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What Causes Leg Cramps in Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog

By Kathleen Kennedy, MD | July 01, 2021

Safe At-Home Treatments & When to Call a Doctor

Did you know around half of pregnant patients get leg cramps by their third trimester? Leg cramps tend to strike at night when you’re about to fall asleep. You might feel a sudden tightening of your muscle followed by a sharp pain.

Usually, leg cramps in pregnancy are nothing to worry about, however, sometimes they can be a sign of a more serious health problem. Let’s take a look at the common causes of leg cramps, how you can handle them at home and when to call the doctor.

Common Causes of Leg Cramps

There are many potential causes for leg cramps during pregnancy. They tend to show up in the second and third trimesters as your body is rapidly changing.

Low Vitamin or Mineral Levels

Why: During pregnancy, hormone and diet changes can decrease your calcium and magnesium levels.

Try This:

• Taking a prenatal vitamin can help. Get tips to find the best prenatal vitamins.
• Vitamin B complex supplements might also help with leg cramps.
• Eat food high in potassium, such as bananas, kiwi and spinach.
• Eat food high in magnesium, such as dark chocolate, avocados and nuts.
• Eat food high in calcium, such as seeds, cheese and salmon.

Circulation Changes

Why: Your blood volume will almost double during pregnancy. That can cause slower circulation, leading to swelling and cramping.

Try This: Here are a few tips for improving circulation during pregnancy:

• Sleep on your left side: This position takes pressure off your liver, which is on the right side of your body and helps improve circulation.
• Elevate your legs: Not only does putting your feet up reduce swelling, it also pushes blood flow back to your heart and lungs. 
• Sleep with a pillow between your knees: This position helps facilitate blood flow through a major vein carrying blood to the heart and back. This position may also relieve stress.
• Stay active: If you sit a lot during the day, get up and walk around every couple of hours. Movement helps increase overall blood flow.

Dehydration

Why: Do you remember to drink enough water? Leg cramps are a common symptom of dehydration. Water keeps your body hydrated, making the heart’s job of pumping blood easier. The heart sends oxygen to your organs and muscles, reducing the likelihood of cramps and circulation problems.

Try This: While pregnant, you should drink 8-12 cups of water per day. Try adding a slice of fruit or low-sugar flavoring if plain water is too boring.

Muscle Fatigue and Weight Gain

Why: During pregnancy, you might already feel tired. That goes for your muscles, too. Some of that weak, heavy or tired feeling might be coming from the added weight of the baby. Some may be from gaining additional weight during pregnancy.                        

Your uterus is also putting extra pressure on your blood vessels. When the blood vessels in your legs and feet are strained, it can lead to increased leg cramps.

Try This: For this type of cramp, we recommend stretching before exercise and bed. Wearing compression socks also helps move the valves in your blood vessels closer together, keeping blood flowing better in the legs.

Staying active during pregnancy can help relieve and prevent leg cramps caused by weight gain. Work with your doctor or midwife to eat a healthy diet during pregnancy. The goal is to gain enough weight to nourish the baby, but not so much that it negatively affects your health.

Tips to Treat Leg Cramps at Home

Cramping muscles are no fun. Here are some safe at-home treatments you can try to reduce pain:

• Massage the cramping muscle and nearby muscle groups to release the tightened muscles to restore proper blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the muscle.
• Gently hold your leg in a stretched position until the cramp stops. This lengthens your muscle fibers so they can properly contract and tighten, allowing your muscle’s oxygen supply to be restored.
• Rotate applying ice, to ease the pain of the cramp, and heat, to relax your muscle and increase blood flow.
• Soak in Epsom salt bath. When Epsom salt dissolves in water, it releases magnesium which plays a big role in muscle contraction.

Exercises to reduce leg pain:

• Ankle Pumps: Lie on your back with your feet slightly elevated. Point and flex your feet.
• Calf Stretches: Put one foot against the wall with your toes pointing up, brace yourself with your arms and lean toward your foot, keeping your leg straight.
• Good Mornings: Feet hip width apart, put your hands behind your head, with a slight bend in your knee, bend at your hips until you’re parallel to the floor or feeling a good hamstring stretch

When to See a Doctor

If leg cramps are keeping you awake at night and at-home treatments aren't working, talk with your doctor or midwife. They can prescribe safe medication to ease the pain and help you sleep.

Less commonly, some leg cramp symptoms are signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a serious medical condition that can cause blood clots. Pregnant women are 50 percent more likely to get blood clots than non-pregnant women.

Call for help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• Extreme leg pain when you stand up
• Severe, persistent or worsening leg cramps
• Very swollen legs
• Red spots that are warm to the touch
• Enlarged veins in the legs

If you are struggling with leg cramps during pregnancy, help is available. Talk to your doctor or midwife to discuss your options.

To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from Ob/Gyn care

Call 505-272-2245.

Categories: Women's Health

Pregnancy and your feet article on the site of the Preobrazhenskaya Clinic

Pregnancy causes many different changes in a woman's body. Many women during pregnancy present the same complaints.

One of these complaints, which is practically not taken into account, is the complaint of pain in the legs.

Due to the natural weight gain during pregnancy, the body's center of gravity shifts forward. This causes a redistribution of the load on the limbs and an increase in pressure in the knee joints and feet. nine0003

Pregnant women have two main problems, they are excessive pronation of the foot and swelling of the legs.

These changes can cause pain in the heels, arch, or metatarsus. Many women experience leg cramps and varicose veins. Therefore, all pregnant women need to have the necessary information about their health and, in particular, about the function of the legs, so that the nine-month pregnancy period is more comfortable for them.

Reason:

Excessive stress on the feet and swelling of the legs are the most common problems during pregnancy. nine0003

Overload occurs because the arch of the foot flattens under the weight. This can cause congestion and inflammation of the plantar fascia that runs from the heel to the toes.

Excessive stress on the feet can make walking painful due to increased stress on the legs, calves and spine.

Edema, or swelling of the legs, usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy.

Edema is caused by obstruction of the outflow of blood due to the pressure of the enlarging uterus on the veins of the lower extremities. In a woman's body, the total volume of fluid in the body remains the same as before pregnancy, but its distribution changes. Swollen legs become bluish. nine0003

During pregnancy, an extra volume of fluid accumulates in the body, which contributes to an increase in edema.

If the hands or face swell, the pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment

There are effective ways to deal with deformity and swelling of the feet during pregnancy.

Foot deformities can be treated with ready-made orthotics . These orthotics must have sufficient arch and hindfoot support. It remains important to choose the right shoes. A pregnant woman should choose comfortable shoes with proper foot support and cushioning. nine0003

Foot deformity should be treated not only to relieve pain, but also to avoid complications such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, inflammation of the posterior tibial muscle, or deformity of the toes.

Pregnant women can be given the following advice:

• Raise your legs as often as possible. If you have to stay in a sitting position for a long time, set up a small stool and place your feet on it.
nine0041 Wear rational footwear. Too narrow and short shoes impede blood flow in the lower extremities.
• Measure the circumference of the lower leg and thigh, as well as the size of the foot, several times during pregnancy. These numbers are subject to change.
• Wear seamless socks that don't restrict blood flow.
• If you drive for a long time, take regular breaks to stretch your legs.
• Get regular exercise to improve your overall health. The best form of exercise is walking. nine0042
• Eat a balanced diet and avoid salty foods as salt retains fluid in the body.

Usually the swelling of one leg and the other is the same. If the legs swell unevenly, this may be a symptom of vascular insufficiency, which requires the help of a qualified specialist.

If the problem continues to bother you, contact a specialist doctor.

Leg pain during pregnancy: causes and how to get rid of it

Feet in pregnant women hurt for various reasons. Since there is a considerable load on the legs during pregnancy, this is not surprising. Just don't ignore the pain. Sometimes, if a woman feels pain in her legs, we can talk about pathology.

We tell you what pain in the legs during pregnancy can be associated with and what to do to alleviate the symptoms.

Why my feet hurt during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the center of gravity usually shifts, which creates an excessive load on the legs. Therefore, many women who are carrying a child experience pain in their feet. In general, during pregnancy, a woman's body is rebuilt, so pain can also occur for other reasons that are also not associated with the development of diseases.

Causes of leg pain in pregnant women

The most common causes of foot pain in pregnant women include: nine0003

• Natural increase in body weight;

• The shift in the center of gravity, which increases the load on the feet;

• Excessive accumulation of fluid in the body can cause swelling and, as a result, throbbing pain;

• Aching pain, swelling after walking or standing for a long time - these symptoms appear in women prone to varicose veins; nine0003

• Cramping that cramps the legs or only the feet can occur due to an increased concentration of progesterone in the blood, as well as due to iron and calcium deficiency.

Consider the cases when the feet hurt during pregnancy due to existing diseases.

Flat feet

If flat feet have already been, then during pregnancy, if the disease is not treated, it only gets worse. There are cases when a woman had the first stage of flat feet, and in the last trimester - already the third. Usually, transverse flat feet are more acutely tolerated. Its symptoms: nine0003

• Burning in the feet;

• By the end of the day, the legs are very tired, they may swell;

• In the evening there are cramps in the area of ​​​​calves and shins, which are accompanied by pain in the feet;

• Pain in the area of ​​​​the kneecaps, pelvis and back - these symptoms appear when flat feet are neglected; nine0003

• Calluses and growth that affects the base of the thumb;

• Hammer toe deformity.

It is important to diagnose the transverse flatfoot of the foot in time. Usually orthopedic traumatologists deal with this issue. To diagnose the disease, the doctor sends an x-ray. Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication for x-rays. Radiation should be avoided only in the first three months of pregnancy. Before the procedure, be sure to warn the doctor about your situation. nine0003

Only after studying the radiographs, the doctor can confirm the diagnosis. Further steps will depend entirely on the stage of the disease. At the initial stages, the disease is cured by conservative methods, in advanced cases, surgical intervention is required.

Conservative treatments include:

• treatment with medications if there is inflammation;

• nine0002 wearing orthopedic insoles and other devices;

• physiotherapy;

• massage;

• exercise therapy.

In the fight against flat feet, orthopedic insoles, which are designed for pregnant women, have proven themselves well. They help to evenly distribute the load on the legs of women. nine0003

Varicose veins

Even if a woman has never suffered from this disease, there is a risk that pregnancy will worsen the condition of the vessels.

Since mother and baby have a common circulatory system, varicose veins can provoke oxygen starvation in the fetus. The fact is that it is with the mother's blood that the child receives all the necessary substances to maintain his life.

It is not difficult to recognize varicose veins on your own. The most obvious signs that can be seen with the naked eye are pronounced vascular networks. It is worth making an appointment with a doctor if you have symptoms such as: nine0003

• Aching pain in the legs, especially after exercise;

• Fatigue and heaviness in the legs at the end of the day;

• tingling, itching and burning;

• Numbness of limbs or cramps.

The treatment of the disease is carried out by a phlebologist (vascular surgeon). nine0003

Is it possible to do foot massage during pregnancy?

If the attending specialist does not see any contraindications for massage, then the procedure will only benefit. Foot massage during pregnancy will help not only alleviate the condition of the legs, but also improve the mood of the expectant mother. Massage has a positive effect on the emotional state of the mother, and therefore on the unborn child.

How to get rid of foot pain

Often, with pain in the legs, a woman can help herself. These recommendations will help get rid of leg pain or at least reduce it: nine0003

• During pregnancy, aching and tired feet come to the rescue in the evening foot baths. Water should be at room temperature. It is also useful to rinse the feet with cold water;

• It is advisable to sleep on the left side - on the right is the inferior vena cava, which carries the bulk of the blood, so it is better to remove the load from it;

• A contrast shower helps to get rid of pain in the legs - this procedure will also strengthen the walls of blood vessels; nine0003

To avoid unpleasant pain in the legs, it is also important to follow preventive measures:

• Drink enough water. Edema appears when the body is dehydrated, and not vice versa;

• Movement. To improve blood flow, it is useful to move and do light exercise. Walking is the best activity for pregnant women. When driving, it is important to take regular breaks to stretch your legs; nine0003

• Leg lift. If you have to sit for a long time, it is advisable to raise your legs more often. To do this, you can put a stand or a small bench near you;

• Balanced diet. This applies mainly to the consumption of salt, since it is it that retains water in the body. In general, the diet should be varied, with sufficient protein;

nine0041

Weight control. Almost all women gain weight during pregnancy. It is only important to ensure that the “increase” fits into the norm, since excess weight provokes swelling;

• Avoidance of heavy workloads. Long stay on your feet, lifting weights and any physical labor - all this negatively affects the health of blood vessels during pregnancy. You should also pay attention to the position of the body. For example, a pose in which the legs are crossed harms the vessels; nine0003

• Correct posture. With proper posture, the load on the legs is distributed evenly. It is important to ensure that the lower back does not bend too much or the body does not lean back too much;

• Comfortable shoes and clothes. Clothing or shoes that are tight on the body can block blood flow. Therefore, it is not recommended to wear socks with tight elastic bands that leave marks on the body, and shoes that are too narrow and short; nine0003

• Be careful with sunburn. If there is a tendency to varicose veins, you should not stay under the sun for a long time - ultraviolet rays weaken blood vessels.

If you follow these simple recommendations, you can minimize the pain in the legs during pregnancy. If you suspect flat feet, you can always contact our orthopedic center.

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