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

Causes of seizures during pregnancy

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

1. Lack of trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, as well as vitamin B6, caused by:

• firstly, strong, in which the body loses many trace elements with 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, the uncontrolled use of diuretics;
• fourthly, unbalanced, in which too few substances she needs enter the woman's body.

3. Violation, which may occur due to the absence, when a pregnant woman eats rarely and in large portions, or “leans” too much on sweets.

4., especially if there is an increased load on the legs.

5. The use of drinks containing caffeine, which provokes dehydration of the muscles and their tension, leading to the development of seizures.

6. “Syndrome of compression of the inferior vena cava”, 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, convulsions 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 gently, but at the same time, pull the toes of the foot, in which the muscle has been reduced, towards you. After that, also slowly relax the leg, and then pull again.
2. After the cramp is released, gently massage the muscle, warming it up. You can also use 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, for this you can use a pillow or a folded blanket.

Prevention and treatment of seizures during pregnancy

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

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

By the way, in the diet of a pregnant woman, in any case, there should be the following: cereals (buckwheat and oatmeal), wholemeal bread and pasta, sour-milk products, hard cheeses, fish, low-fat, vegetables and fruits in fresh and dry form, and also a small amount of nuts. To maintain normal blood sugar levels, it is worth eating often and in small portions.

In order not to provoke leg cramps, it is important to follow these recommendations:

• wear comfortable shoes with a stable heel that does not exceed 5 cm;
• with varicose veins, wear special tights and stockings (the doctor will help you choose the right ones for you);
• starting from the third trimester, try to lie on your left side or put a small pillow under your right buttock to prevent manifestations of the “inferior vena cava syndrome”;
• try to avoid heavy loads on the 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 yourself on your foot several times);
• rest with legs slightly elevated;
• take relaxing warm foot baths before bed, using, for example, sea salt.

Specially for- Ksenia Dakhno

convulsions- an unpleasant phenomenon. During they often disturb a woman. However, you should know that this is not the normal state of the body in which the child grows and develops. This is a sign that something is missing in the body.

Causes of seizures

Leg cramps often occur, and there are reasons for this, the main of which is a lack of body trace elements: potassium, calcium and magnesium, as well as vitamins.

If in the first trimester of pregnancy their shortage occurs as a result, accompanied by vomiting and a decrease in appetite, then in the second and third - due to the increased needs of a growing child.

Important! Contribute to the development of cramps in the legs smoking and drinking a large number of drinks containing caffeine, including - strong tea.

There are a number of other reasons why cramps occur during pregnancy in the calves and legs.

• Decreased blood glucose levels. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women are recommended fractional, during which the glucose level necessary for the body is maintained.
• Frequently recurring convulsions in expectant mothers can occur when severe anemia.
• In the last trimester of pregnancy, the causes of calf cramps can be not only a lack of vitamins and minerals, but also. Sick veins of the lower extremities are not able to cope with the increased load, the blood begins to stagnate in them, and edema appears. Impaired circulation leads to muscle nutrition is difficult: nutrients do not enter in the right amount, the metabolic product is not completely excreted. All this serves as a favorable background for the development of seizures.
• inferior vena cava syndrome also contributes to the occurrence of cramps in the muscles of the legs. In this case, while lying down, the woman's uterus compresses the inferior vena cava. This leads to weak venous outflow, and, consequently, to calf cramps.
• Misuse of diuretics can provoke the effect of washing out minerals, which also causes muscle cramps.

What is the danger

The danger to the health of the baby and mother is not the convulsions themselves, but the causes of their occurrence. It is they who negatively affect the general well-being of both.

• In stressful situations, nervous breakdown and strong emotions in a pregnant woman metabolism is disturbed and calcium deficiency develops, manifested by convulsions. This affects the health of the mother and the development of the child in the womb.
• During severe convulsions, a woman develops severe toxicosis with frequent vomiting, which leads to dehydration and impaired water-mineral exchange in the body. These changes, of course, are reflected in the health of the child.
• Anemia causes intrauterine child's oxygen deprivation and is fraught with poor health of the mother.
• Vitamin deficiency in the mother's body causes brittle nails, hair loss, problems with teeth, and for the baby - the danger of intrauterine growth retardation.
• Varicose veins during pregnancy, it is dangerous for the rupture of a blood clot, the consequences of which will be disastrous.
• Tight limb muscles can cause tension in the muscles of the uterus, which threatens the appearance of training contractions, and in the worst case, can lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
• The most dangerous are generalized convulsions. They are characterized by a complete loss of a woman's control over her body, blackouts, and severe convulsions. The consequences are unpredictable. During a seizure, the work of the brain is paralyzed, the supply of oxygen to the tissues stops. This can seriously affect the nervous and mental development of the baby and the mother herself.

