She cramps her leg in the seventh month of pregnancy. Why does it bring legs together during pregnancy, cramps grab. In the daily menu it is desirable to include

24.05.2019

Involuntary muscle contractions in the lower extremities are quite common during pregnancy. Convulsions are accompanied by sharp pain and numbness. We will talk about the reasons for their appearance today.

Leg cramps at night during pregnancy: reasons why pregnant women tend to cramp their legs more often?

Leg cramps in pregnant women are one of the symptoms that indicate existing disorders in the body. Of course, the most painful and unpleasant are convulsions that occur at night. First, a sharp muscle spasm wakes a woman up. Secondly, severe pain takes her by surprise and does not go away right away. Thirdly, night pains are always perceived more acutely. Fourthly, a woman does not immediately understand what to do to relieve pain.

Doctors believe that night cramps in many cases are provoked by an uncomfortable posture during sleep. However, more often the cause of night cramps lies deeper. A pregnant woman may experience muscle spasm in the toes, in the foot, but the calf muscles are rightfully considered the most favorite place for cramps.

I would like to note that according to statistics, after a long walk, about 60% of people experience a feeling of heaviness in their legs. And these are some kind of harbingers of convulsions. Undoubtedly, in women bearing a child, muscle spasms are much more common. Why?

Causes of cramps in pregnant women

Deficiency in the body of a pregnant microelement namely: potassium, magnesium and calcium. Vitamin B6 deficiency is also a fairly common cause of muscle cramps.

In the first trimester, many pregnant women are diagnosed. In case of intoxication, along with the contents of the stomach, beneficial substances are also excreted from the body. But after all, a fetus develops in the womb at this time, and vitamins and microelements are simply vital for it. Also, the cause of their deficiency can be: unbalanced diet and uncontrolled intake of diuretics .

Anemia– low level of hemoglobin in the blood.

Failure of blood sugar levels caused by malnutrition.

lower limbs.

Violation of the venous outflow . An enlarged uterus can compress the vena cava. As a rule, this happens in the third semester.

Drinking caffeinated soft drinks that provoke intoxication and metabolic disorders

flat feet .

Complicated and multiple pregnancy.

Very large fruit.

Chronic diseases.

long walk (work "on the feet").

Genetic predisposition to seizures .

Cramps legs during pregnancy - what to do?

First, of course, balance your diet .

With convulsions, it is necessary to significantly increase the amount of potassium, calcium, magnesium. These trace elements are found in large enough quantities in baked potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, dried apricots, and buckwheat. Pregnant women should include raisins and nuts in their diet.

Magnesium - lowers the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, is responsible (together with calcium and potassium) for the formation of the bone skeleton and tooth enamel, has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, is involved in protein synthesis, etc.

Potassium - regulates water and salt balance, acid-base balance, is responsible for carbohydrate and protein metabolism, normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular system, etc.

Calcium - takes an active part in the following processes: metabolism, blood clotting, activation of hormones and enzymes, etc.

Food sources of magnesium: rye bread, cottage cheese, chocolate, fish and seafood.
Food sources of potassium: greens, fish, potatoes, honey, bananas, sunflower seeds, dried apricots, nuts, grapes.
Food sources of calcium: milk, all dairy products, cereals, legumes, greens.

Gymnastics and massage

In addition to a balanced diet, pregnant women suffering from leg cramps can help massage and specially designed exercises . Doctors recommend doing massage and gymnastics during the day in several approaches. If cramps are especially annoying at night, a light massage must be done before bed.

Gymnastic exercises:

A woman should rise on her toes ten times. During the day, this exercise can be done three to four times.
Alternately 10-15 times with each leg to lunge forward - this will stretch the muscles of the calves.
Go to the wall and rest your palms on it. Take small steps back with your feet. The body must remain motionless.
Roll periodically from heel to toe.

Self massage

Massage movements should begin with the foot, slowly moving to the thigh. Movements - stroking, rubbing, kneading. Exactly in that order. Relaxing massage is desirable to perform several times a day. You can massage your legs with special balls. Effectively helps to relieve tension from the muscles of the massage mat.

