toes, pull your socks towards you, stretching the calf muscle.

If a woman eats right during pregnancy, wisely alternates physical activity with rest, and takes vitamins prescribed by her doctor, she can prevent metabolic disorders. This will help avoid frequent calf muscle cramps at night.

Pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes intended by nature. But, despite this, a woman’s body faces increased stress during the entire period of bearing a child. Leg cramps during pregnancy are a fairly common problem.

Almost every woman expecting a child encounters them from time to time. Why do leg cramps occur in pregnant women? There may be several reasons - starting from a lack of vitamins and microelements in the body, ending with a sedentary lifestyle and stagnation of blood flow in the legs.

Often, seizures appear in response to toxicosis. Repeated vomiting and salivation lead to excessive removal from the body of essential nutrients that are important for the full functional activity of the muscular system.

Venous diseases do not cause leg cramps during pregnancy very often, however, they should not be discounted. After diagnostic procedures, the gynecologist usually prescribes medications that are safe for the developing fetus and life-saving for the expectant mother.

Iron deficiency anemia, which is caused by low hemoglobin levels, can also cause leg cramps in pregnant women. Lack of iron is usually associated with poor nutrition and errors in diet, so the doctor will advise the expectant mother to reconsider her usual diet and be sure to include in it foods such as butter, rolled oats, meat, fish, beets, honey, dried fruits and much more.

Lack of magnesium in the body is common among pregnant women, as its consumption increases significantly during pregnancy. Magnesium is directly involved in a whole complex of metabolic reactions, the intensity of which increases during gestation. Magnesium deficiency always causes leg cramps during pregnancy. To correct the situation, the doctor may prescribe magnesium supplements to the pregnant woman and recommend including cereals, legumes, eggs, fruits, vegetables, dill and cocoa in the diet. Read more about the drug Magne B6 →

A lack of calcium, like magnesium, negatively affects all metabolic processes in the body. These microelements interact closely with each other. Caffeine and many medications impair calcium absorption.

Along with magnesium and calcium supplements, the expectant mother is recommended to use foods such as milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese, nuts, herbs, eggs and fish to prevent cramps in the calves during pregnancy.

A lack of potassium causes inhibition of the functional activity of the nervous system, since this trace element is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to muscle fibers. Calf cramps during pregnancy are the first and understandable sign of a lack of potassium in the body. In addition to the convulsive syndrome, which appears at any time of the day, but mainly at night, a woman may note such accompanying symptoms as general weakness, drowsiness, slow heart rate and constipation.

Hypokalemia often manifests itself already in the 2nd trimester, but more often expectant mothers encounter this condition in the last weeks of pregnancy. In addition to potassium supplements, a woman is recommended to supplement her diet with dried apricots, nuts, legumes, seaweed and potatoes.

A lack of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can also cause calf cramps during pregnancy. This trace element takes part in the synthesis of amino acids, which are important for the formation of protein compounds. In the body of the expectant mother, the amount of vitamin B6 should be increased by 30% compared to its level before pregnancy.

Lack of pyridoxine causes increased irritability, disturbances in the digestive tract, the appearance of caries, early toxicosis and convulsive phenomena in the calf muscles. Nuts are rich in potassium, especially hazelnuts and cedar, sea buckthorn, chicken, fish and pomegranate.

Varicose veins, accompanied by swelling and slagging of the lumen of the venous vessels, also lead to cramps in the legs during pregnancy at night. In addition, the pressure of the growing uterus on the inferior vena cava causes cramps in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Other provoking factors can be identified that influence the occurrence of leg cramps in expectant mothers:

• uncontrolled use of diuretics;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• lack of glucose in the body;
• smoking;
• swelling;
• caffeine.

First aid for seizures

What to do if you experience leg cramps during pregnancy? First of all, you need warmth. The woman should relax her limbs and apply a heating pad or a bottle of warm water wrapped in a towel to them.

If there is no heat at hand - for example, a cramp caught the expectant mother on the road or late at night - you need to stretch the leg muscles, pulling the feet towards you, then relax and stretch again. These manipulations must be repeated until the cramps subside.

