What causes leg cramps in pregnant women at night?

Leg cramps at night are a common phenomenon among pregnant women. If not adjusted in time, it will have a great impact on the sleep quality and physical health of pregnant women. There are often many reasons for leg cramps in pregnant women, such as calcium deficiency or cold. If calcium is not supplemented in time, it will have a certain impact on the fetus and affect the formation of fetal bones. Therefore, it must be taken seriously and go to the hospital for examination. If it is calcium deficiency, tie the shoelaces under the guidance of a doctor. Let's understand why pregnant women have leg cramps at night.

What causes leg cramps in pregnant women at night?

.The main cause of calf cramps is calcium deficiency. Blood calcium is an important substance for maintaining normal excitability of human nerves and muscles. Vitamin D regulates calcium metabolism and its dynamic balance in the body. If there is a lack of vitamin D, blood calcium may decrease, causing increased nerve and muscle excitability and resulting in this symptom. Under normal circumstances, the average calcium concentration in human blood is 2.38 mmol/L. After pregnancy, in order to meet the growth and development of the mother and fetus, the pregnant woman's calcium requirement increases significantly. The mother's blood volume increases significantly after pregnancy, outdoor activities decrease, and the calcium and vitamin D content in the diet is insufficient, which makes the blood calcium concentration lower than normal, causing muscle and nerve excitability to increase and calf cramps to occur.

In addition, sitting for a long time or being exposed to cold, chills, or excessive fatigue can also cause lower limb cramps in pregnant women. In addition, the enlargement of the uterus in the late pregnancy causes poor blood circulation in the lower limbs, which also leads to the occurrence of "calf tendons".

What to do when you have leg cramps?

When the calf cramps, first gently massage the back of the calf (calf) from bottom to top, then massage the big toe and the entire leg. If it still does not relieve, place the foot in a basin of warm water, apply hot compress to the calf, and move the foot. This can usually relieve the cramp.

How to take care of yourself to improve leg cramps?

1. Engage in appropriate outdoor activities and sunbathe more often.

2. Develop good eating habits and take a 10-minute break before meals to allow the gastrointestinal tract to relax, which is conducive to better digestion during meals and reduces the occurrence of bloating. Eat on time and follow the 3:2:1 distribution principle for breakfast: lunch: dinner.

3. Arrange a reasonable diet and supplement calcium. Eat a varied diet and eat more calcium-rich foods. Such as high-calcium foods such as kelp stewed with tofu, black fungus and fish head stewed with tofu, beef tendon stewed with tomatoes, pork bone soup, small anchovies, and cod. Pregnant women can choose food that is suitable for them according to their own physical condition.

4. After 5 months of pregnancy, expectant mothers sometimes experience soreness and tightness in their calf muscles and are prone to cramps at night, which also affects the quality of sleep. You can soak your feet in hot water before going to bed to relieve fatigue, and pay attention to adjusting your sleeping position. Try to lie on your left side. When stretching, be careful not to stretch your legs too straight, and keep your lower limbs warm.

5. Starting from the 5th month of pregnancy, you should increase your calcium intake to 1500 mg per day.

The above is an introduction to why pregnant women suffer from leg cramps at night. After understanding it, I hope it will be helpful to more friends. If it is calcium deficiency, calcium supplementation should be done under the guidance of a doctor. In addition, dietary adjustments should be made. You can eat more bone soup and other foods. In addition, you should also pay attention to keeping your body warm when sleeping, which is a good prevention for leg cramps.