How to get rid of leg cramps during pregnancy. Leg cramps during pregnancy. Causes. Treatment. Drinking caffeinated drinks, strong tea in large quantities and smoking
A pregnant woman, tired from the day, finally lies down to rest in the evening. But what is it? Sharply, suddenly, causing severe pain, the calf muscle, located on the back of the leg, contracted. The foot unbent, stretched out, as if wanting to "stand on tiptoe." Moreover, experiencing significant pain from muscle strain and overstretching, you can’t relax and return the foot to its normal position in any way: the muscles simply refuse to obey the orders of the brain. This is how convulsions appear, which often become uninvited companions of pregnancy.
Often, convulsions begin to disturb the expectant mother in the first months of pregnancy against the background of recurring vomiting (early toxicosis). Convulsive contractions of the calf muscles or muscles of the hand (less often, the muscles of the face located around the mouth) usually occur at night, during falling asleep. But they can also appear during the day, for example, when a pregnant woman sits down or lies down to rest.
The mechanisms of the occurrence of muscle contraction and its regulation by the nervous system are extremely complex and are based on the difference in the content of ions of certain microelements outside and inside the cell. Any violation of this ratio can be manifested, among other things, by convulsions. One of the main causes of hypnogogic (that is, occurring before falling asleep) is just a violation of mineral metabolism.
Attention!
Seizures can be symptoms of various diseases, including serious complications of pregnancy. Therefore, if they occur, you should definitely consult a doctor.
What causes these violations?
Firstly, an increase in the need for trace elements, because now much more minerals are required: a woman needs to provide her own body with them and “satiate” a growing child.
Secondly, vomiting of pregnant women. With vomit, a person loses a huge amount of trace elements - not only those that he received with food the day before, but also those that are part of digestive enzymes.
Thirdly, the imbalance of nutrition, when, for the sake of food addictions, a woman refuses any group of products and, accordingly, does not receive the unique substances contained in them (for example, refusing cottage cheese and other fermented milk products, we receive less calcium).
Fourthly, the incorrect, uncontrolled use of diuretics, the use of which is associated with an attempt to relieve swelling in the second half of pregnancy. Diuretic drugs intensively remove not only water, but also minerals dissolved in it.
Let us consider separately the manifestations of the insufficiency of the elements that make up the mineral-vitamin complexes that regulate the processes of muscle contraction.
Potassium
Potassium is present in every living cell and is extremely important for it. Prolonged, frequent vomiting and profuse diarrhea, as well as improper intake of certain diuretics, are dangerous for the occurrence of a deficiency of this substance. Too much coffee (caffeine) can also lead to potassium deficiency. In addition, in conditions of magnesium deficiency, the absorption of potassium is also impaired.
Potassium deficiency manifests itself:
- rapid muscle fatigue and convulsions;
- constipation;
- retention of salt and fluid in the body, i.e. edema;
- low blood pressure;
- thirst and dry mouth;
- depression, nervousness, depressed mood;
- increased blood cholesterol levels;
- dry skin;
- the occurrence of acne;
- tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
Potassium is ubiquitous, and you can find it in any food, only some have a little more of it, while others have a little less. The richest in potassium: dried apricots - dried apricots and apricots, melon, bananas, beans, potatoes, broccoli, beef liver, milk. An adult should receive about 4-5 g of potassium per day, and a full daily diet fully satisfies this need.
Potassium is part of vitamin and mineral complex preparations, usually in the form of potassium iodide.
Calcium
Calcium is one of the best known minerals required by humans. Possible calcium deficiency in the body will be indicated by:
- excited state (increased activity, nervousness, irritability);
- insomnia;
- high blood pressure;
- heartbeat;
- a feeling of numbness, a feeling of tingling and "goosebumps" in certain parts of the body;
- soreness and bleeding of the gums;
- tooth decay;
- fragility of nails;
- eczema.
Women usually begin to worry only when a significant deficiency of this substance has already developed and painful cramps twist their legs at night.
Having heard about calcium, pregnant women quite often start taking calcium gluconate on their own, but tablets alone are not enough. In order for calcium to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and get the same for its intended purpose - into the cells, vitamin D3 and Magnesium B6 are needed for children. Without them, calcium that enters the body becomes useless!