First aid

If you suddenly experience pain during pregnancy, first aid for cramps is simple. needed. To cope with pain and get rid of spasms before the arrival of doctors, you must take the following measures:

• relieve muscle tension. To do this, strain and pull the sore muscle, repeat this exercise until complete relaxation. A slight tingling of the muscle with a pin or needle will also help;
• warm up the muscle massage;
• restore blood circulation in the legs- gently walk around the room, stand on toes, roll from toe to heel;
• avoid relapses- lie down with your legs up.

Did you know? Many expectant mothers change their foot. It becomes not only thicker due to weight changes and swelling, but also a little longer. So you may have to buy shoes 1-2 sizes up after giving birth.

How to treat cramps during pregnancy

During pregnancy, women often cramp their legs, and due to the fact that expectant mothers do not know what to do, they begin self-treatment, what to do categorically impossible.

See your doctor as soon as possible. If necessary, you will be assigned additional laboratory tests and will be advised to consult specialists - a therapist, neuropathologist, endocrinologist.

Usually, the doctor prescribes medications or vitamin complexes designed to make up for the deficiency of substances.
If the examination does not determine anything serious, then the doctor will give some advice that alleviates the condition and is a preventive measure.

To avoid cramps, pregnant women are not allowed to wear high-heeled shoes: maximum 4-5 cm.

If a pregnant woman is forced to stand for a long time, when a large load is placed on her legs, she should perform simple exercises that will help normalize blood circulation in the calf muscles.

To do this, you can alternately roll the foot from heel to toe and vice versa. You can simply rise up on your toes a few times and lower your foot back to the floor.
While resting, try to elevate your legs. You can do a foot massage, and the movements should be performed taking into account the direction of venous blood through the vessels of the lower extremities, that is, from the foot to the thigh.

In the case of varicose veins, it is necessary to wear special anti-varicose tights and stockings. Take contrast showers more often. Baths at room temperature with sea salt will be useful.

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Prevention

• First of all, special attention should be paid to the choice of shoes, as it should be as comfortable as possible. Heel height- no more than 5 cm.
• During rest you have to lift your legs to a slight elevation.
• Do before bed warm baths with added sea salt.
• If during pregnancy such an unpleasant disease as varicose veins develops, it is recommended to use special stockings and pantyhose, but their use should be discussed with your doctor.
• Try to avoid too much load on the legs, and if necessary, stay on your feet for a long time, you should perform simple but effective exercises.
• Recommended from the third trimester sleep on the left side, since it is precisely due to being in this position during sleep that it is possible to prevent squeezing of the inferior vena cava.

Important! So that at night your legs do not cramp, you can put them on a slight elevation before going to bed - place a small pillow, a roller or a simple blanket folded several times under your feet.

Most often, cramps during pregnancy in the legs occur at night, and in order to relieve a severe attack, you need to pull your toes several times, in which the pain bothers you, after which you need to relax it.

After that, the tension should ease a little, and the cramp will gradually release the muscle, and then its light and soft massage is performed, but you should not be too zealous.

Pregnancy is a time of surprises, which can be both pleasant (feeling of happiness, flowering of femininity, expectation of a miracle), and not so (nausea, vomiting, frequent urination). Another unpleasant sign can be convulsions in pregnant women, due to a number of reasons. In order not to be afraid of such phenomena, it is worth understanding the situation in detail.

Often observed in pregnant women cramps in the legs, as well as the calf muscles. There are several factors that explain these manifestations. First of all, convulsions in pregnant women can occur against the background of severe toxicosis.

After all, this seemingly natural process significantly weakens the body of a woman, and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. Not only is the appetite reduced during toxicosis, but also the food consumed does not stay in the stomach for a long time.

