leg cramps during pregnancy home remedies> Leg cramps are one of the most common problems experienced by pregnant women. They can be caused by many factors including dehydration, low blood sugar levels, or even anemia. Learn more about leg cramps and what you can do to prevent them!
Cramps be when your muscles suddenly contract and go into spasm. You generally feel them in your pins or bases, and sometimes your shanks.
No bone is really sure why you get further cramps in gestation. It might be because your muscles come tired from carrying around the redundant weight, especially in the final many weeks. This weight may also put pressure on your jitters as well as the modes in your legs and pelvis, making it harder for your blood to circulate.
Another proposition is that cramps could also be caused by your body getting low in certain mariners when you ’re pregnant.
Cramps are frequently most painful at night, when the unforeseen pain in your shin or bottom can wake you up. Cramps can last from a many seconds to 10 twinkles, and may leave your muscles feeling sore for a long time latterly. occasionally, discomfort from the cramp can develop into a restless, jittery sensation in your legs( restless legs pattern).
Cramps can be painful and uncomfortable, but are n’t serious. still, if the shin pain does n’t go down and if your leg is swollen, red and hot to the touch, call your croaker or midwife incontinently. She may check that your leg pain isn’t a sign of a blood clot, which is rare but serious.
How can I help cramps during gestation?
Stay active
Regular, gentle exercise can help. Walking, swimming, yoga or other gentle exercise will ameliorate your rotation and stretch your muscles, which may help to help cramps.
You can make redundant exertion into your day. Walking the canine, taking the stairs rather of the lift, or getting off the machine one stop beforehand on your way to work will all help. Stop for a rest if you need it.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Try to eat a healthy diet, including foods that contain
Magnesium, similar as lush green vegetables, milk, bananas, avocados, sap, almonds and cashew nuts.
Calcium, similar as dairy yield, lush green vegetables, sunflower seeds, salmon, and dried sap and beats.
Vitamin C, similar as oranges, clementines and grapefruit, watercress, lush flora, potatoes and tomatoes.
Vitamin B, similar as wholegrains, eggs, sap, lentils and sunflower seeds.
These are the vitamins and minerals croakers suppose are most nearly linked to cramp. substantiation is mixed about whether taking supplements of magnesium, calcium, or vitamins B and C can help cramp in gestation. But it makes sense to get them into your diurnal diet.
Stay doused during the day. Aim to drink between six and eight spectacles of water, or about1.5 litres, every day.
A gestation multivitamin or mineral supplement may help you to get the right nutrients. But check with your midwife before taking any supplements in gestation.
Hear to your body
Sit down when you can, and if your work involves standing for long ages of time, move about from one bottom to the other to increase blood inflow. Try not to sit with your legs crossed, as this will reduce the rotation in your legs.
Stretching your leg and ankle muscles regularly improves rotation and may help to help cramp. Stretch your shin muscles several times a day by going up on tiptoes and also down again. Before bedtime, or while you are relaxing in the evening, flex your bottom at the ankle and rotate it several times in each direction. Do as much, or as little, as you have the energy for!
A warm bath before bed will help rotation and ease any stiff muscles.
How can I ease cramp when it happens?
When cramp strikes, during the night or at any other time, unbend your leg from the heel, gently flexing your toes towards your nose. This will ease the spasm and help the pain to go down. Do not flex your toes down, as this will make your cramp worse.
Or you could use a warm( not hot) water bottle, or a compress made from a tea kerchief soaked in warm water. Wring out the redundant water and wrap it around the affected area.
Which reciprocal curatives can help with cramp?
Try gently puffing the areas where you get cramp, with adulterated lavender or camomile aromatherapy canvases , which are safe to use in gestation. Lavender is pain– relieving, and camomile helps to reduce spasms and inflammation.
Add one drop of each or two drops of a single oil painting to one tablespoon( 5 ml) of grapeseed oil painting. You can either put this in your bath and relax in the warm water or make a compress – add the mix to about a litre of warm water, soak a cloth in the water, squeeze out and wrap the cloth around your leg or bottom.
Read Further about which essential canvases are safe to use in gestation.
Leg cramp signs and symptoms at night
occasionally called a “ Charley Horse, ” the sanctioned medical term is nightly leg cramping. Medical professionals will tell you a leg cramp is the unforeseen and involuntary compression of one or further of the muscles in your leg. That unbridled( and unwanted) compression can beget severe pain and make it nearly insolvable to use the part of your leg where it’s passing.
utmost leg cramps do in the shin muscle. It stretches from the reverse of your knee to your heel. still, it isn’t out of the question to feel cramping and tensing in your hamstrings( back of the ham) or your quadriceps
(front of the thigh).