Often, leg cramps during pregnancy at night appear due to lying for a long time on the right side or back, as the fetus puts additional pressure on the inferior vena cava. In this case, it is recommended to sleep only on your left side.

If the cramps are too intense and continue for a long time, they can be relieved with Paracetamol and a warm bath. Such cases cannot be ignored; if they recur, consultation with specialists such as a gynecologist, phlebologist, gastroenterologist, etc. is necessary.

Treatment

Treatment of leg cramps during pregnancy depends entirely on the identified cause of this pathology.

The deficiency of individual microelements in the body can be compensated for by taking multivitamin complexes, a properly selected diet and giving up bad habits. Walking in the fresh air helps improve the absorption of calcium and vitamin D.

Taking multivitamins and preventing their deficiency should be carried out at the planning stage of pregnancy, as well as throughout its entire duration. Do not neglect synthetic vitamin complexes. The fact is that not all nutrients and microelements from food products are absorbed in full, especially if there are problems with the digestive tract or metabolic disorders.

Anemia can be treated with iron supplements; the course of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. There are situations when a woman is forced to fight anemia and take these medications throughout her pregnancy.

Varicose veins require the use of venotonic drugs, wearing special stockings, and applying elastic bandages. All this is prescribed by the doctor depending on the degree of varicose veins.

Adequately selected therapy leads to the elimination of convulsive phenomena in the legs, a decrease in the symptoms of toxicosis, and normalization of the functioning of the nervous system. Thanks to this, the unborn child receives a sufficient amount of microelements necessary for its normal growth and development.

Prevention

With timely preventative measures, you can avoid the occurrence of leg cramps in the future.

To do this, you need to use the following recommendations:

• during pregnancy, wear shoes with heels no more than 5 cm;
• eat a varied and healthy diet, giving preference to fractional meals, as it provides the body with optimal glucose levels throughout the day;
• before going to bed, take warm foot baths with the addition of sea salt;
• avoid prolonged sitting and standing, as this impairs blood circulation in the limbs;
• sleep on your left side with a cushion under your feet or use a special pillow for expectant mothers;
• Take a daily walk in the fresh air and engage in moderate physical activity.

If, despite taking all preventive measures, pain and cramps in the calf muscles continue to haunt a pregnant woman, you should inform your doctor. You may need to undergo a more complete examination of the body for possible diseases and abnormalities.

Getting rid of leg cramps during pregnancy is not only possible, but also necessary, since their development is most often caused by a lack of certain microelements and vitamins in the body. Hypovitaminosis is dangerous for the development of the unborn child, so you should not take it lightly.

Useful video about leg cramps during pregnancy

Painful muscle contractions in the legs or arms are not uncommon during pregnancy. Cramps come suddenly and especially often disturb the expectant mother during rest. What are the causes of cramps during pregnancy and how to deal with them?

Causes of cramps during pregnancy

Cramps can overcome a pregnant woman for many reasons, acting as a kind of symptom of possible disorders in the body, starting with a lack of certain vitamins and microelements, and ending with complications during pregnancy. The main causes of cramps during pregnancy:

1. Lack of microelements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, as well as vitamin B6, caused by:

• firstly, severe toxicosis, in which the body loses many trace elements through vomit (usually in the early stages);
• secondly, an increase in the needs of the developing fetus (this is especially pronounced in the middle of pregnancy);
• thirdly, uncontrolled use of diuretics;
• fourthly, an unbalanced diet, in which a woman’s body receives too few of the substances she needs.

2. Decrease in the amount of hemoglobin (severe anemia).

3. Impaired blood sugar levels, which can occur due to a lack of diet, when a pregnant woman eats rarely and in large portions, or “leans” too much on sweets.

4. Varicose veins, especially if there is increased stress on the legs.

5. Drinking drinks containing caffeine, which provokes muscle dehydration and tension, leading to the development of cramps.

6. “Inferior vena cava compression syndrome”, in which the enlarged uterus presses on the inferior vena cava and causes a violation of the venous outflow from the legs. In this case, cramps begin to torment the pregnant woman, usually in the third trimester, when she lies on her back or right side.

