I will never forget the excruciating leg cramps that I experienced on my first pregnancy. To make matters worse, I was on my last 'baby free' holiday (it turns out that walking around New York for hours was a BIG mistake) and had no clue what was happening. I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking I had been shot in the leg. The pain took my breath away.
After my first bout of leg cramps, I read up on the muscle contractions and was more prepared to deal with the blighters on subsequent pregnancies. So, here's the lowdown on all things pregnancy cramp-related and what you can do to alleviate the symptoms:
1. Many mamas-to-be wake up at night to searing leg pain because a muscle has contracted. Cramps are involuntary contractions of one (or more) muscles that usually affect the calf area.
2. Women who have cramps before pregnancy are more likely to experience them during pregnancy. They are usually associated with tiredness, muscle fatigue, temperature changes or sleeping in an awkward position (hello baby bump). Poor posture can also lead to a cramping.
3. Cramps occur mainly during the night, when the body is in a state of relaxation, and are more common from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards. As the uterus expands it can put pressure on nerve endings, making cramps more frequent.
4. The best way to get through the pain and relax the leg muscles is to stretch the leg by bringing your toes towards you - this moves the muscles in the opposite direction and slowly releases the muscle contraction.
5. In the final stretch of pregnancy you may have to ask for help to bring your foot towards or risk flailing around like an upturned turtle. If you do find yourself alone in the middle of a cramp, place your heel on the floor and toes on the wall and gently push forward to stretch the muscle.
6. Cramps during pregnancy can be due to a deficiency of vitamin B6. If episodes are very frequent, ask your doctor about vitamin supplements that might help. Bananas are a natural source of magnesium and potassium that can also reduce frequent cramps.
7. During the day, try to maintain a good posture and stay hydrated. If you're on your feet a lot avoid wearing any variety of heel. Gently massage your legs in the evening - or even better, get your partner to do it. Running cold water over your legs will also help alleviate cramps.Explore more on these topics:
