How do you get rid of leg cramps during pregnancy?
How can I get rid of leg cramps when I’m pregnant?
- Flex your feet. Straighten your leg and gently flex your ankle and toes back toward your shins several times.
- Cool it. Try standing on a cold surface, which can sometimes stop a spasm.
- Warm up.
- Get a massage.
Why are leg cramps common in pregnancy?
It may have to do with changes in blood circulation and stress on your leg muscles from carrying extra weight. Your growing baby also puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels that go to your legs. And some doctors say low calcium, or a change in the way your body processes calcium, may cause cramps.
What are the recommendations for pregnancy leg cramps?
Drink between 8 and 12 cups of water per day.
Is it dangerous to get legs cramps while pregnant?
Are leg cramps bad during pregnancy? Very occasionally, leg cramps can be a sign of something more sinister. In one or two in 1,000 pregnancies, a blood clot can develop and lodge in the leg vein and that will need treatment straight away. If you are getting cramps very regularly or can see some swelling or tenderness in your leg, contact your GP.
How to manage leg cramps during pregnancy?
There are a few easy ways to help ease leg cramps during pregnancy: Flex your foot as soon as you feel the cramp coming on. Elevate your leg. Try this after you flex your foot to help move things along, Greves says. Walk it out. Massage the cramp. Stretch your calf muscles. Stay physically active. Take a warm shower or bath before bed. Drink plenty of water. Take a magnesium supplement.
Is leg and foot cramps an early sign of pregnancy?
Leg cramps – painful involuntary muscle contractions that typically affect the calf, foot or both – are common during pregnancy, often striking at night during the second and third trimesters . While the exact cause of leg cramps during pregnancy isn’t clear, you can take steps to prevent them. For example: Stretch your calf muscles .