As a result, calcium is washed out of the body. It is its deficiency that mainly leads to leg cramps. Also, this process can be affected by excessive sodium and phosphate levels in the blood. Destruction and lack of vitamin B is often fraught with convulsions.

calcium deficiency it is especially acutely felt in the second trimester - it is then that the active growth of the fetus and the formation of the skeleton occur. Therefore, the baby takes away the building material necessary for this from the mother. This process can be accompanied not only by cramps in the legs, but also by severe hair loss, delamination of nails, skin pigmentation.

Also, convulsive muscle contractions in pregnant women may be due to a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels , the so-called glucose deficiency. This is not surprising, because this microelement acts as a valuable source of energy. And since now not only the expectant mother, but also the growing child needs energy replenishment, very often there are not enough resources.

In addition, the lack of a diet, eating on the go, late plentiful dinners contributes to lowering the level of sugar. All this will not be slow to manifest itself in the form of spasms in the legs.

If a pregnant woman suffers from varicose veins , then convulsions during pregnancy are almost inevitable. The situation is aggravated by excessive pressure of the growing fetus on the veins of the small pelvis, as a result of which blood circulation in the lower extremities weakens. At the same time, the acceleration of blood circulation in the groin increases the load on the arteries and capillaries.

If the veins are affected by varicose veins, then they cannot cope with the situation on their own. Because of this, swelling, numbness and leg cramps often occur during pregnancy. The problem can be exacerbated if the expectant mother leads a passive lifestyle, is lazy, moves little and does not monitor her weight gain. And disturbed blood flow worsens muscle nutrition, so they receive less nutrients and metabolic products.

Moms who smoke and abuse strong coffee and tea during pregnancy, you should know that such negligence not only leads to severe leg cramps, but also provokes serious disturbances in the development of the fetus.

Under the influence of nicotine, a chronic lack of oxygen develops, which in turn is a “grateful” soil for spasms. Excessive caffeine intake leads to muscle dehydration, which leads to loss of elasticity and cramps.

Isolated cases of leg cramps in pregnant women can occur with strong muscle tension caused, for example, by sipping or other physical exertion. If this phenomenon is rare enough, it is not detected at night and at rest, the expectant mother has nothing to worry about.

Often leads to convulsions in pregnant women misuse of deuretics used in the fight against swelling. Such drugs are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they facilitate the work of the kidneys and really relieve swelling. On the other hand, with the wrong dosage, together with excess fluid, they remove trace elements from the body, which causes cramps in the legs.

In some cases, convulsions can occur against the background of reduced hemoglobin (anemia), with an excess of lactic acid and magnesium deficiency.

How to deal with seizures

Naturally, the problem is easier to deal with before it occurs. However, few women think about their health before certain difficulties appear. High chances of avoiding leg cramps during pregnancy in women who lead an active lifestyle, take healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Also, do not ignore nutritional supplements and nutrients containing calcium and magnesium.

By the way, cramps will definitely bypass not those women who intensively pumped the calf muscles (on the contrary, strong muscles are prone to spasms), but those who were engaged in stretching, yoga, Pilates or swimming.

good seizure prevention massage is a truly miraculous remedy. You can ask your spouse to carry out this procedure, or you can do it yourself. To do this, you need heated vegetable oil with a few drops of essential oil. It must be rubbed into the calves and feet. Thoroughly knead each cell with the fingertips, rub it more intensively with the knuckles or the edge of the palm of your hand. All movements must be made in ascending lines.

This procedure pacifies, relaxes and adjusts to a restful sleep. And stagnant processes simply do not have a chance.

With severe heaviness in the legs, you should pay attention to special cooling creams and ointments. For the prevention of varicose veins, products with horse chestnut extract are best suited.

If a cramp in the legs still occurs, then appropriate measures must be taken. With a strong spasm, first of all, it is necessary to stand on a reduced leg. If the pain is too sharp and it is difficult to even move, you need to at least pull the foot towards you.

It is sometimes very difficult to do this, but it is necessary to overcome the pain. Then you can rub the tense muscle, massage with pinching and patting movements. In some situations, if the muscle is numb, it is worth using piercing objects (pin or needle). But do not get carried away - the skin should remain intact.