7. Various diseases and complications of pregnancy.

How to help yourself during seizures

1. Try to slowly and carefully, but at the same time quite firmly, pull the toes of the leg in which the muscle has contracted towards you. After this, also slowly relax your leg, and then stretch again.
2. After the cramp goes away, lightly massage the muscle, warming it up. You can also use mustard plaster, a heating pad or hot water to warm the muscle.
3. To restore blood circulation, you can walk around the room a little.
4. To avoid recurrence of cramps, lie down with your legs slightly elevated, using a pillow or folded blanket.

Prevention and treatment of seizures during pregnancy

Cramps are only a symptom of certain disorders in the body, so if they appear, you should immediately consult your doctor, who can find out the cause of painful muscle contractions and prescribe treatment.

If the reason is a lack of microelements and vitamins, then treatment will be reduced to a review of the diet and supplementing it with necessary products. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a vitamin-mineral complex.

By the way, in any case, a pregnant woman’s diet should include the following products: cereals (buckwheat and oatmeal), wholemeal bread and pasta, fermented milk products, hard cheeses, fish, lean meat, fresh and dry vegetables and fruits , as well as nuts in small quantities. To maintain normal blood sugar levels, you should eat small meals often.

In order not to provoke leg cramps, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:

• wear comfortable shoes with a stable heel that does not exceed 5 cm;
• for varicose veins, wear special tights and stockings (your doctor will help you choose the ones that are right for you);
• starting from the third trimester, try to lie on your left side or place a small pillow under your right buttock to prevent manifestations of “inferior vena cava syndrome”;
• try to avoid heavy loads on your legs, and if you have to stand for a long time, do unloading exercises that help restore blood circulation in the calf muscles (for example, rise on your toes and lower your feet several times);
• rest with your legs slightly elevated;
• Take relaxing warm foot baths before bed, using, for example, sea salt.

Especially for beremennost.net – Ksenia Dakhno

An involuntary sharp, strong, painful contraction of a muscle is called a cramp. It is impossible to remove it by force of will; subsequently the muscle hurts for several days. Cramps during pregnancy can appear in any part of the body - arms, facial muscles, especially around the mouth - but the calves of the legs are most often affected, usually at night.

1. Causes of cramps in pregnant women
2. Methods of helping a woman
3. Pathology prevention measures

Photos:

Causes of cramps in pregnant women

There is a group of diseases for which seizures are one of the symptoms, appearing during pregnancy. They are associated with metabolic disorders. Fortunately, they are found relatively rarely. More often the reasons are more prosaic.

1. Lack of microelements.
2. Decreased hemoglobin.
3. Changes in blood glucose levels.
4. Dehydration.
5. Phlebeurysm.
6. Compression of the inferior vena cava.

Muscle tissue is forced to contract sharply when the ionic balance of the cell and pericellular fluid is disrupted. The leading role belongs to specific substances. Not only during pregnancy, their deficiency leads to cramps.

The main reason is a lack of certain microelements in the blood

Lack of these microelements in the blood is the main cause of nighttime muscle contractions. Here is a list of them according to the prevalence of manifestations:

• magnesium - its deficiency is manifested by muscle pain, changes in blood pressure, irritability, insomnia, numbness, decreased body temperature; a particular danger lies in the possible increase in uterine tone;
• potassium - a decrease in its amount affects depression, increased fatigue, cramps during pregnancy at night, dehydration, constipation;
• calcium - if there is not enough of it, teeth and gums are destroyed, blood pressure rises, nervous disorders appear, nails become brittle, and eczema may develop.

Various conditions can cause changes in the content of microelements:

• severe toxicosis - not only does the body lose useful substances when vomiting, the lack of appetite leads to the inability to replenish them, which is why during pregnancy the leg often cramps;
• unauthorized use of diuretics - along with the liquid, they remove essential microelements;
• poor nutrition – everything is important, from the wrong combination of foods to the food intake.

The lack of nutrients has a particularly strong effect during pregnancy due to the increased need for them, which causes leg cramps.

The same reasons lead to a decrease in hemoglobin and glucose in the blood. Sugar levels directly depend on diet, provided there are no other diseases. If you eat a lot once or twice a day, this indicator will constantly change, causing many unpleasant consequences.

It's not just lack of drinking that leads to dehydration. Water is actively removed from the body under the influence of caffeine and nicotine.

The causes of exercise-related leg cramps during pregnancy are usually easy to determine by the nature of the woman’s work. The need to stand or walk all the time, as well as prolonged work in a sitting position, can have an effect.

Appearances due to excessive work

The last reason - compression of the vena cava - is associated with an enlarged uterus. This vein is located underneath it; a certain position of the body leads to a disruption in the outflow of blood.

There is a certain dependence of the frequency of causes of seizures during pregnancy on its duration. The lack of substances manifests itself in the middle, since this is when the fetus is actively growing. In the first months it is often associated with toxicosis and poor nutrition.

Increased load, varicose veins, and compression of the vena cava are more common in recent months. This is due to the woman’s increased body weight.

Methods of helping a woman

Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience cramps in the calf or other muscles during pregnancy. Even if this is not a manifestation of a serious illness, any cause is fraught with consequences. Based on the nature of the accompanying symptoms, blood tests, and additional studies, the doctor will determine the exact cause. This is the main condition for successful treatment.

But you need to know what to do if you experience cramps during pregnancy. They appear more often at night, when the doctor is not around, and cause severe pain. There are proven and absolutely safe remedies that relieve pain in just a few seconds or even prevent it altogether.

Also find out which cream to choose for stretch marks after childbirth and whether almond oil helps with stretch marks.

Many people find brine, for example, from a jar of cucumbers, helpful. Just one or two sips quickly cause muscle relaxation.

If leg cramps occur at night during pregnancy, you can keep a bar of soap in bed. Doctors cannot yet explain the effect of a remedy tested by many people. But glycerin, which is one of the ingredients in soap, has been found to help. Therefore, you can buy a bottle and lubricate your feet with a few drops at night.

Glycerin to the rescue

The lingering pain can be relieved by simple and completely safe actions:

• stand on the cold floor with your entire foot;
• place your straight leg against the wall so that your leg is perpendicular to your body;
• pull the big toe towards you, you need to do this even through pain, you can do it with your hand, belt, towel, sheet;
• a risky but helpful remedy for many is to prick the muscle with a needle;
• massage, rub, scratch the muscle;
• apply a hot heating pad, a bottle of water, and pour it from the shower.

Cramps in the calves themselves do not pose any particular danger during pregnancy. But there are additional signs that indicate the possibility of a dangerous condition, requiring immediate medical attention.

1. The condition does not improve and constantly recurs.
2. A feeling of numbness appears (in any part of the body).
3. Edema and swelling occur.

In addition to the main cause, cramps during pregnancy can be eliminated with massage, exercises, and with the permission of a doctor, various ointments and gels can be used.

For quick help, use Venitan

Massage and exercise help improve blood circulation in the muscles. This brings tangible benefits for this condition. If leg cramps appear at night during pregnancy, it is better to do massage or exercises before bed.

Massage movements are very simple - you need to rub and knead the muscle. They move towards its center. You shouldn’t put in too much effort so as not to cause harm. The sufficient effect is a feeling of warmth, which indicates increased blood flow.

Gymnastics for calf cramps during pregnancy can be as follows:

• stand on your toes a dozen times, it’s best to do several approaches throughout the day;
• lunges forward, alternately with each leg, is a muscle stretching exercise;
• stand facing the wall, lean on your palms, slowly step back with your feet, making sure that your body does not move.

Pathology prevention measures

Knowing why leg cramps cramp, it is quite possible to avoid their occurrence during pregnancy. The doctor may prescribe special medications with magnesium, potassium and calcium. You also need to follow simple rules.

