is it normal to hv leg cramps for pregnant women?

Question

i'm 4 mths preg and hv started to have leg cramps when sleeping, so far i hv 2 attacks already, once on each leg. shld i bend or straighten my legs when the attack comes? anythg my hubby can help to relief the pain? how to prevent cramps?

Answer 1

First of all, congratulations....you're almost a mom!! :]

Anyway,

Leg cramps affect almost half of all pregnant women. The cause of leg cramps during pregnancy is not fully known, but they may be caused by reduced levels of calcium in the blood or increased levels of phosphorus. Leg cramps are more common in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and happen most often at night.

There is no evidence to support the belief that increasing your intake of calcium will prevent leg cramps.2

If you get a leg cramp:

Straighten your leg.
Flex your foot so that your ankle and toes point up (toward your head).
Massage your calf.
Walk around to stretch your calf.
Avoid pointing your toes when you stretch your legs.

Answer 2

I don't know WHY this is, but YES ....I had SEVERE leg cramps in the middle of the night with BOTH of my pregnancies. Often it would happen while I was stretching upon getting up in the morning too. It is painful and it sucks...There is an old remedy, however. Pinch and twist your upper lip counter clockwise as hard as you can. I was told this helped due to pressure points, but it might be that it just takes your mind off the leg cramp long enough for you to relax a bit...Good luck and Congratulations!

Answer 3

when pregnant it is very important to take the pre-natal vitamin, remember to take it every day

leg cramps come from lack of potassium (found in bananas and dark green vegetables) and calcium (milk & cheese)

when pregnant your body needs more of these vitamins.

it is a gurantee that your leg cramps will go away if you get the proper ammount of these.

if you take a suppliment remember that you can overdose on potassium, this is why eating a banana is better than taking the pill.

the best thing to do during the cramp is try to relax and wait out the pain.....your husband can rub it, but most likely it won't relieve the pain

take care of yourself and the baby & congratulations!

Answer 4

I got leg cramps a lot during both of my preganancies and I always found it beneficial to bend my foot around, somewhat flexing the leg muscle. I have mastered this and can usually get it to go away before it really cramps up. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Yes, it's very common for pregnant women to have leg cramps. My sister had them when she was pregnant. They would occur in the middle of the night and her husband would have to stretch her legs for her, the same way that athletes stretch their legs to ease a leg cramp.

I don't know how to prevent it but it's best if your husband can help you stretch the calf muscles. Stretch your leg out and get him to grasp your foot and gently flex your toes upwards. Get him to hold it there until the cramp subsides.

Answer 6

yes

It's most likely because your leg muscles are tired from carrying around extra weight. Leg cramps may start to plague you during your second trimester and get worse as your pregnancy progresses and your belly gets bigger. They may be aggravated by the pressure your expanding uterus puts on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. While these cramps can occur during the day, you'll probably notice them most at night.

Answer 7

I recommend babycenter.com It is one of the most helpful sites that I have found. They have a pregnancy calendar and answer any questions that you could have. Good luck and I hope your leg cramps ease up!!!

Answer 8

it might not be normal,you could try having your hubby rub out the cramp as soon as it comes.or have him massage your legs even when your not having cramps.still and all go check with your doctor.

Answer 9

Make sure you are drinking enough water, try a warm (not hot) bath and get your hubby to give you a massage before you go to sleep

Answer 10

yes, it's pretty common. When you feel one coming on, straighten your leg, and point your toes up towards your head. That should take it away. Best wishes for your pregnancy!