If spasms are not caused by varicose veins, hot foot baths with sea salt and mustard will come to the rescue.

General treatment of seizures in pregnancy

First of all, you should visit a doctor. He must determine if the spasms are a side effect of some serious disease. If these are not found, there are several general recommendations to eliminate the problem of leg cramps during pregnancy.

First of all, a specialist will advise a pregnant woman review your diet . The main focus should be on slow carbohydrates: cereals, whole grain bread, durum wheat pasta, fresh vegetables and fruits.

If there is a problem of leg cramps, it is better to give up fast carbohydrates: sugar, sweets, pastries, as they provoke a jump in blood glucose, and then a sharp decrease in it. And this is fraught with muscle spasms.

To compensate for calcium deficiency, it is worth using fermented milk products: natural cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt. To saturate the body with potassium, dried fruits, bananas, potatoes, beef liver are suitable.

By eating seeds, nuts, green leafy vegetables and carrots, you can provide the body with the necessary dose of magnesium. Also, it will not be superfluous to use multivitamin complexes designed specifically for pregnant women.

Also important mode of eating . It is best to stick to a strict dietary schedule. Breakfast is a must for a complete healthy diet. But dinner, on the contrary, should be symbolic. It can also be replaced with a glass of kefir or vegetable salad. You need to eat often, but little by little.

Helps relieve symptoms of leg cramps in pregnant women wearing orthopedic shoes on the middle platform (3-5 cm), as well as special compression stockings . They help to establish blood flow and distribute the load on the lower limbs. A must for expectant mother physical exercises . You can enroll in a yoga class for pregnant women or practice at home.

If none of the described methods helps, and the pain in the contracted cramped muscle is felt constantly and tends to increase, you cannot do without the help of a specialist. Reddened skin at the site of spasm, prone to swelling and hypersensitivity, signals a possible blood clot. In this case, an operation may be needed.

So, cramps are a symptom that you should only worry about if the expectant mother has specific ailments. And in most cases, they do not pose any danger. Therefore, you just need to adjust the regime and everything will be fine with you!

How to deal with cramps in pregnancy (video)

Prevention of leg cramps during pregnancy First aid for cramps

Many expectant mothers are worried about leg cramps during pregnancy. This condition is associated with a deficiency of nutrients, as well as disorders of the peripheral nervous system. When carrying a child in a woman's body, temporary physiological changes occur that affect the innervation and blood circulation of the legs.

Often, with various deviations, the listed changes also have a negative effect on muscle tone, provoking spasms. Particular attention of doctors is attracted by leg cramps at night during pregnancy, which most often occur due to a lack of minerals and require careful monitoring by a gynecologist.

Etiology

Sometimes expectant mothers mistakenly believe that leg cramps in pregnant women in a dream or in the morning are an independent disease. But this opinion is wrong. This condition is a sign of the presence of a disease, and muscle spasms are just a symptom. Therefore, if it reduces arms and legs, toes and hands, you should start looking for a chronic pathology.

Expert opinion!

Why pregnant women have leg cramps - the main reasons are the deficiency of the main trace elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. These substances regulate muscle tone and relaxation of myofibrils. Their deficiency occurs under the conditions listed below.

There are the following causes of leg cramps during pregnancy:

• The lack of trace elements in the body - this cause of muscle cramps most often appears in the second trimester or in the later stages, when a deficiency of essential minerals is formed due to the growth and development of the baby. Trace elements are "pulled out" from the muscles, causing convulsions;
• Deficiency of vitamins - often the cause of the disease is elementary beriberi, which entails violations of mineral metabolism and metabolism in the muscles;
• Lack of water - during the development of the fetus, dehydration often occurs, which leads to cramps in the legs. In this case, the peak of their appearance falls on the second and third trimester of pregnancy, when there is a maximum jump in the growth of the unborn baby;
• Toxicosis of pregnancy is a complex pathological deviation, accompanied by numerous disorders of the digestive, circulatory and urinary systems. In pathology, metabolic disorders often occur, leading to cramps in the legs;
• Varicose veins - the cause of muscle spasms can be local circulatory disorders. With this disease, congestion occurs in the veins of the legs, which leads to a violation of muscle trophism, the occurrence of local deficient conditions;
• Thrombosis - with this pathology, a lack of blood circulation is formed due to blockage of the lumen of the veins, and sometimes arteries;
• Enlargement of the uterus - during the growth of the fetus, there is a displacement of the internal organs, which can compress the vessels and nerves. Gradually, this leads to a decrease in the supply of important trace elements to muscle cells and the development of seizures;
• Increased load - during pregnancy, the fetus pulls the tummy down, which contributes to the redistribution of the axial load on the spine, pinching of the nerve trunks, overloading the calf muscles and foot;
• Compression of the inferior vena cava - often the development of the disease contributes to the difficulty of outflow of blood from the legs. At first, the muscles receive a sufficient amount of nutrients, but due to the occurrence of an obstacle in the venous circle, oxygen starvation and muscle spasms gradually occur;
• Bad habits - this reason is less common than others, since most mothers try to monitor their health. With a negligent attitude towards one's own body and the unborn child, nicotine or alcoholic poisons enter the bloodstream, settle in the muscles, and convulsions appear.