More good news! Most leg cramps resolve on their own within 10 minutes. The bad news is, the pain and soreness from a leg cramp can last for up to 24 hours.
What causes leg cramps at night?
The sad truth is, experts are unsure what causes nighttime leg cramping. Some research suggests it may be hereditary, especially if the problem begins in childhood, persists into adulthood, and occurs frequently. While most experts agree there is no absolute answer to the underlying causes of leg cramps, some have suggested triggers that can make them more likely.
- Inactivity or insufficient activity. Our muscles are designed to work hard. They need to be stretched to stay healthy. Sitting for long periods can increase your chances of having nighttime leg cramping. This includes people who work in front of a computer or in an otherwise stationary position for 8 or more hours each day.
- Over-activity. Some people take the phrase “go hard or go home” a little too seriously. While it is admirable to get – and stay – in shape, there is such a thing as too much physical activity. When you go at it a little too hard at the gym, or engage in rigorous physical work for extended periods, you can almost bank on nocturnal leg cramps striking later.
- Sitting improperly. We already mentioned that sitting too much is a recipe for disaster. Certain positions also make your legs prone to cramping later. Sitting with your legs crossed, or with your toes pinched tightly in high heels (we’re talking to you, ladies), can cause cramping.
- Prolonged standing. Certain jobs and other responsibilities may have you on your feet for hours at a time. Unfortunately, this is another trigger for leg cramping. Sitting down for at least a few minutes each hour can help reduce the risk.
- Pregnancy. Hormones shift and fluctuate throughout pregnancy, as your body changes to accommodate that little person growing inside. Pregnancy is a miracle, but it also is a major contributor to leg cramping. Chances for leg cramps increase during the last six months of pregnancy.
- Certain medications. Statins (used to treat high cholesterol) and diuretics (used to lower blood pressure) are two of the worst offenders for causing leg cramping. Birth control pills and drugs to treat osteoporosis or asthma also can trigger them. Prescription estrogen, used by some women to ease menopause symptoms, is another common cause.
- Drinking alcohol. Scientists suspected for years that consuming alcoholic beverages was a risk factor for nocturnal leg cramping. A 2018 study provided confirmation of their suspicions.
How to prevent nighttime leg cramps
Our bodies need a restful night of sleep for many reasons. Nighttime leg cramps are debilitating and can interrupt your sleep regularly. There are ways to help reduce your chances of experiencing them too often (if at all). Practicing self-care and eliminating some bad habits are responsible ways to prevent nighttime leg cramping.
- Stay hydrated. Did you know that muscles are comprised of 79 percent water? Muscles need ample hydration to function properly. Staying hydrated throughout the day is the best way to help prevent nighttime leg cramps. Aim for at least 6 glasses of water throughout the day, more on hot days or while exercising.
- Replenish necessary minerals. Becoming dehydrated when you sweat is not the only concern. Your body also loses important electrolytes, which can contribute to leg cramping later. Consuming sports drinks designed to replenish electrolytes is helpful. Dieticians also recommend eating bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, yogurt, and nuts. These foods are rich in muscle-friendly minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
- Stretch before bed. There is never a wrong time to get up and stretch your legs, especially if you sit a lot during the day. Stretching before bed is a must if you want to avoid painful cramping while you sleep. Several different stretches can help. If you suffer from calf cramping, a standing calf stretch works best. To perform it: stand facing the wall with your elbows straight and both hands flat on the wall at chest level. One leg should be forward with your knee bent, and the other leg should be back and straight. Make sure both feet are in contact with the floor. Lean toward the wall and hold the stretch for at least 10 seconds, with a max stretch time of 30 seconds if you can tolerate it. Do 2 to 3 stretches per leg.
- Ride a stationary bike. Aim for five minutes of easy peddling before bedtime. It warms up your leg muscles and loosens them a bit, helping to reduce the chances of cramping.
- Change your sleeping position. Sorry, stomach sleepers. Sleeping with your toes pointing downward (away from your head) can contribute to leg cramping. It interrupts blood flow and allows blood in the lower part of your leg to become stagnant. Sleeping on your back or side, with your legs bent at the knees, is the best positioning.