1. Wear comfortable shoes, heels no higher than 5 cm.
2. Sleep under a spacious blanket.
3. If there is increased load on the legs, perform gymnastics.
4. If you have varicose veins, wear compression stockings or tights and rest with your legs elevated.
5. When calf muscle cramps are associated with compression of the inferior vena cava, it is better to sleep on your left side during pregnancy.
6. Avoid smoking, caffeinated drinks, and black tea. You can replace it with herbal infusions, compotes, juices.
7. A warm evening foot bath with sea salt helps a lot.

Also find out what colostrum looks like during pregnancy and what causes colic in the stomach during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a natural process, but they expose every woman’s body to enormous stress, which during the entire period of gestation and even after the birth of the baby affects the well-being and health of the woman in labor. One of the common problems faced by both expectant and current mothers is pain and cramps that can periodically occur in the legs or arms. Cramps during pregnancy are very common; almost every woman in labor experiences this unpleasant phenomenon to one degree or another. There can be several reasons for leg cramps during pregnancy: from a lack of vitamins and microelements in the body, to low mobility and stagnation of blood circulation.

Leg cramps during pregnancy: causes

Most often, women experience leg cramps in the second half of pregnancy, but this phenomenon can also “haunt” new mothers. The reason for such painful contraction of the calf muscles is the lack of vitamins and microelements in the body, primarily calcium and magnesium, as well as other stagnation.

Cramps often occur at night and in the morning while stretching - so-called calf muscle cramps during pregnancy.

The main causes of leg cramps during pregnancy:

• Lack of calcium in the body
• Less commonly, magnesium deficiency
• Excess lactic acid
• Poor circulation of fluids in the body
• Low mobility
• Decreased hemoglobin level (severe anemia)

In addition, there are a number of other reasons that may be responsible for the occurrence of painful sensations in the legs and arms, for example, the onset of varicose veins.

Cramps during pregnancy: treatment

Since the main cause of cramps during pregnancy, or restless legs syndrome as they are often called, is a lack of calcium in a woman’s body, the most effective treatment in most cases is taking calcium. However, it is important to remember and understand that self-medication even in this area can be dangerous for you and your baby!

If you experience leg cramps during pregnancy, excessive calcium intake can lead to excessive ossification of the fetus, thereby complicating the birth process itself. If the child has already been born and is breastfed, an excess of calcium can also lead to premature closure of the fontanel. That is why we strongly recommend that you consult a doctor for a detailed consultation!

Moreover, it is important to remember that Calcium is absorbed in the body only in the presence of vitamin D3 and magnesium. Thus, the most rational and safest thing for both the woman in labor and the mother would be to review her daily diet. It is necessary to include calcium and magnesium containing products.

Source calcium The following products may become:

• Dairy products, cottage cheese
• Regular or cauliflower
• Nuts
• Figs
• Legumes
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Egg yolks

Magnesium, which can significantly reduce both muscle and nervous excitation, thereby preventing calf muscle cramps during pregnancy, can be obtained in sufficient quantities from the following foods:

• Sunflower seeds
• Carrot
• Nuts
• Spinach
• Greenery

Prevention against seizures during pregnancy

As you know, it is better to prevent any disease in time than to treat it. The same is true with restless legs syndrome during pregnancy. To prevent calf cramps during pregnancy and after childbirth, you need to be active, move more, and eat enough foods high in calcium and magnesium. It would also be a good idea to sign up for a swimming pool.

An excellent way to prevent calf cramps is massage. This can be a non-professional massage - ask your husband about it or massage your legs yourself. It is best to do this procedure immediately before bed to ensure good blood flow to the muscles and avoid stagnation during sleep. The massage should be done in the direction from the hip to the foot.

An excellent prevention of cramps and restless leg syndrome during pregnancy is also special refreshing creams for tired, “heavy” legs, which can be found in pharmacies.

What to do if your legs are already cramping?

As we have already said, most often a cramp in the calf muscles awaits pregnant women in bed, after or during a good sleep. Unfortunately, this phenomenon can be quite painful, and therefore it is useful to know effective ways to get rid of muscle pain.

During a cramp, try to pull your feet up towards you as much as possible. This may be unpleasant, but this procedure will relieve tension from the muscles. At the same time, a foot massage will not be amiss.