What causes leg cramps in late pregnancy?

Having a baby is a truly happy thing, but mothers first have to deal with many troubles during pregnancy. One of the problems that confuses many pregnant mothers is calf cramps. Pregnant women consume a lot of calcium. If calcium and zinc are not supplemented in time, leg cramps are likely to occur, especially during sleep. If leg cramps occur, pregnant fathers do not need to panic, but should immediately straighten their legs to the heel, and then slowly hook their toes back to help relieve the pain.

What causes leg cramps in pregnant women?

Having a baby is a truly happy thing, but pregnant mothers first have to face many troubles during pregnancy. One of the problems that confuses many pregnant mothers is calf cramps. Many expectant mothers have expressed that they had never experienced leg cramps before pregnancy, so why do they get leg cramps as soon as they become pregnant? What causes leg cramps in pregnant women?

During pregnancy, the weight of pregnant women will increase significantly, which will increase the burden on the legs of pregnant women, causing the thigh muscles to be in a state of fatigue. In addition, pregnant women consume a lot of calcium. If calcium and zinc are not supplemented in time, leg cramps are likely to occur, especially during sleep.

"Leg cramps" are medically called leg cramps, which are characterized by sudden, strong, and uncontrolled contraction of one or two groups of muscles in the foot, which become a little stiff and painful. Although leg cramps only last for a few minutes, the muscle discomfort or pain after the onset can last for several hours.

If the legs cramp, pregnant mothers should take different preventive measures according to different reasons, so as to quickly eliminate the cramps and relieve the pain. If leg cramps occur, the pregnant father should often massage the pregnant mother's feet to relax the muscles, so as to avoid leg cramps!

Causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

During pregnancy, some expectant mothers are very prone to leg cramps. So, how could this happen? What does leg cramps indicate the expectant mother needs to improve? Next, let’s understand the reasons why pregnant women suffer from leg cramps!

1. Lack of nutrition. Excessive diet leads to excessive protein intake, which affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, causes the deposition of acid and alkaline metabolites, and causes hypocalcemia. One of the main manifestations of hypocalcemia is leg cramps.

2. Often stand for long periods of time. Walking too much or standing for too long during pregnancy will increase the activity of the leg muscles, increase the burden on the thigh muscles, and cause some acid and alkaline metabolic substances to accumulate, which will cause muscle cramps.

3. Poor sleeping posture. Bad sleeping posture, lying flat for a long time, making the mattress press on the soles of the feet, or lying on the side for a long time, making the soles of the feet against the bed, causing some calf muscles to be in a state of relative relaxation for a long time, which is easy to cause leg cramps.

4. Lack of calcium in the human body. After pregnancy, the baby's nutritional needs increase, especially the absorption of calcium, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the daily calcium requirement increases to 1200 mg. If the diet is insufficient in calcium and vitamin D or lacks sunlight, the calcium deficiency will be aggravated, thereby increasing the fluid regulation of muscles and nerves. The blood potassium level at night is lower than that during the day, so calf cramps often occur at night.