Bearing a child is accompanied by numerous changes in the female body. And most of them are not very pleasant. Therefore, the expectant mother should be armed with a maximum of useful information about the upcoming changes and be ready for them. One of them is involuntary contractions of the leg muscles, which are accompanied by pain.

The reason for muscle cramps during pregnancy is that mineral metabolism disorders occur in the body, for example, there is a deficiency of substances such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. Congestive processes in the vessels of the legs can provoke convulsions. Congestion during pregnancy is a common occurrence. During this period, the needs of the female body for minerals also increase, because they are now needed for two.

The parathyroid gland influences the exchange of calcium and the maintenance of its normal level in an ordinary person. During childbearing, its function decreases. Therefore, the level of calcium in the blood decreases. Accordingly, failures occur in the metabolism of magnesium and potassium, because these three substances are closely interconnected.

Recall that every woman has her own taste preferences. If she does not like and does not eat fermented milk products containing a lot of calcium, then the risk of night cramps during pregnancy increases.

Another reason for such an unpleasant phenomenon is the pressure of the uterus on the inferior vena cava, which is located to the right of the spine. This disrupts the outflow of venous blood from the extremities. More often, this phenomenon occurs at night, in a prone position, in the third trimester of bearing a baby, when the uterus has already reached a significant size.

Cramps of the calf muscles during this period are also catalyzed by varicose veins. On the other hand, just a muscle spasm may be evidence of the onset of the development of varicose veins. In this case, in addition to convulsions, a woman will constantly feel heaviness in her legs, fatigue.

When expectant mothers have swollen legs in late pregnancy, they are often prescribed diuretics. They are also able to aggravate leg muscle spasms, because mineral substances are also excreted with excess fluid.

As you can see, there can be many reasons for convulsions in pregnant women. The negative phenomenon should be reported to the obstetrician-gynecologist. He will find out the cause of the problem and select the optimal treatment.

How can you help yourself with cramps?

You can remove them quite quickly if you try, overcoming pain, pull your toes towards you. You can pinch a muscle; prick it in several places with a pin, hairpin; intensively rub the area under the knee with your hand. Heat also helps to relieve spasms. It can be a compress with warm water and just pouring hot water on your feet in the shower.

Prevention of seizures during pregnancy

Usually, when a sleeping expectant mother has such a condition for the first time at night, she is very frightened. In fact, it is stressful for her and for the baby. And during such an important period, stress is dangerous. Therefore, it is worthwhile to deal with the prevention of the occurrence of such conditions. Try not to be passive, move more, do gymnastics systematically, go to the pool, swim. Take a contrast shower on the shins, massage your legs in the evening before going to bed, attracting your husband to this.

An important condition for the prevention of seizures is a daily balanced diet with the inclusion of bananas, dried apricots, potatoes, legumes in the menu. Dairy products are rich sources of calcium. Spinach, carrots, greens contain a lot of magnesium. However, doctors emphasize that a woman's need for minerals in the last trimester increases so much that food does not solve the problem of their deficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to take vitamin and mineral preparations for lactating and pregnant women.

It is also important to sleep on the left side or put a small pillow under the right buttock, redistributing the weight of the uterus on the left side of the body. So in the last stages of bearing the baby, the pressure on the inferior vena cava decreases.

If a pregnant woman has varicose veins, then compression underwear can also become a means of preventing seizures.

Many women throughout pregnancy may experience such an unpleasant phenomenon as leg cramps. This happens most often at night. At the same time, the expectant mother experiences severe pain, and the muscles become stone. At such moments, the legs do not obey at all, it is impossible to move them. Of course, seizures can occur in anyone. However, during pregnancy, the risk of experiencing such a phenomenon is much higher.

If it reduces the calves during pregnancy very often, then the usual massage in such a situation cannot be dispensed with. These spasms occur only in certain situations. This allows the expectant mother to adjust her lifestyle accordingly. If convulsions haunt a woman throughout pregnancy, then you should consult a doctor for help.

Varicose veins

Very often reduces calves during pregnancy precisely because of the development of varicose veins. This disease develops as a result of a violation of the outflow of blood in the lower extremities. During pregnancy, the uterus begins to increase in size and compress one of the main veins. The result is leg spasm. If a woman previously suffered from varicose veins, then during pregnancy her situation only gets worse.

So that varicose veins do not cause cramps, the expectant mother can wear special clothes, in this case pantyhose. Also, with this ailment, you can use special lotions that will be safe for the fetus.

It is not recommended to try to cure varicose veins on your own, as this can lead to disastrous consequences. Before taking any remedy, you should consult with specialists. Treatment of cramps of the calf muscles with varicose veins should be carried out by a highly qualified doctor.

Lack of calcium, magnesium and potassium

Very often reduces calves during pregnancy due to a lack of certain trace elements. In most cases, cramps occur due to a lack of potassium, magnesium and calcium. To correct this situation, the expectant mother must adjust her diet. Proper and balanced nutrition, as well as taking vitamin complexes, can eliminate cramps during pregnancy.

In the diet of a woman should be present foods containing calcium. These include fermented milk products, sesame seeds, onions, green salad, all varieties of cheese, and more. If convulsions during pregnancy occur due to magnesium deficiency, then nuts, buckwheat, various greens and carrots should be present in the diet of the expectant mother. If the reason is a lack of potassium, then it is worth eating more bananas, dried apricots, potatoes and legumes.

At the same time, it is worth remembering that changes in the diet do not always save women from cramps in the legs. Often, experts prescribe vitamin-mineral complexes to expectant mothers. The intake of such drugs should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor so that a pregnant woman does not harm her child.

Fixing bugs

In addition to correcting the diet, a woman must follow certain rules so that she is not disturbed by cramps during pregnancy at night. For example, you should stop drinking coffee and tea, as these drinks can stimulate muscles. Because of this, they are in suspense, even if the expectant mother is resting.

Avoid wearing tight clothing. Things should be comfortable and not cause discomfort and muscle spasms. High heels should be avoided during pregnancy. If there are signs of the development of varicose veins, then you can choose special stockings or pantyhose only after consulting with specialists.

Treatments for spasms

In fact, the treatment of calf muscle cramps includes not only taking vitamin complexes, but also various procedures that can eliminate spasms. If a woman spends most of the day on her feet, then special baths should be taken before going to bed. To do this, sea salt is taken and added to water at room temperature. Such baths help relieve muscle tension and fatigue.

If it often reduces calves during pregnancy, then you can resort to a procedure such as massage. After all, when it is performed, blood circulation is normalized. The massage is usually done with stroking light movements towards the hips from the feet.

How to get rid of spasm

If the calf cramps woke up the expectant mother, then you can relieve the pain by pulling your leg towards you by the sock. You can also lightly pinch the muscles. Heat often helps if you apply it to the back of the lower leg. For these purposes, you can use mustard plasters or warm water. Shower is ideal. It is both a massage and warmth.

If calf cramps occur during pregnancy, then, first of all, you need to pull the muscle where the spasm began. At the same time, the expectant mother should relax. Many people recommend doing massage for spasm. However, here it is worth being careful, since if the procedure is carried out incorrectly, a new cramp may occur. To normalize blood circulation in the legs, you should walk for a while. If you want to avoid repeated spasms and ensure a normal outflow of blood, lie down and elevate your legs by placing a roller or pillow under them.

Many get rid of calf cramps by pricking the contracted muscles with a pin or needle.

How to avoid muscle spasms

So that calf cramps do not bother the expectant mother, you can perform simple exercises that allow you to normalize blood circulation in the muscles. To do this, you can alternately roll the foot from toe to heel, and then back. You can also rise on your toes, and then lower yourself onto your feet.

For the same purposes, many experts recommend doing foot massage using special rubber mats and balls. Such devices allow you to activate reflexogenic points, improving blood circulation. It is necessary to carry out such a massage for 10 minutes three times a day.

Conclusion

The above procedures help to get rid of spasms that occur due to a lack of vitamins or due to the unhealthy lifestyle of the expectant mother. If leg cramps are caused by one of the diseases, then for their treatment it is worth contacting specialists, since independent attempts to eliminate discomfort can lead to undesirable results.

A woman's body undergoes many changes during pregnancy, some of which cause discomfort. One of these unpleasant phenomena are cramps of the calf muscles. Most often, convulsions occur at night or in the morning shortly before waking up and are accompanied by unbearable pain. If during pregnancy it reduces the calves of the legs at night, you need to figure out why this is happening and direct your efforts to eliminate the causes of this phenomenon.

Signs of cramps in the muscles of the legs

The muscles of the legs in women experience a lot of stress, which leads to the fact that during pregnancy it reduces the calves. The characteristic features accompanying this process are:

• pain in the calf muscle;
• its reduction;
• numbness, hardening of the muscle, it becomes "stone";
• spontaneous stretching of the foot.

Leg muscle cramp lasts from a few seconds to several minutes, and after it the pain in the muscle is felt for some time, up to several days.

As a rule, an ankle cramp in a pregnant woman begins at night during sleep. This is due to the fact that in the supine position, the pressure of the uterus on the vessels of the small pelvis occurs, while there is a violation of the process of blood circulation in the legs.

Causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

The reasons why the calves of the legs cramp are as follows:

• Large load on the legs due to weight gain during pregnancy. Leads to a lot of muscle tension.
• Deficiency of potassium, magnesium and calcium involved in the conduction of nerve impulses to the muscles. It is often observed in pregnant women, since a large amount of nutrients is spent on the growth and development of the fetus.
• Decreased hemoglobin level. The consequence is an insufficient supply of useful substances to the body, while muscle cramps in the legs are also possible.
• Drop in blood glucose levels.

Leg muscle cramps can occur with varicose veins as a concomitant symptom.

• Wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes and clothes - tight jeans, trousers with tight elastic bands, shoes and boots with high heels.
• Wrong posture for sleeping. The vena cava is compressed by the growing uterus, resulting in a violation of the outflow of blood from the legs.

Important! From the second trimester of pregnancy, you should try to sleep on your left side. This position is most convenient for mother and baby and does not interfere with blood circulation and the functioning of internal organs.

• Taking diuretics. In this case, beneficial substances are washed out of the body and mineral metabolism is disturbed, which contributes to the occurrence of cramps in the legs.
• Wrong nutrition. Pregnant women should limit themselves to caffeinated drinks and soda, which contribute to dehydration and, as a result, cramps in the calves.
• Toxicosis. In the early stages, with severe toxicosis with vomiting, a large amount of fluid and nutrients are lost, which are very difficult to replenish due to reduced appetite.

What to do with muscle cramps for pregnant women

If you are concerned about seizures, you need to tell your gynecologist about it. You may need to take several unscheduled tests to more accurately determine the cause of muscle cramps.

But a woman should know what to do if an unpleasant manifestation befell her suddenly at night.

• If the leg is brought together in a supine position, the muscle should be stretched. To do this, lean towards your leg and gently pull the sock towards you.
• Massage the calf muscles or ask loved ones about it. When massaging and rubbing, blood circulation improves, and cramps and pain disappear.
• Prick the muscle with a needle, pinch it, then walk around the room.
• You can relieve spasm with a warm compress, which will increase blood flow to the reduced muscle. You can also create an influx of heat with a warm shower, heating pad, mustard plaster.

Effective folk methods:

• Applying a cold cabbage leaf. It will help draw out excess fluid and restore metabolic processes.
• Rubbing calves with soap containing glycerin.

If cramps in the calf muscles do not go away for a long time, are accompanied by numbness and the development of swelling, you need to call an ambulance. These signs indicate the development of complications.

Seizure medications

During pregnancy, the use of many drugs is prohibited. In the case of convulsive muscle contractions, the doctor prescribes topical ointments and gels that are not contraindicated for women in position - Troxevsin, Venitan, Fastum-gel. The drugs are aimed at relieving pain, swelling, have a warming effect.

Preventive measures to prevent muscle cramps

In order to prevent leg cramps, you need to understand why they occur. For the prevention of seizures, the following recommendations should be observed:

• Take a prenatal vitamin complex containing potassium, calcium and magnesium.
• Provide a balanced healthy diet, eliminate junk food from the diet.
• Take air and sun baths, so the body will be saturated with vitamin D.
• Pay more attention to rest, do not overload the body, do not give a big load to the legs.
• Take a couple of free minutes to care for your legs: create warm baths for them, rub your ankles, massage your feet.
• Choose clothes and shoes that do not pinch the limbs and put pressure on them.
• In the evening, while resting, raise your legs above the level of the body, you can throw it on the wall, while the blood flow will improve.
• Choose a comfortable position for sleeping, in which there is no pressure on the vena cava and pressure on the internal organs.
• Prevent hypothermia of the extremities, insulate your legs.
• Do gymnastic exercises.

Gymnastics against leg cramps for pregnant women

Simple gymnastic exercises that help against cramps in the legs of pregnant women:

1. Stand on your toes 10 times, repeat the exercise several times during the day.
2. Do lunges forward alternately with each leg. This exercise will help stretch your muscles.
3. Stand facing the wall, rest your hands on it, step back in small steps so that the torso remains motionless.

To prevent convulsive manifestations and pain in the muscles of the legs, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle, eat right, take vitamins that restore metabolism, and listen to your doctor. Attitude to one's health should be as responsible as possible, regardless of the gestational age. Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Pregnancy is different for every woman. But the condition when it brings legs together during pregnancy is known to almost all expectant mothers. Muscle spasms or cramps deliver not just discomfort, but severe pain that cannot be controlled and eliminated until the muscle relaxes on its own.

It is not always possible to name the exact cause of this phenomenon. If the frequency of occurrence of cramps in the muscles of the legs increases, it is necessary to tell the doctor about it. The specialist will not only try to clarify the cause of the condition, but also help correct it so that convulsive leg spasms no longer haunt the expectant mother.

Why is this happening?

As a rule, seizures are not an independent disease. It is known that expectant mothers have this problem more often than other people. Legs during pregnancy can be reduced due to circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, excessive muscle stress, or a certain disease.

Causes of cramps in the first trimester

With the onset of pregnancy, many expectant mothers are faced with such a phenomenon as early toxicosis. This condition is most often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Against this background, the woman's body loses a large amount of essential vitamins and minerals. Their deficiency usually leads to a situation when it reduces the muscles of the legs during pregnancy.

In this case, convulsions can disturb the expectant mother throughout the first trimester. To avoid this, it is necessary to consult with a gynecologist leading the pregnancy. The specialist will try to find drugs that will help make up for the loss of the necessary trace elements.

Causes of seizures in the second trimester

Starting from the second trimester, a woman's body begins to spend a huge amount of minerals and trace elements on the development of the fetus. Sometimes this is due not only to the intensive growth of the unborn baby, but also to the uncontrolled intake of diuretics or an unhealthy diet.

To eliminate the cause of this condition, it is necessary to adjust the diet, consult a doctor about taking any drugs of medicinal or herbal origin that have a diuretic effect and, if necessary, refuse them. Also, a specialist can choose a vitamin and mineral complex to meet the increased needs of the expectant mother and baby in trace elements.

Causes of cramps in the third trimester

In the last trimester, the fetus has already grown noticeably, so it is increasingly difficult for a woman to cope with the stresses associated with daily activities. The problem can be exacerbated by weight gain.

There are usually two reasons why it brings legs together during pregnancy in the third trimester (and they can be combined with each other):

• Varicose veins;
• compression of the vena cava by the enlarged uterus.

Often, the condition when the calves of the legs are reduced appears against the background of varicose veins. At the same time, convulsions are combined with increased fatigue of the lower extremities, a feeling of heaviness in them, especially after physical exertion.

With varicose veins, there is a violation of the outflow of venous blood, which leads to a deterioration in the trophism of the muscles of the legs. This causes an imbalance of microelements in the tissues with the subsequent development of seizures.

Muscles can be reduced due to inferior vena cava syndrome, especially if a woman has a multiple pregnancy or a large fetus. In this case, the enlarged uterus puts excessive pressure on the inferior vena cava when the pregnant woman lies on her back or right side.

As in the case of varicose veins, this leads to a violation of the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities. The mechanism of seizures will be exactly the same.

Which doctor should I contact?

The situation when it brings legs together in pregnant women, in most cases, is by no means a harmless and not an accidental symptom. Therefore, it is important to discuss the problem with your doctor. In order to correctly determine the cause of the pathological condition and select the necessary treatment, a woman may be recommended to take tests, consult an endocrinologist, therapist and phlebologist.

If the cause of seizures is a violation of the outflow of venous blood against the background of varicose veins, the expectant mother is sent to a phlebologist. In this case, the specialist may prescribe venotonics to the pregnant woman - drugs that tone the walls of blood vessels and prevent congestion in the veins.

These drugs are available in the form of gels, ointments and tablets. Also, the doctor may prescribe the patient to wear compression stockings. Read more about the methods of treatment and prevention of varicose veins→

If there is a suspicion of diabetes mellitus, the expectant mother needs to take a blood test for sugar. Elevated blood glucose may indicate a metabolic disorder, which negatively affects the work of the whole organism, including muscle trophism. The sugar content in a pregnant woman is corrected by an endocrinologist after an additional examination of the patient.

If there are no serious reasons explaining why the expectant mother's calves during pregnancy are not found, the therapist prescribes the woman vitamin complexes designed specifically for pregnant women, for example, Vitrum Prenatal, Complivit Mom and others.

Their goal is to compensate for the lack of trace elements, in particular, magnesium and calcium. Multivitamin complexes can be taken throughout pregnancy, until the birth of the baby.

What to do with leg cramps?

If the expectant mother has a leg cramp, she should not be nervous. It is necessary to perform actions due to which painful muscle spasms will stop. What to do?

To eliminate discomfort:

1. It is necessary to slowly pull the toes of the foot of the leg that cramped towards you. Then relax the leg for a short time and repeat the stretching again. As a result of these simple actions, the cramp should pass.
2. After the spasm has passed, warm up the muscles with a leg massage, hot water, or a heating pad.
3. Walk to restore blood circulation in the leg.

Folk remedies

Folk methods used for cramps in the lower extremities are aimed at filling the lack of trace elements and improving nerve conduction. Traditional medicine recipes can be combined with medicines prescribed by a doctor.

Liquorice root

An infusion of this plant improves the nutrition of the muscles of the lower extremities and tones the nerve fibers, normalizing their conductivity, against which the frequency of seizures is reduced. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour 100 grams of licorice into 500 ml of boiling water, leave to cool completely. Take orally 1 teaspoon of infusion 3 times a day.

Eggshell

It is the richest source of calcium - an essential trace element for bone and muscle tissue. To prepare the medicine, you need to wash the shell of a raw egg (not boiled!), Crush it in a mortar to a powder state and add 5 drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the resulting slurry. Take the finished product 1 time per day.

Hawthorn

This plant normalizes the work of muscle cells and restores the structure of nerve fibers. To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need 3 tbsp. spoons of grass and hawthorn fruits and 500 ml of water. Bring the broth to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, cover the dishes with a lid and leave for at least 3 hours.

The finished product is taken in a heated form 5 times a day, 2 tbsp. spoons. The duration of treatment is 3 weeks.

Valerian and nettle

The combination of these plants helps to reduce the excitability of nerve fibers and improve the conduction of nerve impulses in the muscles. To prepare a remedy, you need 2 tbsp. spoons of nettle leaves and the same amount of valerian root pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for at least 10 minutes. It is recommended to drink infusion one glass in the morning and evening.

Prevention

To prevent such an unpleasant situation as leg cramps during pregnancy, it is necessary to pay attention to prevention. Firstly, it should be aimed at preventing beriberi and lack of trace elements in the body.

A balanced diet with sufficient consumption of various vegetables and fruits will help the expectant mother in this. Also, one should not forget about the regular intake of multivitamin complexes recommended by the doctor.

Secondly, it is better to exclude foods rich in caffeine from the diet. The main ones are tea and coffee. It is they who most strongly stimulate muscle tone, as a result, the muscles of the legs are in constant tension.

Thirdly, if the legs get tired in the evenings, salt baths for the legs and massage will help relieve muscle tension. Before going to bed, you can put your feet on a roller above body level to improve the outflow of venous blood. But sleeping on your back in this position is not recommended, it is better for a future mother to fall asleep on her left side. Read more about how to sleep during pregnancy →

With the onset of varicose veins, it is necessary to wear special underwear - stockings or tights, which have a tonic effect on the veins. You can also use special preparations for varicose veins. But in order not to harm the baby, it is permissible to use them only with the permission of a specialist.

It is strictly forbidden to take medications for cramps of the lower extremities during pregnancy on your own. Only a doctor can determine which drugs and in what dosage to prescribe to a future mother. To prevent possible complications and the appearance of additional symptoms (edema, headache), it is necessary to undergo an examination and follow all the recommendations of a specialist.

Useful video about the treatment and prevention of leg cramps in pregnant women

Painful contractions of the calf muscles are a nightmare for pregnant women. When this phenomenon is permanent, it is necessary to take the necessary measures, because in addition to the fact that convulsions disturb sleep, they can be a direct reminder that not everything is in order in the body of the expectant mother.

Why do pregnant women often reduce calves?

Cramps - painful muscle contractions, occur not only in pregnant women. They are often observed in athletes and people whose activities are associated with increased physical exertion. However, it is during the period of bearing a child in women that the risk of spasm in the lower extremities increases. There are several factors that provoke their development.

Lack of vitamins and microelements

First of all, spasm is caused by a lack of calcium. During pregnancy, a woman needs it in large quantities, as it is the basis of the skeletal system of the unborn baby. Also, leg cramps can provoke a deficiency of potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. They are electrolytes that are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions. . An imbalance of these trace elements leads to a sharp involuntary contraction of the muscles.

In the first months of pregnancy, a woman can be haunted by toxicosis, as a result of which she loses a lot of energy and does not receive the necessary minerals. At a later date, the child needs a certain amount of vitamins, so the mother has only a small part of the accumulated reserves. All this is the cause of frequent contractions in the calves.

A biochemical blood test will help confirm the cause of the pain.

To normalize the mineral balance, the mother needs to carefully monitor the diet, and in case of a pronounced lack of trace elements, she is recommended to drink a vitamin complex.

Incorrect and uncontrolled use of diuretics can lead to the fact that microelements will be excreted from the body along with the liquid.

Frequent consumption of strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages and smoking contribute to the development of seizures, as these substances interfere with the absorption of magnesium. In addition, such bad habits negatively affect the development of the unborn child.

Another cause of seizures is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Most often this happens when a woman abuses sweets or eats rarely, but in large portions.

Circulatory failure

1. During pregnancy a woman's blood volume increases significantly, but its movement through the veins may slow down , resulting in problems with the water-salt balance.
2. It also leads to circulatory disorders in the legs. sedentary lifestyle . To prevent painful spasms, a woman needs to organize her regime in such a way that the load alternates with rest. In addition, you need to watch your weight. Extra pounds will only contribute to the accumulation of excess fluid in the legs.
3. Quite often, muscle spasms are caused by the fact that growing belly compresses the vena cava . This happens if the expectant mother is immobile for a long time or often sleeps on her right side. For this reason, women who are expecting twins experience constant pain and cramps in their legs.
4. Women prone to varicose veins , much more often suffer from spasms in the lower extremities, since the vascular walls in this disease lose their elasticity. In this case, they need careful monitoring by a doctor to prevent stagnation of blood.

The use of underwear made of compression stockings significantly reduces the risk of circulatory stasis.

How to help if you cramped your leg during pregnancy - emergency help

If spasms of the calf muscles occur in the middle of the night , you need to slowly, without sudden movements, straighten your leg and pull the toe towards you. Then completely relax the muscles.

Repeating this exercise before going to bed can prevent cramping.

There are several other ways to reduce pain:

• Stand on a cold surface.
• Actively massage or pinch the calf muscle.
• Squeeze and unclench your toes several times.
• Walk for 10-15 minutes.
• Apply a warm compress or mustard plaster to the leg.
• Take a hot shower.

Prevention of seizures during pregnancy

In addition, a woman needs to follow the following recommendations:

• Take a contrast shower regularly to keep your blood vessels in good shape.
• Wear comfortable orthopedic shoes.
• When resting, raise your legs to a hill.
• During the day, perform simple exercises for the feet - rolling from toe to heel, drawing circles in the air.
• Before going to bed, do warm foot baths with salt.
• Sleep on your left side with a pillow under your knees.
• To live an active lifestyle.
• Periodically donate blood for analysis.

General treatment for seizures

If dietary changes and exercise do not help, you should definitely consult your doctor.

The phlebologist deals with the treatment of this problem. After examination and diagnosis, he can prescribe drugs that increase the tone of the vascular wall and prevent blood stasis. Additionally, creams, ointments and other venotonic agents are used.

If necessary, drugs are prescribed that increase the level of hemoglobin. If cramps are caused by low sugar levels, a woman will need to consult an endocrinologist .