Interesting!

If you combine all the factors, you can understand the main reason for the development of spasms - this is the defeat of muscle cells. Usually they are damaged by a deficiency of important trace elements, malnutrition, poisoning with toxins.

Associated symptoms

Seizures rarely occur in isolation, usually the disease is manifested by certain symptoms that add up to a specific clinical picture:

• Pain - is recorded at the peak of muscle contraction. Soreness is aching, pulling and sharp, localized in the area of ​​​​maximum muscle stiffness. Usually passes with relaxation, sometimes there is discomfort of a burning nature;
• Paresthesia is an unusual arching feeling in the area of ​​​​the feet, sometimes precedes the pain or is observed after it subsides;
• Feeling of heaviness in the legs - observed in the evening or after a long walk. Often this symptom is a harbinger of an attack of convulsions;
• Pulse - its character depends on the cause of the spasms. If there is squeezing of the vessels, it will be weakened. An increase in pulsation is observed with systemic pathology, which has become the cause of the development of seizures.

Often, concomitant symptoms are complemented by the underlying disease that provokes muscle spasms. If a woman suffers from varicose veins, there will be damage to the veins, discoloration of the skin, weakness and malaise. With toxicosis of pregnancy, there is a violation of kidney function, the occurrence of edema, the presence of systemic manifestations of the disease.

First aid for seizures

What to do when it brings legs together during pregnancy - first you need to perform urgent measures that will relieve muscle spasms and relax your legs. Here the decisive role is played by the fact where you were "caught" by convulsions:

• If cramps appear during swimming - try to immobilize the leg, it is advisable to prick the numbness area with a pin or needle;
• If the disease appeared during sleep, sitting or lying down - relax the lower limb, perform a small massage until the pain stops.

On a note!

The main rule is that the muscle must be “stretched”. If a cramp is noted in the calf muscles, pull the foot up, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe soles - straighten your fingers and spread them apart.

Treatment

Consider how to treat cramps during pregnancy. Any therapy should be prescribed by the attending physician, and the expectant mother should be under the constant supervision of a specialist. Self-medication can lead to problems with pregnancy or harm the unborn child.

Diet

The first thing that begins the treatment of leg cramps during pregnancy is nutritional correction. It is advisable to study the table with allowed and prohibited foods and discuss it with a nutritionist.

The main task of the diet is to replenish the deficiency of vitamins and trace elements in the body. To do this, it is useful to include in the diet, foods rich in:

• Calcium - they contain legumes, nuts, dairy products, eggs and fish;
• Magnesium - supplement the menu with raisins, dried fruits, raw vegetables;
• Potassium - on the table should be seafood, bananas, dried apricots.

A more complete list can be obtained from your doctor. Be sure to exclude fatty and fried foods, fast food and convenience foods from the diet. It is advisable to eat steamed food, drink clean boiled water or non-carbonated mineral water to quench your thirst.

Drug therapy

Many medications are prohibited during pregnancy - which is why the doctor should deal with the treatment of seizures during this period.

The drugs of choice are drugs containing potassium and magnesium, which will make up for their deficiency in the body. These drugs have a minimum of side effects, the risk of negative effects on the fetus is observed only with an overdose.