The “consumption” of calcium in the body increases during stress and during pregnancy (after all, now two people “eat” it). They prevent the absorption of calcium: spinach, sorrel, rhubarb, which contain large amounts of oxalic acid (its soluble salts, reacting with calcium ions, form insoluble, and therefore indigestible compounds). The absorption of this substance is also reduced by foods high in phosphates (caviar, canned fish, eggs, cheese, green peas, beans, cauliflower), carbonated drinks, cocoa and chocolate. High protein diets also interfere with calcium absorption, and only 15% of the calcium ingested in this situation will be absorbed. But low-protein diets also do not contribute to the absorption of calcium: in this case, 5% of the total amount eaten enters the human body. Excessive coffee consumption contributes to increased excretion of calcium by the kidneys. A sufficient intake of iron, on the contrary, improves the absorption of calcium.
What foods are sources of calcium? First of all, these are dairy products (we get up to 55% of calcium from them); green leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale, turnip leaves, cauliflower, asparagus), egg yolks, all kinds of legumes, nuts, figs.
If you are taking calcium supplements, they will be more fully absorbed if you do not drink them on an empty stomach, but after a light meal.
Magnesium
The content of magnesium in the body of an adult is about 20 g. This element should be no more and no less - so to speak, the golden mean. An increase in the content of magnesium in the blood causes drowsiness, lethargy, dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting, lowering blood pressure, slowing the pulse. This condition can occur with severe violations of the excretory function of the kidneys, hypothyroidism, severe complications of diabetes mellitus.
A decrease in the content of magnesium in the blood is possible with severe and repeated vomiting, significant diarrhea, some other conditions and chronic diseases (hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands, impaired kidney function, cirrhosis of the liver, etc.). A relative lack of magnesium in the body develops with an increase in its consumption even with sufficient intake from food, for example, with excessive neuropsychic and physical stress, during pregnancy and lactation (and also, for example, during the period of active growth in children). In the body of a pregnant woman, the need for magnesium increases by 2-3 times. One of the main reasons for this is that during development, the fetus receives magnesium from the mother's body.
Enhance the excretion of magnesium by the kidneys alcohol, caffeine, excess potassium, some diuretics. Increases the need for magnesium high content in the diet of proteins, sugar, animal fats, butter, uncontrolled intake of certain hormonal drugs.
The consequences of magnesium deficiency are different and affect both the health of the mother and the health of the child. In a pregnant woman, this condition manifests itself:
- increased neuropsychic excitability (irritability, susceptibility to stress, anxiety, memory impairment, insomnia, asthenia);
- unsteadiness when walking;
- the appearance of a feeling of numbness in the arms and legs, tingling, "crawling";
- decrease in body temperature;
- disorders of the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia, increase or, conversely, drop in blood pressure);
- increased muscle excitability (back pain, convulsions, increased uterine tone, sometimes up to miscarriage).
Magnesium is found in almost all foods. Especially rich in whole seeds, nuts, sunflower seeds, all legumes, green vegetables, carrots, green onions, spinach. One would expect a high content of magnesium in bread, but "thanks" to new technologies - refining - bread loses this mineral.
It is often not possible to replenish magnesium only through food products, and in this situation, its additional administration is required in the form of tablets of the MAGNESIUM-B6 type or as part of multivitamin mineral complexes. If you are taking magnesium tablets, it is best to drink them at bedtime with plenty of water (about a glass) a few hours after eating. Loose stools are a sign that you overdo it with magnesium.
An adult needs to receive about 360-380 mg of magnesium every day; pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as adolescents - up to 400-450 mg.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Violations of its daily intake in itself does not cause convulsions, but this vitamin promotes the absorption of magnesium by cells, improves its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, serves as a conductor for it inside the cell, increases the permeability of the cell membrane and fixes magnesium ions inside the cell, preventing its rapid excretion from the body.
Vitamin B6 deficiency manifests itself in:
- increased hair loss;
- anemia
- loss of appetite;
- nausea;
- at the corners of the mouth;
- sores in the mouth;
- depression
- nervousness, irritability;
- feeling of numbness in the arms and legs, tingling, and (or) "goosebumps";
- increased fatigue, muscle weakness, drowsiness.
Dietary sources of B6 are: poultry, beef, pork, veal, beef liver and kidneys, tuna, salmon, soybeans, bananas, brewer's yeast, walnuts, peanuts, avocados. But, alas, we have to reckon with the fact that when cooking meat, the loss of this vitamin will be from 50 to 70%, grinding wheat causes losses from 50 to 90%, and frozen vegetables and fruits are depleted by 15-70% of vitamin B6.
Alcohol intake and smoking also contribute to pyridoxine deficiency.
Other causes of seizures
Often recurring convulsions in expectant mothers can also occur with severe anemia - a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin.
Sometimes cramps in the calf muscles may appear against the background of developing varicose veins. At the same time, they are combined with increased fatigue and a feeling of heaviness in the legs, which increase rapidly during the day, especially if you have to stand for a long time. And in some patients, all these signs precede the appearance of visible varicose veins. With varicose veins, the outflow of venous blood from the legs worsens, which disrupts the nutrition of the muscles, including the calf muscles, causes an imbalance of microelements and leads to convulsions.
To relieve a slight cramp in the calf muscle, you can:
- with force, even through pain, slowly pull the toes of the clamped leg towards you;
- rub the stiff muscle, pinch it, scratch it, etc.;
- put a mustard plaster on the hardened muscle, substitute it under a hot (which the skin only tolerates) local shower.
In the third trimester, especially in multiple pregnancies, leg cramps may occur due to inferior vena cava syndrome, in which when a woman lies on her back or on her right side, an enlarged uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, which causes a violation of the venous outflow from the legs. And further mechanisms for the development of seizures resemble the processes that occur with varicose veins of the legs. To prevent manifestations of the inferior vena cava syndrome, a woman should sleep on her left side or place a small pillow under her right buttock in order to redistribute the weight of the enlarged uterus on the left half of the body and thereby reduce its pressure on the inferior vena cava, located to the right of the spine.
Pregnancy makes its own adjustments to the levels of vitamins, micro- and macroelements necessary for its development; she immediately punishes with various ailments for violating "the sphere of her interests." Therefore, you should not leave everything to chance, hiding behind sayings like "maybe it will blow over." No, it won't! Once arisen, metabolic disorders will haunt a woman throughout her pregnancy with the sword of Damocles. Moreover, they will not be slow to affect - alas, not in the best way - on the course of childbirth, and then - on the growth and development of the child. And this is true not only for the considered problem of night cramps and related elements, but also for all links of metabolism. So be careful what you eat first. Your diet should be full of micro and macro elements, vitamins and essential amino acids. The foods listed in the article, rich in certain substances, will help you choose the right diet for you. Do not neglect vitamin and mineral complex preparations: they are specially selected to meet the increased needs of a pregnant woman and contain a sufficient amount of all the necessary vitamins and minerals, including those discussed above. Your doctor will help you choose the right diet and vitamin therapy.
If convulsions still occur, you should also consult a doctor: he will determine their cause and select the necessary drugs.
Convulsions are an unpleasant phenomenon in and of themselves. During pregnancy, they often disturb a woman. But you should know that this is not the normal state of the pregnant body, but a bell that something is missing.
What are seizures?
Cramps are voluntary muscle contractions. In this case, a person feels a strong reducing pain in the lower leg and foot. In rare cases, other muscles of the legs, arms, and neck may also spasm. During a cramp, the sock is pulled out, as if a person, imitating a ballerina, wants to stand on his fingertips. In pregnant women, they occur mainly at night (during falling asleep) or in the morning (at the time of awakening). Usually, cramps are most pronounced in the middle of pregnancy, when the fetus is actively developing and its needs are growing.
Causes of seizures during pregnancy
The main cause of convulsions in pregnant women is recognized as a lack of microelements (primarily potassium, calcium and magnesium) and vitamins (in particular, vitamin B) in the body. 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, as we have already said, due to the increased needs of a growing child.
In addition, contribute to the development of seizures and the use of a large number of drinks containing caffeine, including strong tea.
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 blood circulation leads to the fact that muscle nutrition is difficult: nutrients do not get in the right amount, the metabolic product is not completely excreted. All this serves as a favorable background for the development of seizures.
"Syndrome of the inferior vena cava" 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.
Improper use of diuretics (to relieve swelling) can provoke the effect of washing out minerals, which also causes muscle cramps.