And a few more tips:

A woman carrying a child should not wear uncomfortable, tight shoes.
The heel should not be high - no more than four to five centimeters.
Do not stay in one position for a long time. Especially standing with your legs crossed.
To relax the muscles, it is advisable to do baths with the addition of sea salt. For five liters, two tablespoons. sea salt.
Compression stockings must be worn for varicose veins.

First aid for pregnant women with cramps in the calf muscles

We will talk about only a few of the most effective methods for relieving seizures.

Stand on the floor with bare feet and with one straight leg rest against the wall. The leg should be at right angles to the body. Pull your big toe towards you. To do this, you can use a belt from a dressing gown, a towel or a sheet. Doing this exercise is painful, but it is very effective. Exercise quickly relieves spasm of the calf muscle. You can also perform it while sitting, bending one leg at the knee joint, alternately pulling the socks towards you.
For some, an injection into the muscle with a needle helps. Using this method of relieving seizures, it must be remembered that the needle must be sterile.
You can massage the cramped leg and rub it properly with your palm.
Stand on the floor and step on the heel with all your might, lifting the rest of the foot off the floor.
You can just scratch the cramped muscle.
Put an ordinary mustard plaster on the sore spot.
In order to avoid repeated convulsions, you need to lie down on the bed for ten minutes with your legs raised.
Of course, a woman should not panic. She needs to try to breathe evenly and deeply.

Prevention of seizures during pregnancy

First you need to fill in the body of the existing deficiency of useful substances - vitamins and minerals. For pregnant women it is very important clearly balanced diet . Women carrying a child must learn to listen to their body. For example, if you constantly want chocolate, do not deny yourself. Perhaps your body is deficient in magnesium. Listen to the needs of your body. Of course, within reason.
For preventive purposes, you need to do light massage legs. You can massage your legs yourself or involve your spouse in this procedure.
To avoid night cramps, doctors recommend that pregnant women try to sleep less on your back and right side .

Pregnant women must Eliminate sugary sodas and drinks that contain caffeine from your diet. Any tonic drinks can lead to dehydration and negatively affect muscle tone, the stimulation of which during this period is undesirable. In addition, these drinks have an extremely adverse effect on the digestive tract.

Folk recipes

Very often, “grandmother's recipes” are used for prevention, against which traditional medicine does not object.

Licorice, or rather its root, has a beneficial effect on the nutrition of the muscles of the legs. Licorice tincture tones and normalizes the conduction of nerve fibers in the muscles. One hundred grams of the root must be insisted on 0.5 liters of boiling water. Wait until the infusion has cooled down, and take 1 tsp. three times per day.
A wonderful remedy is a decoction of hawthorn. For its preparation you will need: 3 tbsp. pharmacy hawthorn and 0.5 liters of boiling water. The broth must be kept on fire for five minutes, and let it stand for three hours. Drink for three weeks, two tablespoons. five times a day.
Perhaps one of the richest sources of calcium is eggshells. Thoroughly washed shells from one raw egg must be crushed in a mortar to a powdery state. Having previously subjected to heat treatment in the microwave or oven (ten minutes). Add five drops of lemon juice to the powder. You can start taking it from the first trimester and continue until the birth of the child. It is better to use the powder during breakfast, adding it to low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt. During pregnancy, the daily dose should be no more than two grams. The powder should be stored in a ceramic or glass container with a "lapped" lid.

Before using this or that folk recipe, you need to consult your doctor.

For many women suffering from convulsions during childbearing, a completely logical question arises - which doctor should I contact with this problem?

First of all, to the gynecologist who observes your pregnancy. Depending on the cause of muscle spasms, the gynecologist himself will indicate which specialist you need to visit. For example, he may prescribe a consultation with a phlebologist, neurologist or endocrinologist. Treatment is selected strictly individually, based on the results of clinical and laboratory studies.

Pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes conceived by nature. But, despite this, the woman's body during the entire period of bearing a child is faced with increased stress. Leg cramps during pregnancy are a fairly common problem.

Periodically, almost every woman who is expecting a child faces them. Why do leg cramps occur in pregnant women? There can be several reasons - ranging from a lack of vitamins and trace elements in the body, ending with a sedentary lifestyle and stagnation of blood flow in the legs.

First of all, considering the problem of leg cramps in pregnant women, you need to pay attention to the quality of nutrition of the expectant mother. A chronic lack of certain vitamins and microelements most often causes the development of cramps in the calf muscles during pregnancy.

Often, convulsions appear in response to. Repeated vomiting and salivation lead to excessive excretion of essential nutrients from the body, which are important for the full functional activity of the muscular system.

Venous diseases cause leg cramps during pregnancy not too often, however, they should not be discounted. After carrying out diagnostic manipulations, the gynecologist usually prescribes medications that are safe for the developing fetus and life-saving for the expectant mother.

The lack of calcium, like magnesium, negatively affects all metabolic processes in the body. These trace elements closely interact with each other. Caffeine and many medications impair calcium absorption.

Together with magnesium and calcium preparations, foods such as milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese, nuts, greens, eggs and fish are recommended for the expectant mother to prevent cramps in the calves during pregnancy.

Potassium deficiency causes inhibition of the functional activity of the nervous system, since this trace element is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to muscle fibers. Calf cramps during pregnancy are the first and quite understandable sign of a lack of potassium in the body. In addition to the convulsive syndrome, which appears at any time of the day, but mainly at night, a woman may note such accompanying symptoms as general weakness, drowsiness, slowing of the heart rate, and.

Hypokalemia often manifests itself already in the 2nd trimester, but more often expectant mothers experience this condition in the last weeks of pregnancy. In addition to potassium supplements, a woman is recommended to supplement her diet with dried apricots, nuts, legumes, seaweed and potatoes.

A lack of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can also cause calf cramps during pregnancy. This microelement takes part in the synthesis of amino acids, which are important for the formation of protein compounds. In the body of the expectant mother, the amount of vitamin B6 should be increased by 30% compared to the level of its content before pregnancy.

The lack of pyridoxine causes increased irritability, disturbances in the digestive tract, the appearance of caries, the occurrence of early toxicosis and convulsive phenomena in the calf muscles. Nuts are rich in potassium, especially hazelnuts and cedar, sea buckthorn, chicken, fish and pomegranate.

Accompanied by swelling and slagging of the lumen of the venous vessels, it also leads to cramps in the legs during pregnancy at night. In addition, the pressure of the growing uterus on the inferior vena cava causes seizures in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

There are other provoking factors that affect the occurrence of leg cramps in expectant mothers:

uncontrolled intake of diuretics;
sedentary lifestyle;
lack of glucose in the body;
smoking;
swelling;
caffeine.

First aid for seizures

What to do if you experience leg cramps during pregnancy? First of all, you need warmth. A woman should relax her limbs and apply a heating pad or a bottle of warm water wrapped in a towel to them.

If there is no heat at hand - for example, a cramp caught the expectant mother on the road or late at night - you need to stretch the muscles of the legs, stretching the feet towards you, then relax and pull again. These manipulations must be repeated until the convulsions subside.

Often, leg cramps during pregnancy at night appear due to long lying on the right side or back, as the fetus puts additional pressure on the inferior vena cava. In this case, it is recommended to sleep only on the left side.

If the cramps are too intense and last for a long time, you can remove them with the help of a warm bath. Such cases should not be ignored; if they are repeated, consultation of such specialists as a gynecologist, phlebologist, gastroenterologist, etc. is necessary.

Treatment

Treatment of leg cramps during pregnancy depends entirely on the identified cause of this pathology.

The lack of individual trace elements in the body is replenished by taking multivitamin complexes, a properly selected diet and giving up bad habits. Walking in the fresh air helps to better absorb calcium and vitamin D.

Taking multivitamins and preventing their deficiency should be carried out at the stage of pregnancy planning, as well as throughout its entire duration. Do not neglect synthetic vitamin complexes. The fact is that not all nutrients and trace elements from food are absorbed in full, especially if there are problems with the digestive tract or metabolic disorders.

Anemia is eliminated with iron preparations, the course of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. There are situations when a woman is forced to fight anemia throughout her pregnancy and take these drugs.

Varicose veins require the appointment of venotonic drugs, the wearing of special stockings, the application of elastic bandages. All this is prescribed by a doctor, depending on the degree of varicose veins.

Adequately selected therapy leads to the elimination of convulsive phenomena in the legs, a decrease in the symptoms of toxicosis, and the normalization of the nervous system. Thanks to this, the unborn child receives a sufficient amount of trace elements necessary for its normal growth and development.

Prevention

With the help of timely preventive measures, you can avoid the occurrence of cramps in the legs in the future.

Symptoms such as severe aching pain in the muscles or in the foot, a feeling of tightness in the lower leg, a feeling of heaviness and fatigue, even after a short walk, appear in 60% of the adult population.

These symptoms can be called harbingers of convulsions. And during pregnancy, almost all women experience sensations when they suddenly bring their legs together, especially at night.

Possible causes of cramping legs during pregnancy

In medicine, local cramps or, simply speaking, cramps during pregnancy - this is an involuntary and painful muscle contraction. The causes can be both diseases that were observed or not observed before pregnancy, and pregnancy itself can provoke the occurrence of seizures. Therefore, with frequent convulsions, pain persisting in the places where the legs are brought together for up to a day, swelling or a change in skin color in the places of their localization, it is necessary to inform the doctor who leads the pregnancy about this problem. For clarity of the picture, pregnant women should know the reasons that are provocateurs of such phenomena:

1. Hypothermia or vice versa, overheating. Temperature drops are not recommended even for quite healthy people, and for a future mother this is an exorbitant load on the body. In the cold, a woman tries to group herself, warming herself in this way. At the same time, the muscles are maximally tensed, which, when relaxed, can cause their spasm.

The heat for pregnant women is dangerous because the body, weakened by pregnancy, quickly loses the fluid and salts necessary for proper metabolism, which can also lead to muscle cramps.

2. Walking in uncomfortable shoes. This is also a warning not only for pregnant women, and it is clear that a large load on the legs suggests their fatigue, and uncomfortable shoes only aggravate their condition: blood circulation worsens, muscles are not supplied with enough oxygen and blood, and as a result, cramps.

3. Inactivity or prolonged sitting. This situation, like the previous one, does not fully provide the vessels with blood and oxygen, besides the fact that convulsions are possible, there is a prospect of developing varicose veins and arthritis. Moderately active life is not superfluous either for pregnant women or for anyone else.

4. Flat feet and varicose veins. The condition of the foot is very important for the calf muscles. Flat feet drastically reduces the amount of movement of the foot, it becomes "wooden", which complicates the process of blood flow in the lower leg. Any disturbance of blood flow can lead to varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and other diseases, which are the reason why legs cramp during pregnancy.

5. Excess weight, and such is present during pregnancy, guarantees a load on the legs and their fatigue. In addition, the fetus, located in the small pelvis, compresses the vessels and disrupts the outflow of blood in the lower extremities. It is this phenomenon that reduces the legs during pregnancy.

6. Diuretics or blood pressure medications. Often, pregnancy is accompanied by kidney disease or pressure surges. Women take drugs that are aimed at removing excess sodium from the body. It retains water in the body, from which the pressure rises. And excretion along with sodium of potassium and magnesium is a secondary side effect of the drug. The membrane in excitable tissues, especially in muscles, becomes unstable, calcium is released into the muscles, which causes convulsions.

7. genetic factor. If one of the woman's parents suffered from leg cramps, then there is a possibility of this unpleasant phenomenon occurring in the woman herself, especially during pregnancy.

8. The first trimester of pregnancy is often accompanied by toxicosis(vomiting and decreased appetite), which leads to the loss of vital microelements for both the expectant mother and the child. The second and third trimesters lead to the loss of trace elements from the increased growth of the fetus and the formation of various structures by it. This can be the root cause of the fact that during pregnancy it reduces the legs.

Diagnosis: if when it brings legs together during pregnancy

Based on the numerous reasons that lead to cramping during pregnancy, women have a question, which doctor's consultation is necessary when such a problem manifests itself? First of all, the gynecologist who leads the woman's pregnancy should know about this. Depending on what caused the convulsions, the gynecologist himself will determine which doctor's consultation is necessary. It can be either a neurologist, or the help of a phlebologist, endocrinologist, orthopedist or other specialists is needed. Additional clinical and laboratory studies, as well as consultation with specialists, will help determine the next steps.

Actions for diseases

The slightest deviations from the norm should be observed by specialists in order to avoid complications during pregnancy, as well as after it. A child needs a healthy mother.

With flat feet you should use special massage mats or balls to massage the reflexogenic points of the feet. This improves blood circulation and relaxes the foot, after which the outflow of blood improves. This problem needs to be addressed with an orthopedist.

For varicose veins, with the help of a phlebologist, special compression underwear is selected. The participation of a phlebologist is necessary for the correct selection of the size and degree of compression, only in this case, wearing special underwear will be effective.

Endocrinologist, controlling the level of sugar in the blood, prescribes drugs that are acceptable during pregnancy, and selects the optimal diet necessary to correct the level of sugar in the body. Also, the endocrinologist controls the work of the thyroid gland, which can fail during pregnancy.

Any other changes associated with the disease should be monitored by specialists in the appropriate direction, to which the gynecologist directs.

When it brings legs together during pregnancy - help yourself

Once having experienced painful cramps, there is no desire to experience this again. Some women are even afraid of the approach of night. In order not to reach such an absurd situation, it is advisable to report such a phenomenon to your doctor after the first time. Well, if you are still taken by surprise by this terrible pain, then some tricks will help get rid of it:

Sit on the bed so that the healthy leg is on the floor, and the patient is lying on the bed. Carefully reaching out with your hand to your toes, you should slowly pull them towards you. So you need to repeat until the pain subsides. In conclusion, it is advisable to gently massage the muscles until a slight warming.

Pointing your feet at yourself, massage the suffering leg. It is from the place where severe pain is felt that you need to start light massaging movements.

An ancient way, when it brings legs together during pregnancy, it is better not to prick a muscle with a needle. Instead, you can use a mustard plaster that is constantly at hand. A mustard plaster applied to a sore spot, warming, soothes and relaxes the muscles.

Pharmacies sell cooling gels and creams made on the basis of horse chestnut, so they are not dangerous for pregnant women. At night or at the time of pain, apply the gel to the sore spot. Cooling, the gel soothes the muscles.

Prevention

Regular cramps are unbearable and unsafe, so you should try to isolate yourself from possible troubles. And the main ways should be:

Balanced diet. Increase the amount of magnesium and potassium in the form of tomato, baked potato, watermelon, buckwheat porridge, chocolate, banana, dried apricots, raisins and nuts. It is the lack of these trace elements that provokes that unbearable pain when it brings legs together during pregnancy.

Contrasting foot baths, and the contrast can be with a difference of five degrees. The procedure ends with water at a comfortable temperature. Baths can be done with the addition of sea salt, it helps to accelerate muscle relaxation.

In the absence of varicose veins, self-massage is used. This can be either stroking from the foot to the lower leg, or vibratory tapping.

Exercises that target the calf muscles. When doing exercises, you need to feel tension in this area. For example, in a prone position, raise your legs as far as possible and make vibrational movements, that is, a slight tremor in your legs. Or, standing against the wall and resting your hands on it, rise on your toes, applying maximum effort to strain the calf muscles. Sitting on the couch, you can alternately stand on your toes, then on your heels. The exercise is simple but effective.

Comfortable shoes- this is the main condition during pregnancy, and especially when the legs are often reduced. The heel should be stable and not higher than five centimeters, and the shoe last and shoe insoles should be of high quality.

Smoking, coffee and tea are excluded without fail, so as not to aggravate the condition of blood vessels that are already working hard during pregnancy.

Gymnastics for the legs. Rising on toes at least ten times a day, women train and oxygenate the calf muscles, which helps to avoid unpleasant cramps.

Rest with legs raised up. This position is optimal for free circulation of blood from the extremities. Try to the best of your ability, during the day two or three times to rest in this position for twenty minutes.

