What causes leg cramps in pregnant women

What causes leg cramps in pregnant women? Many expectant mothers will experience leg spasms (commonly known as cramps) during pregnancy, mostly in the calves. Cramps are not a natural physiological reaction. Their occurrence indicates that there may be some abnormality in the body, such as——

1. Lack of calcium in the body. As we know, the calcium required for the growth of the fetus bones depends entirely on the pregnant mother. Therefore, the pregnant mother must ensure a daily calcium intake of about 1200 mg to 1500 mg. If the mother's calcium intake is insufficient, it will inevitably lead to low blood calcium. Calcium is an important factor that regulates the secretion of muscle contraction and cell division glands. Low calcium will increase the excitability of nerves and muscles, causing muscle contraction and subsequent cramps. Because blood calcium levels are often lower at night than during the day, cramps often occur at night.

2. Walking too much or standing for too long during pregnancy increases the load on the leg muscles, leading to the accumulation of local acidic metabolites, which can cause muscle spasms. However, don’t assume that more sleep is better. Sleeping for too long will slow down blood circulation, accumulate metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide, and may also induce muscle spasms.

3. Cold factors, such as the room temperature is low at night in winter, the quilt covered when sleeping is too thin or the legs and feet are exposed outside the quilt; or the sleeping posture is not good, such as lying on your back for a long time, the quilt is pressed against the top of the feet, or the tops of the feet are pressed against the bed, resulting in poor blood circulation, which is also the cause of cramps. 》》》 Pregnant woman appears7Be careful with these symptoms

To prevent calcium deficiency, pregnant mothers should pay attention to eating more calcium-rich foods, such as sesame milk, pork ribs, shrimp skin, etc. Kelp is rich in iodine and calcium (kelp stew with dried shrimps and kelp stewed rice are good choices). Pregnant women eat it, which is beneficial to the growth of the fetus and can prevent and treat muscle twitching. While supplementing calcium, attention should also be paid to ensuring the intake of vitamin D in the diet. Pregnant women should be encouraged to get more sun exposure to promote calcium absorption and utilization. In addition, it is recommended to drink several glasses of fresh orange juice every day to supplement minerals.

But relying solely on food sometimes cannot meet the needs of pregnancy. Therefore, calcium should be appropriately selected as an auxiliary supplement. It is generally recommended to take one calcium tablet a day. If calcium deficiency is obvious, take two tablets a day. Some pregnant mothers may have dry and hard stools after taking calcium tablets. Honey water can be used to moisten the intestines.

In addition, the following measures can help pregnant women reduce cramps: avoid walking too much or standing for too long to reduce the burden on leg muscles; keep the lower limbs warm during sleep and do not let the calves get cold; when resting, raise the feet slightly and stretch the toes upward to relax the muscles in the back of the calves and reduce swelling; do muscle massage, especially the muscles of the legs and feet, to improve blood circulation. You can warm your feet for ten minutes before going to bed at night. This can not only prevent cramps, but also facilitate sleep. Kill two birds with one stone.

If cramps have occurred, you can get out of bed and place your heels on the ground, or lie flat with your heels against the wall to help stretch your calves and relieve symptoms.

It should be reminded that calf cramps cannot be used as an indicator of whether calcium supplementation is needed. Some expectant mothers have better tolerance to calcium deficiency. They may have severe calcium deficiency but will not experience cramps. For this reason, pregnant women routinely undergo blood tests, which is also one of the reasons.