First aid for cramps during pregnancy
When convulsions occur, it is necessary to ask outsiders for help. In principle, it is quite possible to do everything yourself. To do this, it is recommended to pull the muscle in which the spasm has developed. Do not panic: breathe calmly and deeply. If a cramp occurs in the calf muscle, pull your toes towards you. Repeat several times until the pain subsides. It is necessary to make the muscles, thereby warming it up and restoring blood circulation. You can pinch the calf muscle or prick with a sharp object (without breaking the integrity of the skin, of course). When you feel better, lie down with your legs elevated. This will ensure the outflow of blood and help to avoid repeated convulsions.
Keep in mind that cramps due to a lack of substances are no joke. For example, a magnesium deficiency affects not only the appearance of convulsions, but also lower back pain, an increase, sometimes a miscarriage occurs against this background.
How to treat this condition in pregnant women?
First, not on your own. See your doctor as soon as possible. If necessary, you will be assigned additional laboratory tests and will be advised to consult specialists (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.
Second, you must keep in mind that:
To avoid cramps, pregnant women are not allowed to wear high-heeled shoes: a maximum of 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 is obliged to perform simple ones 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. To do this, dilute three tablespoons of salt in five liters of water.
Try to lead an active lifestyle: walk more often, do joint exercises for pregnant women, visit the pool.
Also, to prevent cramps in the calf muscles, it is recommended to wear woolen socks at night.
special diet
To prevent the occurrence of seizures or their recurrence, it is recommended to consume more than the body needs in this condition. As we have said, it is mainly potassium and magnesium.
Potassium is found in any product. The richest in them are: dried apricots and apricots, raisins, beets, melons, bananas, beans, potatoes, broccoli, beef liver,. Potassium can also be obtained from baked or boiled "in uniform" potatoes. The daily requirement of potassium for an adult is 4-5 grams.
Sources of calcium are dairy products, green leafy vegetables (broccoli, kale, turnip leaves, cauliflower, asparagus), egg yolks, all kinds of legumes, nuts, figs. Calcium supplements are best taken after a light meal.
A pregnant woman needs about 450 mg of magnesium daily. It is found in almost all foods. Particularly rich in magnesium are whole seeds, nuts, sunflower seeds, all legumes, green vegetables, carrots, green onions, and spinach.
You can quickly fill the glucose deficiency by using the so-called "simple carbohydrates". These are sugar, sweets, cakes.
Specially for- Ksenia Dakhno
convulsions are involuntary muscle contractions. Pregnant women most often have cramps in the calf muscles (calf muscles), less often other muscles of the legs, arms, and neck can spasm. With a cramp, a woman feels a strong sharp pain in the muscle, mainly occurring at night during sleep or in the morning at the time of awakening.
Information The most severe muscle spasms during pregnancy appear from the second trimester, when the fetus is actively growing and its nutrient requirements increase.
Causes of seizures during pregnancy
Main reasons the appearance of muscle spasms in pregnant women are:
- Decreased micronutrient levels in the mother's body (, potassium, magnesium) and vitamins(mainly vitamin B);
- Decreased glucose levels(sugar) in the blood. Glucose is the main energy source for the body; during pregnancy, it is intensively consumed for the needs of the mother and the growing fetus. A pronounced lack of glucose occurs with a rare and plentiful meal, so pregnant women are advised to eat often, but in small portions;
- Decreased hemoglobin level in blood;
- Varicose veins. During pregnancy, increased blood flow in the pelvis increases the load on the veins of the lower extremities. Due to the deterioration of blood circulation in the veins, muscle nutrition is disturbed, which is a favorable background for the development of seizures;
- inferior vena cava syndrome(observed only in the third trimester). When a woman is in a supine position for a long time, the large uterus compresses the inferior vena cava. In this regard, there is a violation of venous circulation and, consequently, a violation of the nutrition of the calf muscles;
- . When smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day, chronic oxygen deficiency develops, which has a negative effect on the condition of the muscles;
- Eating more and other caffeinated drinks (causes muscle tension and cramps).
First aid for seizures
When a seizure occurs, it is necessary:
- Try not to panic breathe deeply and calmly;
- Pull your toes towards you several times (repeat until muscle pain decreases);
- Carefully massage a muscle from the periphery to the center, so as not to provoke a new attack;
- Lie down with your legs up to improve blood circulation in the calf muscle.
