Leg cramps in pregnancy are one of those awful things that can make pregnancy feel really hard and so here on the JustExhale blog, we’ve put together a little list of things that might help to ease the pain for you.
The spasms as the muscles shorten can feel so unbelievably painful in the legs and/or feet and will often wake you up in the middle of the night and sometimes leaving you feeling bruised for days afterwards.
We don’t really know why they are most common at night time but it is thought that it is linked to reduced blood flow when lying down. Almost half of all pregnant women experience leg cramps and they can start at any point in your pregnancy but it is most common that they increase or intensify in the last 2 trimesters.
What can you do to help leg cramps?
- Keep well hydrated.
- Don’t overdo it, muscle fatigue could make them worse.
- Keep moving around during the day to improve blood flow.
- Wear sensible shoes.
- Eat a broad spectrum of foods to ensure your body gets all its required nutrients.
- Use a hot water bottle.
- Stretch and massage your calf muscles.
- Take a bath/shower as the warm water will relax the muscles.
- Use Epsom bath salts in your bath – these are a natural form of magnesium.
Research has shown that leg cramps can be caused by magnesium deficiency. Low levels of magnesium can result in tight muscles which cause spasms. I experienced terrible leg cramping during pregnancy and found that applying magnesium spray every night before bed really helped. It was a little bit tingly on the initial application but that eased off after a couple of use; I would definitely recommend giving it a go.
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