Sleep on the left side. The vena cava, which carries the largest amount of blood in the body, is on the right. In order to release the pressure on her, one should lie as little as possible on the right side. Thus, the movement of blood is not disturbed, respectively, so you can avoid unnecessary provocateurs of seizures.

Folk remedies: if it reduces legs during pregnancy

Only in the case when you are sure that pregnancy is the provocateur of seizures, you can turn to folk ways to get rid of pain. It is not recommended to drink herbs and use any drugs during pregnancy, without a doctor's prescription, but procedures such as salt baths and the like will not be superfluous.

An excellent way to prevent and prevent the pain syndrome of seizures can be self-made warmer. To do this, stock up on dried pits of cherries or plums (any fruit pits), place them in a small sock or sew a bag for them. Before going to bed, warm the bag in the microwave, apply to painful places, you can lightly massage them. Bones retain heat for a long time, so they can easily replace mustard plasters. Sunflower seeds can be used instead of seeds.

Do not miss the opportunity to walk barefoot in the morning dew or sea sand. This procedure replaces special rugs. Any morning walk is good for expectant mothers.

Lemongrass or peppermint seeds applied to the patch, which, in turn, is glued to the sore spot. If the foot hurts more often, then it should be glued to the foot. This method, although not everyone is credible in terms of effectiveness, but it is very effective. The patch is applied for 12 hours, the procedure can be repeated, replacing the patch with a new one.

I was taken by surprise by the problem when it brings legs together during pregnancy, remember conformity principle. For those who do not know yet, the method is really effective:

The two middle fingers of the hand (middle and ring fingers) are responsible for our legs. If the leg is brought together in the area of the foot, then we massage the terminal phalanx of the fingers, if the lower leg, then we can massage or press the middle phalanx of the finger with a pen, and so on. If it is not possible to massage, then you can make a mark with a red marker in the corresponding zone. This experiment was carried out on themselves by many women, it works.

Dear future mothers! Do not self-medicate, contact the doctor in a timely manner with all your problems. Together it is much easier to solve them.

convulsions- this is an involuntary and rather painful muscle contraction caused by a violation of blood circulation in this part of the body.

Quite often, for the first time, women experience leg cramps during pregnancy. “To reduce legs”, as they say in the common people, can be for a lot of reasons, the main ones are described below.

Why do pregnant women have cramps in their legs?

Most often, seizures are not an independent disease. Cramps of the lower extremities are rather a symptom of a certain disease, a sign of circulatory disorders or excessive muscle loads.

It can reduce legs due to:

predisposition or presence of varicose veins (because this disease leads to circulatory disorders in the limbs);
muscle fatigue;
improperly selected shoes or wearing high heels;
an uncomfortable posture or a long stay without movement during sleep (at the same time, the legs become numb and cramp them);
swelling of the legs of various origins;
cold feet syndrome;
metabolic disorders (deficiency of potassium, calcium and magnesium), which leads to muscle weakness and spasms;
the presence of inflammatory processes in the muscles or ligaments;
diabetes mellitus (because this disease disrupts the peripheral circulation of the legs);
neurological problems, in particular, diseases of the lower spine;
hormonal failure (but then the pregnant woman was diagnosed with a “threatened miscarriage” and she is undergoing hormonal therapy), if the pregnancy is not in danger, then convulsions can occur due to changes in hormonal status (when the body has not yet had time to adapt).

But as a rule, leg cramps are observed in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The reason for this is an increased load on the muscles and ligamentous apparatus of the legs, because the pregnant tummy is constantly increasing in size and weight. In addition, the enlarged uterus often compresses the large blood vessels of the pelvis, which disrupts the venous outflow and cramps the legs.

It is also worth saying that during pregnancy, the need for trace elements increases, because the baby takes a certain part of them from the mother's body. With a deficiency of such important nutrients as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, a spasm of calves and toes can be observed. Therefore, if a woman has not yet started taking a special complex of vitamins for pregnant women, it is worth thinking about it.

Why does the leg cramp more often at night?

This may be due to:

uncomfortable position of the body or prolonged immobility during sleep. At the same time, blood circulation in the legs is disturbed and the legs cramp.
increased muscle excitability due to excessive intake of coffee or tea during the day. These drinks are muscle stimulants due to the presence of caffeine in them, so excessive intake of coffee or tea does not allow the legs to relax even during the night's rest.
in most women, swelling of the legs increases in the evening due to the transferred load during the day. The appearance of edema causes leg cramps.

Nocturnal cramps may be longer and more painful than daytime cramps. You need to know how to make the muscles relax and stop the development of painful sensations.

What to do during a seizure?

It is necessary to remember the sequence of actions for cramps of various muscle groups of the legs and to practice in advance to quickly and accurately perform them. This will help relieve spasm without too much fuss in a minimum amount of time.

General procedure:

Straighten your leg.
Engage antagonist muscles (see below for explanations).
Activate blood circulation by rubbing the painful area.

Detailed procedure for different muscles

1. With a spasm of the muscles of the foot and calves, the first step is to pull the sock towards you with an effort (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Method of getting rid of cramps in the foot and calves

Thus, antagonist muscles will be involved, which do the opposite work. And if they tense up, then the cramped muscles should relax on their own. This is provided by the structure of the body of each person.

With the other hand, it is necessary to carefully and quickly rub, knead, pinch the cramped muscle.

Such actions will reduce spasm and increase blood flow in the spasmodic muscle.

Also, painful contractions in the calf muscles can be stopped by pressing on certain points. Sharply, quickly and forcefully press the thumb into the center of the popliteal fossa of the reduced leg. Next, you need to press on a point 5–6 cm above the heel, and leading your hand up, press the calf three times at intervals of several centimeters.

2. With a spasm of the front of the thigh, bend the leg at the knee, pulling it with your hands to your chest (see Figure 2). If the period no longer allows this, then it is necessary to pull the leg as close to the stomach as possible, but without squeezing it.

Rub the contracted muscle and repeat all over again.

Figure 2 - A way to get rid of cramps in the anterior thigh

3. For spasm of the hamstring and/or buttocks, lift the cramped leg and straighten it at the knee (see Figure 3). Rub the back of your thighs well with your hands. Do it all over again if necessary.

Figure 3 - Relief from hamstring cramp

It is useful to study this instruction for all pregnant women, regardless of whether they suffer from leg cramps or not, because no one is immune from its appearance.

Seizure Prevention

What can be done to avoid or reduce the frequency of seizures? The first step is to identify and try to eliminate the cause of their occurrence.

If the woman does not suffer from any of the diseases listed at the beginning of the article, then general recommendations should be followed.

1. Eat more greens, vegetables, fruits (dried fruits in winter, such as dried apricots, dates, prunes) and sesame seeds (a source of calcium). Increase the amount of dairy products in your diet. Avoid excessive consumption of tea and coffee, salty, spicy and pickled. Try to drink more clean water, and only 30% of the total amount of fluid consumed should be juices, fruit drinks, compotes.

Night cramps are a common problem that worries women during pregnancy. Painful muscle contractions occur in the middle of the night, interfering with normal sleep. What is the reason for this condition and how can you help yourself with seizures?

The reasons

Cramps are severe painful muscle contractions. During pregnancy, this condition occurs mainly at night, after a short sleep. Attacks can also occur in the morning, especially in late gestation. After changing the position of the body, the pain noticeably subsides or completely stops.

Possible causes of night cramps:

Mineral metabolism disorders

In anticipation of the baby, the woman's need for some important trace elements, including calcium, potassium and magnesium, increases significantly. The lack of these substances can provoke the appearance of convulsions - painful muscle twitches. A similar problem often occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, in the midst of severe toxicosis. Constant vomiting leads to leaching of beneficial trace elements and vitamins, which provokes the appearance of seizures at night.

In late pregnancy, calcium and magnesium deficiency can be caused by improper nutrition. Night cramps are more likely to occur in women whose due date falls in early spring. To prevent beriberi, all expectant mothers are advised to take multivitamins designed specifically for pregnant women.

Anemia

Iron deficiency is another common cause of nighttime cramps. Anemia develops mainly in the second half of pregnancy, when the woman's body can no longer cope with the increased load. With severe anemia, metabolism is disturbed, and the required amount of oxygen ceases to flow into the muscles. Seizures develop, significantly complicating the life of the expectant mother. For the treatment of anemia, iron preparations are prescribed in tablets or injections.

Varicose disease

More than 50% of all pregnant women face manifestations of varicose veins. Hormonal changes that occur in anticipation of the baby lead to a decrease in the tone of the veins and provoke stagnation of blood in the vessels. In the later stages, the pressure of the growing uterus on the veins of the small pelvis is added. There is pain in the legs, heaviness, swelling. At night, painful cramps of the calf muscles occur. It helps to cope with cramps by wearing compression underwear and taking drugs that increase the tone of the venous wall.

Compression syndrome of the inferior vena cava

The inferior floor vein, into which the vessels from the lower extremities and the pelvis flow, runs along the spine. In late pregnancy, in the position of a woman lying on her back, the enlarged uterus compresses the wall of the vein. There is shortness of breath, the heartbeat becomes more frequent, cramps of the calf muscles occur. After 30 weeks, expectant mothers are advised to sleep on their side with a comfortable pillow or cushion under their buttocks.

First aid for seizures

How to relieve painful leg cramps?

Straighten the leg, pulling the toe towards you with force.
Rub the cramped muscle with your fingers, pinch yourself on the skin.
Massage the calf muscle with strong circular motions.
Get out of bed, walk barefoot on the floor.
Standing on the floor, step on the heel, transfer the weight of the body to it.
Take a warm shower.

If the pain persists, you need to stand against the wall, leaning your hands against the support. Slowly, in very small steps, step back as long as the length of the arms allows. Repeat the exercise several times until the cramp is gone. After the pain subsides, walk barefoot for a few minutes.

Principles of treatment

Several methods are used to treat and prevent night cramps:

Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercise is the best way to prevent the occurrence of painful cramps at night. You should do it regularly, every day at about the same time. All exercises are done slowly, without tension, to the best of your ability and ability. If you feel unwell, training should be stopped for a while.

Sample selection of exercises:

Sit comfortably with a straight back. Stretch your legs forward, pull the sock towards you. Return to starting position.
Sitting with a straight back, pull your leg towards you, bending at the hip joint. Do a few lunges forward and backward. Help yourself with your hands if necessary. Repeat the exercise with the other leg.
Sitting on the floor, pull your bent leg in and make a few circular movements in the hip joint. Repeat the exercise with the other leg. This warm-up allows you to not only cope with cramps, but also prepares the hip joints for the upcoming birth.

Regular yoga or gymnastics in groups for expectant mothers will also help alleviate the condition. Swimming in the pool will be beneficial.

Massage

Cramps in the calf muscles can be relieved with self-massage. During the attack, grasp the shin with both hands, fix the thumbs on the back of the leg. Massage the contracted muscle for at least one minute. After the pain subsides, massage the lower leg with light circular movements with the whole palm. If the legs cramp every night, preventive massage should be done 2-3 times during the day.

Diet

Rational nutrition is an excellent prevention of beriberi during pregnancy. In the diet of the expectant mother, there must be foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium:

bananas;
dried apricots;
potatoes (in moderation);
legumes (if there are no problems with digestion);
carrot;
spinach;
greens;
milk;
dairy products;
cottage cheese.

Drug therapy for seizures during pregnancy is extremely rare. In the case of varicose veins, it is recommended to wear special compression garments that increase the tone of the venous wall. Until the birth, you should stop wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes (including high heels). Throughout the day, it is necessary to change the position of the body as often as possible so as not to provoke stagnation of blood and the appearance of painful cramps at night.

The use of special pillows for pregnant women significantly reduces the likelihood of developing seizures. Such pillows are soft rollers with a length of 1.5 to 2 m. The pillow is placed under the legs or between the legs, under the lower back or buttocks. In this position, the calf muscles relax, and pain in the legs practically does not occur. Instead of special pillows, you can use a blanket folded several times, a regular pillow or a soft roller.