Treating seizures in pregnancy
If seizures occur, you must immediately inform the obstetrician-gynecologist leading the pregnancy. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional diagnostic measures (biochemical blood test, blood glucose test, general blood test, etc.) and consultations of narrow specialists (therapist, surgeon).
Treatment for seizures depends on the underlying cause. Yes, at lack of trace elements and vitamins in the body, therapy will consist in normalizing nutrition and taking a complex of multivitamins to normalize their deficiency:
- Normalization of potassium levels in the body. The most rich in potassium, bananas, potatoes, broccoli, beef liver. With insufficient intake of potassium from food, drug treatment is prescribed: Asparkam,;
- Replenishment of calcium deficiency. This trace element is found in greater quantities in dairy products, green vegetables (cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli), beans, eggs, nuts. Of the drugs most often used during pregnancy;
- Increasing the amount of magnesium in the body. Magnesium is found in many foods (seeds, nuts, legumes, greens, carrots, buckwheat porridge). Medical treatment includes taking.
For supporting adequate levels of glucose in the body pregnant women are prescribed fractional meals. The basis of the daily diet should be complex carbohydrates (black bread, cereals, pasta, fruits and vegetables). You should avoid taking simple carbohydrates (candy, cake), because. With a large intake of sugar from the outside, the level of glucose in the blood falls, which leads to severe convulsions.
With severe anemia treatment consists of taking iron supplements (for example,), which normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood. light stroking from the feet to the thigh;
Sometimes in women during the period of bearing a child, painful and uncontrollable contractions of the muscles of the legs may begin. These muscle spasms are called cramps. In pregnant women, this phenomenon is quite common. They appear suddenly in the second or third trimester, and usually disturb a woman at night while sleeping.
Consider why leg cramps occur during pregnancy and what to do about it.
Reasons for the appearance
Micronutrient deficiency
The main reason is the lack of trace elements (calcium, potassium, magnesium) in the body. Leg cramps during pregnancy in the first trimester occur due to toxicosis, accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, and in II, III they are more often caused by increased micronutrient needs of the developing fetus.
Decreased blood sugar levels
Often, leg cramps in pregnant women appear due to a decrease in blood glucose (sugar) levels. This is the main energy source that is actively spent on the needs of the woman's body and the growing fetus. Often the decrease is due to improper diet.
Drinking caffeinated drinks, strong tea in large quantities and smoking
All this contributes to the development of seizures. Caffeine causes dehydration in the muscles, which leads to their involuntary contractions. And smoking a pregnant woman contributes to chronic oxygen deficiency, which adversely affects the condition of the muscles, provoking spasms.
Growing uterus
In the later stages, leg cramps in the expectant mother may occur due to an enlarged uterus. When a woman is in a prone position, she begins to compress the inferior vena cava, which leads to a violation of the outflow of venous blood from the extremities.
Phlebeurysm
The appearance of muscle spasms during pregnancy can be a symptom of varicose veins. At the same time, increased fatigue and a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities are added to them.
Taking diuretics
Cramps in the lower extremities can also develop due to the intake of diuretic drugs prescribed by a gynecologist for edema. Along with excess fluid, microelements are also excreted from the body.
First aid
When a spasm occurs, it is recommended to try to relax and gently pull the muscle in which it arose. You need to pull your toes towards you, loosen, and then pull again, but with more effort. These movements should be repeated until the muscle relaxes. Then you need to massage it with gentle movements. To activate blood circulation, you can walk around the room. Then it is recommended to lie down for some time with raised legs in order to create conditions for the outflow of blood and thereby prevent re-convulsions.
How to eliminate
When convulsions appear, it is necessary to inform the gynecologist about this. The doctor will prescribe laboratory tests (general blood test, biochemical, glucose) and, if necessary, refer you for a consultation with a general practitioner, neuropathologist, endocrinologist. The main treatment for seizures during pregnancy is to eliminate the cause that causes them.
During pregnancy, a woman should monitor her diet, which should include all the necessary minerals.
- foods rich in potassium (dried apricots, beans, seaweed, peas, prunes, raisins, nuts, lentils, potatoes);
- rich in calcium (milk, hard cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheese, canned fish, greens, nuts, eggs, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower and cauliflower).
- foods rich in magnesium (cocoa, legumes, eggs, dried apricots, oatmeal, buckwheat, dill, prunes, carrots, beets, berries, fruits).
However, micronutrient deficiencies cannot be solved with nutrition alone, since most of them are destroyed during cooking. Therefore, the doctor will prescribe the intake of vitamin and mineral kits for pregnant women.
To maintain glucose levels, a woman is prescribed frequent fractional meals. The basis of the daily diet should be complex carbohydrates - pasta, black bread, cereals, vegetables, fruits. These carbohydrates break down slowly, providing a constant supply of a moderate amount of sugar to the blood. It is important to exclude simple carbohydrates (confectionery, chocolate, jam, jam, honey), because when large amounts of sugar are taken from the outside, the glucose level may drop, which will cause leg cramps.
Prevention
Seizures in pregnant women can be prevented by following the following:
- Eat foods rich in micronutrients. Eat often, but in small quantities. Reduce or completely eliminate the use of sweets, cakes, cookies, chocolate, jam, honey, fast food.
- Do not wear uncomfortable tight shoes. The heel should be no more than 5 cm.
- You can not sit or stand in one place for a long time. Need to move more. If you had to stand for a long time, you should periodically perform exercises: rise on your toes and lower yourself back to the floor, and so on several times. You can alternately roll from toe to heel and vice versa.
- Rest with legs elevated. So the blood will circulate freely from the lower extremities to the upper part of the body.
- Do a foot massage more often - stroking from the hip to the feet.
- With varicose veins, special compression stockings must be worn.
- It is regularly recommended to do foot baths with sea salt before going to bed - dilute 2-3 tablespoons of salt in 5 liters of water. They help to relieve fatigue and tension in the muscles.
A balanced diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking multivitamin complexes, moderate physical activity during pregnancy will help reduce or completely eliminate unpleasant and painful contractions in the muscles of the legs.
Views: 32377 .Involuntary sharp, strong, painful muscle contraction is called a cramp. It is impossible to remove it by willpower, subsequently the muscle hurts for up to 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 suffer more often, usually at night.
Failure 
Causes of Glycerin Help
Reduces soreness pregnant at the doctor
discomfort during pregnancy
Causes of cramps in pregnant women
There is a group of diseases for which convulsions are one of the symptoms, appearing during pregnancy. They are associated with metabolic disorders. Fortunately, they are relatively rare. Often the reasons are more prosaic.
- Micronutrient deficiencies.
- Decreased hemoglobin.
- Change in blood glucose.
- Dehydration.
- Phlebeurysm.
- Squeezing of the inferior vena cava.
Muscle tissues are forced to contract sharply when the ionic balance of the cell and the pericellular fluid is disturbed. The leading role belongs to specific substances. Not only during pregnancy, their lack leads to convulsions.
The main reason is the lack of certain trace elements in the blood.
The lack of these microelements in the blood is the main cause of nocturnal convulsive muscle contractions. Here is a list of them by their prevalence:
- magnesium - its deficiency is manifested by muscle pain, changes in blood pressure, irritability, insomnia, numbness, and a decrease in body temperature; a particular danger lies in the possible increase in the tone of the uterus;
- potassium - a decrease in its amount affects a depressive state, increased fatigue, convulsions during pregnancy at night, dehydration, constipation;
- calcium - if it is not enough, teeth and gums are destroyed, pressure rises, nervous disorders appear, nails become brittle, eczema may develop.
Various conditions can cause a change in the content of trace elements:
- severe toxicosis - not only does the body lose useful substances during vomiting, the lack of appetite leads to the impossibility of replenishing them, which is why during pregnancy it often cramps the leg;
- unauthorized use of diuretics - together with the liquid they remove the necessary trace elements;
- malnutrition - everything is important, from the wrong combination of products to the mode of eating.
The lack of nutrients is especially strong during pregnancy against the background of an increased need for them, which causes leg cramps.
These same reasons lead to a decrease in hemoglobin and blood glucose. The level of sugar directly depends on the diet, provided that 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 the lack of drinking that leads to dehydration. Water is actively excreted from the body under the influence of caffeine and nicotine.
The causes of leg cramps during pregnancy associated with exercise are usually easy to determine by the nature of the woman's work. It can affect both the need to stand or walk all the time, and prolonged work in a sitting position.
Appearances due to overwork
The last reason - compression of the vena cava - is associated with an enlarged uterus. This vein is located under it, a certain position of the body leads to a violation of the outflow of blood.
There is a certain dependence of the frequency of the causes of seizures during pregnancy on its term. The lack of substances manifests itself in the middle, since it is then that the fetus is actively growing. In the first months, it is more often associated with toxicosis and malnutrition.
Increased load, varicose veins, compression of the vena cava are more common in the last months. This is due to the increased body weight of a woman.
Methods of helping a woman
Be sure to inform your doctor about the occurrence of 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. By the nature of the accompanying symptoms, blood tests, 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 have seizures 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 prevent it altogether.
A lot of people are helped by pickle, for example, from a jar of cucumbers. Just one or two sips quickly cause muscle relaxation.
If leg cramps appear during pregnancy at night, you can keep a bar of soap in bed. Doctors cannot yet explain the action of a remedy tested by many people. But glycerin, which is one of the ingredients in the soap, has been found to help. Therefore, you can buy a bottle and lubricate your feet at night with a few drops.
Glycerin to the rescue
Grabbing pain is removed by simple and completely safe actions:
- stand on the cold floor with the whole foot;
- rest with a straight leg against the wall, so that the leg is perpendicular to the body;
- pull the big toe towards you, you need to do this even through pain, you can act with your hand, belt, towel, sheet;
- a risky, but helpful remedy for many - to prick the muscle with a needle;
- massage, rub, scratch the muscle;
- attach a hot heating pad, a bottle of water, pour from the shower.
By themselves, cramps in the calves of the legs are not particularly dangerous during pregnancy. But there are additional signs that indicate the possibility of a dangerous condition, requiring immediate medical attention.
- The condition does not improve, it constantly repeats.
- There is a feeling of numbness (in any part of the body).
- There are edema, swelling.
In addition to the main reason, it is precisely the cramps during pregnancy that can be eliminated by massage, exercises, various ointments and gels are used with the permission of the doctor.
| Name | Action | Average cost in Russia |
| Troxerutin (Troxevasin) | Increases the strength of cell walls, reducing their permeability. So it is possible not only to remove swelling, but to reduce the likelihood of seizures. | 200 r. |
| Venitan | Reduces soreness, helping during pregnancy to quickly eliminate the effects of too strong cramps in the calf muscles. | 250 r. |
| Heparin ointment | It is used only for medical purposes for the treatment of varicose veins. | 80 r. |
| Fastum-gel | It is used with the permission of a doctor. Increases blood flow to the muscles, warming them. | 220 r. |
For quick help, use Venitan
Massage and exercise help improve blood circulation in the muscles. This brings tangible benefits in this condition. If leg cramps appear at night during pregnancy, it is better to do massage or gymnastics before bedtime.
Massage movements are very simple - you need to rub, knead the muscle. They move towards its center. Too much effort is not worth making, so as not to harm. A sufficient effect is a feeling of warmth, which indicates an increase in blood flow.
Gymnastics from cramps in the calves during pregnancy can be of the following plan:
- stand on your toes a dozen times, it is best to do several approaches throughout the day;
- lunges forward, alternately with each leg - this is an exercise for stretching the muscles;
- stand facing the wall, lean with your palms, step back with your feet, making sure that the body does not move.
Measures for the prevention of pathology
Knowing why it cramps legs, it is quite possible to avoid their appearance during pregnancy. The doctor may prescribe special preparations with magnesium, potassium and calcium. You also need to follow some simple rules.
- Wear comfortable shoes, heels no higher than 5 cm.
- Sleep under a spacious blanket.
- With increased load on the legs, perform gymnastics.
- If you have varicose veins, wear compression stockings or tights, and rest with your legs elevated.
- When cramps in the calf muscles are associated with compression of the inferior vena cava, it is better to sleep on the left side during pregnancy.
- Avoid smoking, caffeinated drinks, black tea. You can replace it with herbal infusions, compotes, juices.
- An evening warm foot bath with sea salt helps.
Keeping track of nutrition, physical activity, a sufficient number of walks is the responsibility of every expectant mother. There are cases when, after the introduction of all the necessary products into the diet and the transition during pregnancy to frequent meals in small quantities, the calves of the legs ceased to cramp at night. This is especially manifested by the fact that the human body is almost completely dependent on what it eats.
: Borovikova Olga
gynecologist, ultrasound doctor, geneticist