- Untuck those sheets. It may look neat but sleeping with your sheets firmly tucked into the bed or with heavy bedding on your legs can restrict leg movement. Make sure you untuck the sheets and use a blanket or comforter light enough to help keep your toes pointing upward during the night.
- Wear supportive shoes. If you stand or walk for long periods, it is essential to have supportive, comfortable shoes. Flip flops and heels may look fashionable, but they can contribute to painful leg cramps. Poorly fitting shoes strain the nerves and muscles in your feet and legs, leaving you more prone to cramping.
5 tricks for stopping a nighttime leg cramp in progress
Nocturnal leg cramping is rarely a sign of a serious medical condition. That does not make them any easier to tolerate when they happen. Here are five tricks to help ease the pain so you can get back to sleep.
- Massage the affected area
Humans tend to rub something when it hurts. As it turns out, we have that instinct for a reason. It works. Moderately massaging the muscle that is cramping can help to relax it while soothing discomfort. Gently knead the area that hurts with both hands to help loosen it. - Stretch it out
Just like you stretched before bedtime, stretching a muscle that is actively cramping can help relieve the pain. If the cramping is in your calf, loop your bedsheet (or a blanket) around your foot and gently stretch your toes in an upward motion. - Perform lunges
Lunge forward with the leg that is not cramping, using the nighttime stretching movement we discussed earlier. Use the wall to balance yourself if necessary. - Walk on your heels
It may sound odd, but this movement stimulates the muscles opposite the calf, which can encourage the calf to relax. - Apply heat
Moist heat is helpful for tight, cramped muscles. Apply a hot, damp towel, hot water bottle, or heating pad to the affected area. If the cramping is extensive, soaking in a warm bath can help.
If you find your leg muscles are sore the day after a nighttime cramping incident, over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers can help. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can relieve tenderness and help resolve any inflammation in the affected area. Acetaminophen also works for pain relief. Just be cautious about over-using these treatments, because they can lead to other medical problems. Frequent leg cramp sufferers may want to consider using an all-natural remedy instead.
Magnesium: the miracle leg cramping cure?
Magnesium is sometimes suggested as a miracle cure for leg cramping. Some evidence supports its effectiveness in relieving leg cramps during pregnancy. The news is not as bright for everyone else. Magnesium was found to have little to no effect on leg cramping in the general population.
One of the only exceptions to this is for people who are magnesium deficient. Half of the US population falls into this category. One of the signs of magnesium deficiency in adults is muscle twitching and cramping. When a person is lacking in magnesium, it can cause a greater flow of calcium into the nerve cells. When that happens, muscle nerves become over-excited. Twitching and cramping can result. Your doctor can determine if a magnesium deficiency may be contributing to your nighttime leg cramping.
Natural solutions to nighttime leg cramps
There are several prescription medications approved for treating nocturnal leg cramps. These drugs are not without side effects. So maybe consider natural solutions to painful leg cramping that work well for some.
Some athletes and health gurus swear by apple cider vinegar as a solution for muscle cramping. It is rich in potassium, which can help prevent leg cramping. If you want to try it, dissolve 2 teaspoons in a dab of honey and drink it. This concoction is not going to be the best thing you ever tasted, but it may be worth it if it helps reduce your leg cramps. Be sure to use organic, unfiltered brands of apple cider vinegar only. They contain strands of protein, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that provide added health benefits.
Topical pain relievers are great at easing pain. The most effective brands use menthol as a main ingredient due to its effectiveness for mild to moderate muscle strains and pain. A product like Premiere’s Pain Spray Roll-On is ideal if you want to experience the benefits of menthol. Blended at 7 percent menthol, it provides almost immediate relief. The roll-on applicator makes it easy to apply evenly on your skin without wasting any product.
Acupressure is another popular treatment for leg cramps. It is so effective in its treatment of leg and other muscle cramps that healthcare professionals are actually advised to use it under certain circumstances. You can perform acupressure on yourself, making it an inexpensive natural solution. Press with your fingers on these three spots: (1) between your upper lip and your nose; (2) at the base of your calf on the leg that is cramping); and (3) on the top of your foot, between your big toe and second toe (on the leg with cramping).
Homeopathic treatments for leg cramping include magnesia phosphorica, which are pellets you dissolve under your tongue. Boiron is a reputable source for any homeopathic remedy. Recommended potencies are 6X or 30C. Some homeopathic pharmacies carry spray-on versions of magnesia phosphorica that can be absorbed through the skin.
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