Leg Cramps

What can I do to prevent leg cramps?

Many women experience leg cramps during pregnancy and there is no clear reason as to why leg cramps occur more often during this time of a woman's life. Some medical experts believe that leg cramps could be related to a growing uterus putting pressure on blood vessels as well as the additional weight that is carried during pregnancy. The majority of pregnant women report leg cramps during the second and third trimester, with the worst pains occurring during the evening and night hours.

There is no room to argue that leg cramps are painful, especially when woken up during the night. If you experience leg cramps, try to stretch your calf muscles by straightening your legs or walking around for a moment. Massaging the calf muscle can also help to relieve the pain. If at anytime, the leg cramps persist, become tender or swelling is noticed, it is important to be evaluated by your healthcare provider. These could be signs of a blood clot, which would require prompt medical attention.

There are a few steps you can take to prevent leg cramps from occurring. Pregnant women should not stand for long periods of time. Instead, take short breaks throughout the day and practice several leg/ankle exercises while resting or prop your feet up during a break. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will ensure good hydration, which can prevent muscle cramps. Before going to bed, stretch your legs and ask your partner to massage your calves and feet. Additionally, a warm bath may help the muscles in the legs to relax, which could decrease the chance of leg cramps throughout the night.

Comments: Leg Cramps

Comments 1 to 7 of about 7.

jh - 511 days ago.
I don't know if RLS should go on the page, but I found that when I started mganesium, my RLS stopped.

A.A.B - 1005 days ago.
My sister is a registered nurse in Toronto General Hospital, she floats in all units and floors and basically goes where she is needed so she's knows a lot about everything. I told her about my leg cramping and she said that it's a vitamin deficiency, she told me I need to increase my potassium and magnesium from the food that I eat.. so bananas are very high in potassium, we are supposed to eat only 2 a day because of the high potassium content, and magnesium is found in a lot of things like fish; although I'm drinking orange juice with a fairly good magnesium content and the cramping went away. It was so bad that I got 5 cramps in ONE night!! The next day I couldn't walk... It cramped every night for a few days until I followed my sisers advice and the dull achy cramping feeling in my thighs are gone and that horrible calve cramp where it feels like my muscle is stuck finally stopped too! So I recommend you ladies try for a few days to increase your potassium and magnesium and make sure that you're taking your vitamin pills daily (and best would be at the same time every day) and I really hope it helps!!

kasey515 - 1258 days ago.
Hi ladies. just like you i have horrible leg cramps. it is so bad that i cannot stand fromm a sitting position. i have to have my husband help me up. I told rhe doctor and he said that in some cases the uterus presses on the scaitic nerve and the more you walk the more the nerve gets rubbed which then causes swelling, pain, and cramping. he said to limit activities. the more you walk the more pain you will be in later that night. I have taken his advice and my pain has been cut in half. I can get up on my own now!!!

cee-cee20 - 1348 days ago.
hi ladies. i have leg cramps alot. sometimes when i get up out of bed i have bad leg cramps and could barely walk. especially in the morning tmes. i hate it!! they hurt so bad and i have another child that i can't even pick up because of my leg cramps... what could i do to help? any suggestions?

tannersmommy - 1376 days ago.
Add some potassium to your diet. While I was pregnant a bannana a day kept the leg cramps away. Mine were really bad in the night and I would wake up to them and then not be able to walk the next day. Spaghetti sauce i think has potassium in it too. Also when they hit you don't point your toes as it tightens your leg muscles. Try your best to pull your toes upward towards you, and that will help stretch the muscles out.

angelicb1437 - 1377 days ago.
Tums, tums, and more tums... but the kind with Calcium. I haven't started with the cramps in the pregnancy, but with my first they were horrible right up to the time the indigestion started. Then I was taking a lot of tums a day and the leg cramps went away entirely. They didn't come back until after dd was born and I no longer had heartburn. I stopped the Tums and ta-da, the cramps were back because I was breastfeeding and she was sucking up all my nutrients. Started Tums again and no more problems! 2 tums 2x per day is recommended because sometimes you just need more calcium. Good luck!

newmomeve - 1377 days ago.
I have horrible cramping on the back of my right calf. I just woke up with it and it's torturing me!! I can barely walk. What can I do? I tried to drink a lot today, including coconut water, which is high in electrolytes. I tried walking, and resting. Nothing is working :( The doctor did a blood test for deep vein thrombosis, but I don't think that's what it could be. That would be weird. What can I do?!?!