To eliminate muscle cramps during pregnancy, the doctor may prescribe:

• Potassium Orotate;
• Asparkam;
• Mangale B 6;
• Panangin.

Attention!

Analgesics and anti-inflammatory ointments are strictly prohibited - these drugs have a large number of side effects and can adversely affect the course of pregnancy!

Physiotherapy

For muscle cramps, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy treatment. To relieve spasms during pregnancy, procedures are used that activate blood circulation in the legs, improve muscle trophism and tissue regeneration. As a result, each cell receives the necessary complex of vitamins and minerals, which favorably affects muscle tone.

The most effective methods against seizures:

• Magnetotherapy;
• laser treatment;
• shock wave therapy;
• Therapeutic baths.

Before carrying out these procedures, you should undergo a small examination for possible contraindications. It will take 10-12 sessions to eliminate cramps.

Exercise therapy and massage

The safest ways to treat cramps during pregnancy are therapeutic exercises and massage. These methods, although prescribed by the attending physician, can be carried out at home.

Gymnastics is selected taking into account the duration of pregnancy. The most popular exercises are:

• With cramps in the area of ​​​​the feet - rolling cans or dumbbells with a plantar arch;
• If you are concerned about calf cramps during pregnancy, on the front or back of the thigh, exercises are done to stretch these muscles.

Charging is supplemented by massage - after physical exertion, it has a positive effect on blood flow, helps to relax muscles. It is necessary to warm up carefully, protecting the unborn child. Both types of procedures are carried out 2-3 times a week.

ethnoscience

If you cramp your legs at night during pregnancy, you can try to be treated at home. To eliminate muscle spasms, folk tricks are used to replenish vitamins and minerals in the body:

• Honey - a bee product is consumed orally, 2 teaspoons during a meal;
• Chamomile petals, which are poured with boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, will help get rid of cramps. The solution should be allowed to cool, take a third of a glass before meals;
• Birch buds - you should brew two teaspoons in a glass of boiling water, drink in the morning and evening instead of tea.

On a note!

Traditional medicine is an addition to the main therapy - it is impossible to recover from seizures with homemade recipes alone.

Alternative medicine

Sometimes some alternative medicine methods are used to get rid of muscle cramps. But they can be used only in the early stages and even in the first weeks of pregnancy, when the risk of damage to the fetus is minimal. The most popular is acupuncture, which stimulates reflex activity and relieves muscle spasms. You can supplement the treatment regimen with manual therapy, hirudotherapy, yoga classes.

Prevention

There is no specific prevention of seizures, since they are provoked by deficient conditions or impaired local blood circulation. But it is possible to create favorable conditions under which these disorders will disappear. To do this, you will need to follow the following rules:

• Follow a diet - eat foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium;
• Wear comfortable shoes - sometimes, to eliminate cramps, it is enough to choose shoes or sneakers that do not squeeze or rub your legs;
• Twice a week - do massage and gymnastics;
• In your free time - try to stretch your legs, relaxing your muscles;
• Try not to stand on your feet for a long time - this is how the muscles become numb, the likelihood of developing seizures increases;
• If there are problems with the vessels, wear compression stockings.

Compliance with preventive measures will allow you to reduce the likelihood of developing muscle cramps, improve blood circulation in the legs, and increase health indicators.

Convulsions during pregnancy most often appear due to a deficiency of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron, which are spent on the development of the fetus. To make up for their deficiency, preparations with appropriate microelements and strengthening procedures are prescribed. If muscle spasms are caused by neurological and vascular disorders, therapeutic exercises and massage come to the fore.

Leg cramps in pregnant women: how to deal with this problem? First of all, you need to try to determine the cause.

Symptoms of leg cramps during pregnancy

Leg cramps are painful contractions (spasms) of the calf muscles. The pain comes on suddenly and seems to permeate the whole body. Depending on the cause, leg cramps in pregnant women can occur at any time of the day.

Leg cramps in pregnant women: the main causes

The occurrence of leg cramps during most often associated with the following reasons:

1. Violation in the body of the balance of trace elements such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamin B6

Deficiency of these elements can be caused by:

• in the first trimester - frequent vomiting associated with toxicosis, as a result of which the body loses a large number of trace elements;
• in the second trimester - an increased need for a large amount of mineral salts due to the active growth of the unborn baby to form his skeletal system;
• excretion in the urine as a result of diuretics not agreed with the doctor;
• unbalanced diet.