Cramps in the calf muscles, although an unpleasant phenomenon, but it does not affect the development of the baby. After childbirth, such pain in most cases disappears. The expectant mother just needs to be a little patient and temporarily put up with such a painful pregnancy companion.

Kalinov Yury Dmitrievich

Reading time: 9 minutes

Preventive measures to prevent muscle cramps

In order to prevent leg cramps, you need to understand why they occur. For the prevention of seizures, the following recommendations should be observed:

• Take a prenatal vitamin complex containing potassium, calcium and magnesium.
• Provide a balanced healthy diet, eliminate junk food from the diet.
• Take air and sun baths, so the body will be saturated with vitamin D.
• Pay more attention to rest, do not overload the body, do not give a big load to the legs.
• Take a couple of free minutes to care for your legs: create warm baths for them, rub your ankles, massage your feet.
• Choose clothes and shoes that do not pinch the limbs and put pressure on them.
• In the evening, while resting, raise your legs above the level of the body, you can throw it on the wall, while the blood flow will improve.
• Choose a comfortable position for sleeping, in which there is no pressure on the vena cava and pressure on the internal organs.
• Prevent hypothermia of the extremities, insulate your legs.
• Do gymnastic exercises.

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Convulsions during pregnancy. What it is

Cramps are muscle contractions that occur involuntarily. A person is faced with strong reducing pain that occurs in the area of ​​​​the feet and legs. Sometimes spasms can appear in the arms, leg muscles and neck. Most often, convulsions during pregnancy are observed in the first months of bearing a child, when a woman develops early toxicosis. Unpleasant contractions of the wrist muscles, or in the calf area occur in the evening when falling asleep. But a collision with convulsive contractions is also possible during the daytime, when the expectant mother sits down or lies down to rest.

How dangerous are cramps during pregnancy?

These conditions are quite dangerous, and the threat is not the convulsions themselves, but the causes of their appearance. They are reflected in the well-being of not only the woman, but also the child being born. With contractions, the following happens: - metabolic processes are disturbed. The woman's body loses calcium, which causes significant harm to the body; - in case of excessive convulsive conditions, severe toxicosis may appear, accompanied by frequent vomiting. This causes dehydration, as well as a deterioration in mineral and water metabolism, which significantly affects the health of the baby. Anemia can lead to intrauterine oxygen starvation, as well as worsen the well-being of the expectant mother.

Causes of seizures during pregnancy

These processes are observed for many reasons, but experts call the lack of them the main one: - vitamins; - magnesium, as well as calcium; - potassium.

Convulsions during pregnancy, appearing in the 1st trimester, are associated with toxicosis. During this period, appetite decreases, and the body does not receive the necessary trace elements. With the onset of the second, as well as the third trimester, the cause of seizures during pregnancy is the high needs of the developing fetus.

In addition, similar reactions of the body can be observed due to: - a decrease in the content of glucose in the blood; - severe anemia. In this case, convulsions are disturbed quite often; - varicose veins. This symptom occurs in the last trimester. It becomes difficult for sick veins to cope with the increased load, which is why there is stagnation of blood, the appearance of puffiness. Disturbed circulatory processes lead to a deterioration in the nutrition of muscle tissues, therefore, convulsive conditions occur; - inferior vena cava syndrome. In such situations, when staying in a supine position, the woman's uterus squeezes the lower vein. Venous outflow is carried out, which causes calf cramps during pregnancy; - Illiterate use of diuretics provokes the leaching of minerals and the subsequent appearance of discomfort in the muscles.

The most dangerous for the expectant mother are the so-called generalized convulsions. They are accompanied by an absolute loss of a woman's control over her own body. It is not excluded the occurrence of severe convulsions, or loss of consciousness. The consequences of such a state are difficult to predict. Seizures can paralyze the functioning of the brain, which stops the supply of oxygen to the tissue area. This has a negative impact on the mental and nervous state of both the mother and the baby. There are also other causes of cramps during pregnancy, so if you observe unpleasant conditions, you should consult your doctor on this issue.

First aid

If strong unbearable spasms appear, it is very important to get rid of them in a timely manner, while waiting for the arrival of specialized help. To do this, just follow these steps:. 1. Eliminate muscle tension

To do this, the muscle must be strongly strained, and then pulled. The exercise is performed until the condition is completely relieved. 2. Make a slight tingle using a needle. 3. Rub the muscle with gentle massage movements. 4. Walk around the room, which will normalize blood circulation processes

1. Eliminate muscle tension. To do this, the muscle must be strongly strained, and then pulled. The exercise is performed until the condition is completely relieved. 2. Make a slight tingle using a needle. 3. Rub the muscle with gentle massage movements. 4. Walk around the room, which will normalize the processes of blood circulation.

Why does it bring legs down in the third month of pregnancy

During this period, the uterus enlarges, the risk of the “inferior vena cava” syndrome, blood flow disturbances, and the appearance of a feeling of heaviness in the legs increase. An additional reason for the reduction of the legs is low blood sugar. Low hemoglobin is an obvious cause of seizures in pregnant women.

There are a number of factors leading to leg cramps in pregnant women. If the expectant mother is found to have frequent muscle spasms, the woman is advised to follow the rules that maintain tone and maintain the body in a stable state:

• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks;
• Smoking will lead to a lack of oxygen and cause muscle spasm;
• Wearing uncomfortable clothing, including trousers, is prohibited;
• Reception of diuretics is excluded.

Leg cramps in pregnant women are not recognized as a danger, they are not accompanied by too severe consequences. They are able to signal metabolic disorders in the body or varicose veins.

The factors and causes of the reduction of the legs at different stages of pregnancy are named. Convulsions are characterized in most cases by a short duration of the course and a facilitated character. With leg cramps, it is better to consult a doctor, find out the cause, and conduct an accurate diagnosis.

It is permissible to provide first aid for leg cramps that occur during the day and at night. If the pain occurs in emergency situations, you need to urgently and independently cope with the spasm, apply the following measures:

• Make a massage, warming up the muscles of the legs. Let's use hot water. It is possible to try to restore blood circulation in the legs, try walking around the room, stepping from toe to heel.
• The old way of getting rid of leg cramps in pregnant women is considered to be a simple lying position, stretching the legs up to full length.

Features of nutrition to prevent seizures

Since the main cause of muscle spasms during pregnancy is a violation of metabolic processes and insufficient supply of essential nutrients to the tissues, it is very important to follow a special diet. This will help prevent cramps, or at least make them less painful.

What should be included in the diet of a pregnant woman:

• foods rich in calcium - cottage cheese, cheese, eggs, figs, green vegetables, dairy products;
• to increase the intake of magnesium, you need to eat carrots, beets, legumes, nuts, buckwheat porridge and greens;
• green vegetables, potatoes, dried apricots, broccoli, sea kale, peas, lentils, bananas, millet are rich in potassium;
• to increase hemoglobin, you need to eat meat, liver, yolk, pomegranates, apricots;
• blood glucose levels can be increased with honey, dried fruits, grapes, and sugar and sweets should be excluded;
• it is better to replace caffeinated drinks with green tea, rosehip broth, berry fruit drinks, dried fruit compotes.

First aid and treatment

It often happens that there are no visible abnormalities in blood and urine tests, and the expectant mother is haunted by spasms of the calf muscles, less often the muscles of the arm or abdomen. In this case, the doctor will most likely give the following recommendations.

• Take vitamin and mineral complexes (calcium, vitamin D, magnesium preparations).
• Diversify food. Dairy products, sea fish, buckwheat, oatmeal, nuts, herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables are useful. Instead of sweets, it is recommended to switch to dried fruits.
• In late pregnancy, sleep on your side to ensure normal blood circulation in the pelvis and legs. It is useful to stand in a knee-elbow position (on all fours) several times a day for 10-15 minutes.
• Choose comfortable shoes, in size and with a heel height of 4-5 cm.
• For varicose veins, wear compression stockings or pantyhose.
• For spasms of the abdominal muscles, use a bandage.
• Regularly do a light massage and relaxing foot baths.

Dose physical activity. Pregnant women are shown moderate physical activity. It is harmful to be very tired, to stand for a long time, to lift weights. But the lack of movement is bad for the expectant mother and baby. It is useful to engage in swimming, walking, breathing exercises, do a light workout.

How to quickly relieve spasm in the calves

With a spasm of the calf muscle, the following actions will help.

Gently stretch the muscle. To do this, straighten your leg and pull the sock towards you.

You can pull with your hand, holding your toes. Another option: stand against the wall, rest your hands on it, put your foot back and try to put your heel on the ground, stretching the calf muscle.
Try to take your mind off the pain and relax your calf.
Rub the muscle with warm hands.
After the cramp has passed, walk gently for a few minutes to restore the blood supply.
Put a warm heating pad on the muscle, put a mustard plaster or make a warm bath.

When stretching the muscle and massage does not help relieve the spasm, you can prick the skin over the muscle with a needle. Sometimes switching the brain to pain stops the spasm.

Help with spasms of the abdominal muscles

With spasms of the abdominal muscles, you need to take a deep breath and exhale several times, massage the muscle with your hands.

How to help with arm muscle cramps

If a spasm of the arm muscle occurs, then it is relaxed by rotating the palm, massage, flexion and extension of the corresponding joint. You can use a stream of warm water.

Night cramps

Convulsions in pregnant women usually occur at night during sleep. This is due to the fact that during the day the blood supply to the muscles improves due to walking. Also, during sleep, you can “lay down” your arm or leg. In a posture on the back, the inferior vena cava is squeezed and the outflow of blood from the lower body is impaired.

If you have problems with carbohydrate metabolism, you should not eat foods containing a lot of sugar before going to bed. An increase and then decrease in insulin during sleep can provoke night cramps.

Reduces the calves of the legs: possible causes and first aid

The essence of the problem

In principle, a spasm can occur in two variants: clonic spasm in the form of repeated instantaneous contractions and relaxations of the muscle (muscle trembling) and tonic spasm, when the muscle hardens and can change shape (protrusion). In the calves of the legs, the first option is rare, but the second type is familiar from childhood. Legs can be reduced at any age, but this phenomenon is most typical for people over 40 years old. An attack can take at any time of the day. At the same time, some people have certain patterns: only at night or in the morning, before getting out of bed.

Biochemical mechanism of etiology

There are several circumstances leading to the loss of these substances:

Micronutrient deficiency leads to frequent muscle cramps. Identify the presence of such problems can help characteristic signs. Magnesium deficiency occurs with poor nutrition and certain diseases, and its deficiency is manifested by such symptoms: insomnia; depression; bone weakness, expressed in frequent fractures; headaches and back pain; arterial hypertension; heart problems; arthritis.

The loss of calcium leads to bone fragility, brittle nails, unhealthy hairline, weakness, cramps in various muscles. Iron takes an active part in the absorption of oxygen, and its deficiency provokes muscle cramps and anemia.

Influence of external influences

The lack of essential nutrients significantly increases the risk of muscle cramps. However, in order for them to appear, as a rule, provoking reasons are also needed. The following are the most common factors:

pathogenic origin

Among the main pathogenic factors, the following diseases stand out: varicose veins in the lower extremities; thyroid pathology; renal failure of a chronic nature; diabetes; radiculitis; atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities; Parkinson's disease; thrombophlebitis; various spasmophilia; neurological pathologies; damage to the lower spine. The reasons may be irritation of the motor receptors of the brain, and the transmission of nerve impulses can be affected by diseases such as influenza, SARS, even alcohol intoxication.

Some concepts about such phenomena

In childhood, the calves of the legs often cramp for understandable physiological reasons associated with rapid growth and the characteristics of children's behavior. The most common provoking factors: hypothermia, incl. bathing in cold water; flat feet and irregular gait; lack of vitamins; inconvenient finding of legs during study; hormonal changes in adolescents during puberty; excessive activity with insufficient muscle development.

Why do pregnant women often cramp their legs at night

Leg cramps in pregnant women are more likely to occur at night. The calves of the legs are reduced at night for the reasons already voiced. A pronounced cause of the manifestation of leg cramps at night is the presence of flat feet or a malfunction of the thyroid gland.

Avoid the appearance of convulsive conditions at night. If a woman wears tight shoes that can cause cramps, disrupting the circulation in the legs and causing muscle fatigue, it is better to immediately discard such shoes. Sometimes pregnant women acquire the habit of malnutrition, refusing vital foods - cottage cheese, dairy products, foods containing more protein and less carbohydrates, sugar.

With the frequent appearance of leg cramps and a feeling of discomfort, it is not recommended to get rid of the phenomena on your own. Seeing a doctor is a necessary condition that maintains a stable condition of a pregnant woman, preventing undesirable consequences. It is undesirable to experience loads of all kinds at any stage of pregnancy. It is shown to categorically refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol, which deprive the body of nutritional vitamins and minerals, which become the causes of the manifestation of convulsive conditions.

If convulsive conditions are observed at night, forcing you to wake up, preventing you from falling asleep peacefully, try to get rid of the spasms yourself. Success comes from exercise. Classes will be a quick way out when the attacks become more frequent.

Cramping pain is the result of involuntary muscle contraction. The peak of leg cramps in pregnant women is the second month of pregnancy, when the developing fetus requires vitamins. Vitamins are often not enough, with the help of the attending physician, the correct selection should be made and consumed in the form of tablets, food.

Sour-milk products, cabbage, yolks, nuts, melons, seeds, bananas, spinach, greens should be eaten. Products contain substances to replenish the vitamin balance of the body and maintain. It is undesirable for pregnant women to overeat. It is better to eat several times a day and little by little, try not to feel hungry, do not overeat. Sugar and carbohydrates are junk food that fills the body with unnecessary trace elements. During the day, it is advisable to eat a vegetable salad with a glass of kefir.

The more vitamins a pregnant woman consumes, the less likely the manifestation of convulsive conditions. Spasms can occur separately from possible causes, on their own, or in concomitant diseases. Remember, when seizures occur, it is forbidden to panic. It is permissible to proceed directly to the exercise, the use of baths or massage, choosing a way to get rid of short-term, but straining convulsive conditions.

Remember, during pregnancy, it is only possible to exercise or use baths. The use of drugs without consulting a doctor is excluded, self-treatment will harm, without relieving seizures, and interfere with the normal development of the fetus. It happens that convulsive conditions are not limited to a short-term course, intensifying against the background of complications.

The appearance of leg cramps is better to prevent in advance

Proper nutrition is the first necessary precaution in the occurrence of seizures. The diet necessarily includes foods that include potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are often lacking in moments of convulsive conditions

When establishing a proper diet, convulsive conditions will inevitably bypass the body. At the slightest manifestation of seizures, you should try to apply independent measures to eliminate them, performing the techniques carefully, then consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct a complete examination, diagnose the causes of the manifestation of convulsive conditions, and prescribe the correct treatment. After a course of treatment, the condition will improve, convulsions will be less disturbing, especially at night.

The key to getting rid of cramps on the calves is a positive attitude, proper nutrition, activity in moderation, compliance with the treatment points prescribed by the doctor.

Cramps during pregnancy can be due to a lack of calcium, magnesium or vitamins. Taking vitamin and mineral preparations, as well as simple exercises, will help to cope with cramps and avoid their occurrence in the future.

The role of minerals

Mineral water can contain a lot of useful substances, but the most valuable are those that are most necessary for the body. These include magnesium, calcium, sodium and iodine. These are the 4 main elements that are contained in mineral water, they are necessary for the normal course of pregnancy and determine the proper development of the fetus and child.

What is magnesium for? Magnesium takes part in more than half of the biochemical processes that occur in the body, and if it is not enough, then any function programmed with its participation is violated. It can be muscle spasms, and if it affects the contraction of the muscles of the uterus, a miscarriage or early birth can occur. Even excessive consumption of coffee, which leaches magnesium from the body, can be the cause of this. Magnesium is actively involved in the structure of the cerebral cortex during the period of fetal development, and its deficiency leads to a lag in the development of the unborn child. Thanks to magnesium, a child does not suffer from lack of appetite at birth, sleeps well, and its deficiency in a newborn can be the cause of the so-called sudden infant death syndrome.

Medical treatment

According to medical indications, medications can be used to alleviate the condition: gels, ointments, creams. The most efficient are:

• Troxevasin;
• Fastum gel;
• Venitan;
• Heparin ointment.

They strengthen the cell walls, eliminate swelling, anesthetize the affected areas, stimulate blood circulation, and warm when the calves of the legs are reduced at night.

The cramp of the calf muscle will recede if you fight it with the help of massage (you can use the indicated means), gymnastic exercises aimed at improving blood circulation.

The doctor may prescribe a vitamin-mineral complex to make up for the deficiency of trace elements.

To prevent muscle contractions, you should wear comfortable shoes, walk a lot, use compression stockings (for varicose veins), take warm foot baths with sea salt.

The blanket should be large and spacious, legs can be put on a small roller to increase the outflow of blood. Replace black tea and coffee with herbal and green teas, fruit drinks, compotes, homemade drinks. Avoid smoking and alcohol. Every day you need to do special gymnastics, roll a studded rubber ball with your feet, walk barefoot, massage your calves.

Proper nutrition and adherence to medical recommendations will help not only cope with the disease, but also get rid of it forever.

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Why reduces calves during pregnancy

The cause of any cramp is an excessive accumulation of lactic acid (lactates) in the muscle, which provokes an intense contraction of muscle tissue. The muscle contracts under the influence of nerve impulses with the participation of mineral salts. Pregnancy is the period when an imbalance of metabolism occurs in the body, associated with the restructuring and preparation for bearing the fetus. Therefore, cramps during pregnancy, especially in the calves, are not uncommon. It is the muscles of the lower leg, which account for the entire load, that are subject to contraction and painful attacks. In addition to the imbalance of minerals and biochemical substances in the body of the expectant mother, there are other reasons why the calves cramp during pregnancy.

Reduces calves during pregnancy: causes

1. During the period of bearing a baby, the body's need for vitamins, minerals, nutrients occurs twice, because a woman must provide everything necessary not only for herself, but also for the baby growing in the womb. With a lack of necessary elements in the mother's body, the developing fetus "takes" such important trace elements as magnesium, potassium, calcium. It is these minerals that are involved in the conduction of nerve impulses. There is an imbalance that provokes seizures.
2. Rapid weight gain during pregnancy, in which the fulcrum shifts, can cause painful leg cramps. The shins experience a huge load, accompanied by muscle strain, and cause cramps.
3. Varicose veins are a common cause of calf pain during pregnancy. Poor circulation in the muscles of the legs leads to painful spasms. In addition, the rapidly growing uterus affects the pelvic vein, thereby disrupting the outflow of venous blood. The blood stagnates and leads to swelling and cramps in the legs.
4. Reduces the calves of the legs during pregnancy against the background of the development of chronic diseases (flat feet, hormonal disorders of the endocrine system, thrombosis, neurological pathologies).
5. Reduced levels of hemoglobin in the blood, low sugar levels, as a result of which the muscle tissue does not receive the necessary amount of nutrients and minerals, often causes painful cramps in pregnant women.
6. Spasm of the calf muscle can cause excessive consumption of caffeine if a woman abuses coffee, strong black tea.
7. Cramps in the calves of the legs can occur against the background of the use of a large number of diuretic drugs that remove water from the body, and with it mineral salts and nutrients.
8. Wearing uncomfortable and narrow shoes during the day can cause strain in the calf muscles. In addition, pregnant women should not wear high-heeled shoes and tight clothes.

How to avoid leg cramps

To replenish the body with minerals, it is useful to include cheeses, fermented milk products (55% calcium), and sesame seeds in the diet. You can replenish potassium reserves thanks to bananas, dried apricots, potatoes, legumes. A child developing in the womb will receive magnesium if his mother eats buckwheat, nuts, carrots, spinach, and begins to add greens and green onions to dishes.

Not always the most correct diet can restore the disturbed balance in the body. This can always be achieved with the help of a vitamin-mineral complex in tablets intended for lactating or pregnant women.

To reduce the likelihood of cramps, it is preferable to sleep on the left side during long pregnancy to relieve uterine pressure.

The likelihood of seizures increases significantly if a pregnant woman has varicose veins or if it develops. It will help in such situations to wear special tights or stockings on the legs that support the veins, or the use of safe lotions and creams for the legs. Useful will be foot massages, foot baths with sea salt, which minimize any congestion in the vessels, often characteristic during pregnancy.

You should beware of impaired blood circulation through the veins and prolonged tension in the muscles of the legs when wearing narrow or uncomfortable shoes, especially high heels. Convulsions in these cases are quite expected. It is better to refuse such shoes immediately.

Late dinners and long periods of time between large meals should be avoided.

The feeling of cramps in the legs is familiar to almost everyone. This is a sudden sharp contraction of the muscle, which then cannot relax on its own. It is accompanied by severe pain, and if at the time of the cramp you were standing on your feet, then a fall is possible. During the period of expectation of a child, such spasms are quite common. And they usually appear in the evening and at night. Why does it reduce calves during pregnancy mainly at night and is there a way to somehow prevent painful cramps?

The reasons

It will be easier to answer the question if you understand the mechanism of this phenomenon. The command to contract the muscle is given by the brain with the help of impulses, similar to electrical ones, conducted by nerve cells. The occurrence of such an impulse is possible due to the presence in the blood of ions of various trace elements - constituents of mineral salts. Accordingly, if the salt balance in the body is disturbed, or the nerve cells are damaged, the normal process fails, resulting in a spasm.

The main reasons why during pregnancy it can reduce calves at night are:

If the calves cramp during sleep, then in itself this condition is not dangerous. But you can't leave it unattended. It disrupts the quality of sleep and can be a signal that something is wrong in the body of a pregnant woman.

Therefore, you first need to relieve the spasm and eliminate the pain, and then find out the causes on your own or with the help of a doctor.

How to relieve cramps

Even if the calves cramped during sleep, you will definitely feel it. The pain is usually so severe that women wake up. And if no measures are taken to eliminate this extremely unpleasant phenomenon, then convulsions can cause the development of insomnia, which is completely unnecessary during pregnancy.

But if it so happened that you were awakened at night by pain in the calves, the first thing to do is to relax the muscle.

Sit carefully in bed, and then slowly stretch your arms and body towards the toe of your cramped leg. Alternatively, you can try lying down to pull the toe of your sore leg, but this can increase the pain.

Warm up the muscle using rubbing, intensive massage or warming ointments. When blood circulation increases, muscle activity will be restored.

After the cramp has let go, do a little gymnastics by rotating your foot and moving your toe towards you and away from you. It will restore normal muscle tone. To prevent the situation from happening again, take up enhanced prevention of muscle spasms.

Prevention measures

Preventive methods that allow you to quickly get rid of what reduces calves at night during pregnancy are very simple:

And remember that during pregnancy it is necessary to avoid severe overwork and overexertion.

When you work standing up, make sure there is room for short breaks. If you have not been given a seat on the transport, do not hesitate to ask for it! Otherwise, your daytime modesty will turn into severe cramps in the calves at night.

Kalinov Yury Dmitrievich

Reading time: 4 minutes

A woman's body undergoes many changes during pregnancy, some of which cause discomfort. One of these unpleasant phenomena are cramps of the calf muscles. Most often, convulsions occur at night or in the morning shortly before waking up and are accompanied by unbearable pain. If during pregnancy it reduces the calves of the legs at night, you need to figure out why this is happening and direct your efforts to eliminate the causes of this phenomenon.

Signs of cramps in the muscles of the legs

The muscles of the legs in women experience a lot of stress, which leads to the fact that during pregnancy it reduces the calves. The characteristic features accompanying this process are:

• pain in the calf muscle;
• its reduction;
• numbness, hardening of the muscle, it becomes "stone";
• spontaneous stretching of the foot.

Leg muscle cramp lasts from a few seconds to several minutes, and after it the pain in the muscle is felt for some time, up to several days.

As a rule, an ankle cramp in a pregnant woman begins at night during sleep. This is due to the fact that in the supine position, the pressure of the uterus on the vessels of the small pelvis occurs, while there is a violation of the process of blood circulation in the legs.

Causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

The reasons why the calves of the legs cramp are as follows:

Leg muscle cramps can occur with varicose veins as a concomitant symptom.

• Wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes and clothes - tight jeans, trousers with tight elastic bands, shoes and boots with high heels.
• Wrong posture for sleeping. The vena cava is compressed by the growing uterus, resulting in a violation of the outflow of blood from the legs.

Important! From the second trimester of pregnancy, you should try to sleep on your left side. This position is most convenient for mother and baby and does not interfere with blood circulation and the functioning of internal organs.

• Taking diuretics. In this case, beneficial substances are washed out of the body and mineral metabolism is disturbed, which contributes to the occurrence of cramps in the legs.
• Wrong nutrition. Pregnant women should limit themselves to caffeinated drinks and soda, which contribute to dehydration and, as a result, cramps in the calves.
• Toxicosis. In the early stages, with severe toxicosis with vomiting, a large amount of fluid and nutrients are lost, which are very difficult to replenish due to reduced appetite.