Pregnancy is a beautiful time of creating life inside you, and while there are some amazing moments to celebrate, there are also some not-so-fun symptoms associated with pregnancy.
Leg cramps during pregnancy in the third trimester, especially pregnancy leg cramps at night, can be excruciating.
What Causes Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
If you are wondering, what are the causes of leg cramps during pregnancy, here are several factors that may lead to this problem:
- fatigue
- calcium deficiency
- vitamin d deficiency
- magnesium deficiency
- dehydration
- weight gain
Ultimately, the additional weight can play havoc on your body. Cramps, aches, pains, and more will become commonplace.
Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
As you move through your pregnancy, there are going to be many helpful tips that will pop up and help you along the way. Making it through to childbirth safely is the only goal at this point.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely remedy leg cramps in pregnancy. There are measurements that can be taken to reduce the impacts and live a more comfortable life during pregnancy, but nothing that can be done to eliminate it entirely.
So, if you are experiencing pregnancy cramps on a regular basis, what can you do? While there are no foolproof methods, there are a few things that you can try to get through those cramps and start feeling normal again.
1. Get a Leg Massage
If you really want to combat pregnancy cramps while also feeling relaxed and comfortable, then a massage is clearly the way to go.
We all need a good rub down from time to time to take the stress of life away. When you are pregnant, those stresses only get amplified.
The great thing is that you can get a leg massage at a professional studio or have your partner do it. The latter is particularly effective as it helps relieve the pain and tension of those cramps while also fostering intimacy between partners.
Still, you are unlikely to get rid of those pains entirely. If they get to be severe, you can see your pregnancy turn into a stressful, painful time instead of one that is supposed to be full of life and intrigue.
2. Flex Your Feet to Steer Clear of Leg Cramps
When cramps happen, they are not only incredibly painful, but can really restrict mobility. This is already an issue considering the additional weight that is being carried.
Stretching and flexing is an invaluable tool in the world of workouts so why wouldn’t that be the same here? After all, the key to avoiding strains, pulls, and cramps is to ensure that you have properly stretched your muscles before doing anything physically exerting.
You can tailor your stretching routine to your overall mobility and comfort level. There might not be any standing toe touches due to your decreased flexibility, but other stretching can alleviate those cramps and loosen up tight muscles or tendons.
3. Soak in a Tub
Having a soak in your tub with warm water can help decrease leg cramps during pregnancy. Throw in some epsom salt as this is used to help reduce muscle cramping and can be the perfect relief when cramps transpire.
4. Try Red Light Therapy at Home
A technique that is becoming more and more popular these days is red light therapy. Though there are no formal studies showing just what this technique can do, more and more people are swearing by what it can do.
For pregnant women, it is entirely safe to perform red light therapy during pregnancy. Given that cramps are one of the litany of things that red light therapy can treat, that can be hugely beneficial for getting through a particularly tough pregnancy.
UVB light therapy at home – as well as LED light therapy – can be effective means for treatment.
Red light therapy is also great for treating several other conditions after childbirth. Things like nipple pain, milk production, healing episiotomy wounds, postoperative pain from cesarean sections, fat loss, postpartum hair loss, depression, and stretch marks can all be treated using red light therapy.
It is just about finding the delivery method that suits you best. There are lamps and other devices that can be used in the comfort of your own home, allowing you to get the treatment that you need to stay happy and healthy both throughout and after the pregnancy.
5. Make sure you drink enough during the day
Water balance is quite important for the future mom and the baby, so it’s quite important to drink enough fluids during the day.
Invest in a large, insulated water bottle that you can take everywhere with you. This way, you won’t forget to drink.
The fluid can be whatever helps to keep you hydrated. If you’re not a big fan of plain water, spice it up a little!
Try adding some fruit to your water with a fruit infused water bottle or add a drop of flavored liquid to give it some flavor.
6. Take magnesium and calcium supplements during pregnancy
Research shows that taking a magnesium supplement may help moms-to-be get rid of leg cramps during pregnancy. You will get the same effect from taking a calcium supplement as well.
Due to the reduced levels of calcium in your blood, leg cramps can be a real pain in the neck for future moms.
Except for the usual supplements, you might take into account eating more calcium-rich foods and foods rich in magnesium. There is a whole list of products, such as:
- milk, cheese, yogurts;
- sardines;
- leafy greens;
- dried fruits;
- nuts, seeds.
7. Use a Magnesium Phosphate Lotion
Applying a lotion specifically designed to decrease leg cramps can work wonders. Hyland’s Leg Cramp ointment rubs in easily, leaving no greasy residue on your skin.
Magnesium phosphate and other natural ingredients help provide temporarily relief of: leg cramps, foot cramps, pains in limbs, joint pain, leg pain and charley horses. Apply Hyland’s Leg Cramps Ointment directly on the cramp and massage into the skin for fast-acting relief of leg, calf, and foot cramps.
8. Apply heat or cold
Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing the stream of a hot shower onto the cramped muscle also can help. Alternatively, massaging the cramped muscle with ice may relieve pain.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are more than a few things that you can try to combat the dreaded pregnancy cramps. Even if they don’t come on all that often, you will want to address them sooner rather than later. After all, they can be quite painful, especially when they are prolonged.
But with these techniques, you can battle pregnancy cramps and have a less painful, uncomfortable birthing experience. It has the ability to completely change how you feel over the duration of your pregnancy.
It is just a matter of finding what method works best for you. Even a combination of techniques can wind up being the best treatment. Mix in a little stretching with some red light therapy and you will be surprised by the benefits that it can provide for your body.
At the end of the day, pregnancy is difficult on its own. But when things like pregnancy leg cramps come into play, it can almost be too much to handle. Make things more comfortable by treating your pregnancy cramps.