2. Anemia

Anemia can lead to a lack of oxygen supply needed by the muscles. This can cause leg cramps in pregnant women.

It is characteristic that convulsions associated with anemia or a lack of certain trace elements occur at any time of the day.

3. Stagnation of blood circulation associated with low mobility

Seizures can be triggered by being in an uncomfortable static position for a long time.

4. Varicose veins

As a result of stagnation of blood in the veins, cramps in the calf muscles may appear. They usually occur at rest: in the evening before bedtime or at night.

5. Reduced blood glucose

Glucose in the body is the most important source of energy. A drop in this indicator entails energy starvation of the body, which can provoke leg cramps in pregnant women.
Seizures associated with this cause are more likely to occur at night or in the early morning.

6. Syndrome of the inferior vena cava

From the second half of pregnancy, the growing uterus can compress the inferior vena cava, which leads to stagnation of blood in the lower extremities, the development of edema, and as a result, seizures. It is characteristic that leg cramps in pregnant women occur when lying on the back or on the right side.

7. Hypothermia

Cold leads to vasoconstriction, thereby causing calf cramps.

8. Dehydration

First aid for convulsions

How can you help yourself during a cramp?

• If possible, give the leg an elevated position, slowly but strongly pull the big toe towards you, or pull the entire foot towards you
• Try to breathe deeply and calmly while doing this.
• Helps kneading massage of the calf muscle to warm it up. Involve your loving husband. You can use massage balls or a hand massager. You can press your index finger into the center of the calf muscle for at least 20 seconds
• Pinching and injections of the calf muscle help to take your mind off the pain
• You can try a hot shower or a heating pad
• After an attack, you can put on knee socks or leggings (preferably pre-warmed) so that the muscles are warm and relax better
• Walking barefoot slowly can help, which improves circulation to the leg muscles.

Treating seizures in pregnancy

Be sure to inform your gynecologist about the occurrence of seizures. To identify the cause of this pathology, the doctor may prescribe additional laboratory tests, as well as examinations by narrow specialists.

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe medication, multivitamins for expectant mothers, or additional intake of calcium and magnesium supplements. Additional intake of calcium preparations should be agreed with the doctor and stopped after 35 weeks of pregnancy. Never “prescribe” vitamins and supplements to yourself without consulting your doctor!

With a low level of glucose in the blood, the endocrinologist prescribes drugs to normalize this indicator.

In case of varicose veins, doctors prescribe the wearing of special compression underwear (knee socks, stockings or tights) to normalize vascular tone, restore blood flow, relieve swelling, which significantly reduces the risk of seizures. It is very important to choose the right size and degree of compression of prophylactic underwear.

Leg cramps in pregnant women: prevention

Compliance with the following rules will allow the expectant mother to avoid pain caused by convulsions:

1. Proper balanced nutrition

• There should be 5-6 small meals per day
• Give preference to complex carbohydrates (cereals, durum wheat pasta, fruits and vegetables), try to limit the use of “light” carbohydrates (sweets, starchy foods)
• Include in your diet more foods rich in calcium (low-fat dairy products and milk, nuts, eggs, various types of cabbage), magnesium (nuts, seeds, legumes, fish, chicken, broccoli, carrots, spinach, raisins), potassium (bananas, potatoes, salmon, tomatoes, dried apricots, raisins, spinach, oranges, lean beef), B vitamins (dairy products, walnuts, red fish).

2. Reasonable physical activity

Reasonable and dosed physical activity will help improve blood circulation and prevent venous congestion. An excellent remedy for the prevention of seizures is the pool.

3. Proper footwear

Avoid uncomfortable, tight shoes and high heels. Wearing such shoes can lead to excessive stress on the foot and adversely affect the circulation of the legs.

4. Rest and foot massage

At the end of the day, try to lie down with your legs elevated. Do a light foot massage in the direction from the foot to the knee (you can use special refreshing creams).

An excellent option for relieving fatigue and swelling of the legs is contrast or tonic baths.

5. Avoid hypothermia

If the body is prone to hypothermia, wear warm socks for a night's sleep.