What causes leg cramps in 4 months of pregnancy?

Pregnant women are very concerned about their own health because it is also related to the health of the baby in their belly. They will be extremely worried if any discomfort occurs. Many pregnant women will experience leg cramps, which may be caused by overnutrition, frequent long-term standing, poor sleeping posture and calcium deficiency in the body. They need to pay special attention to their own condition and choose appropriate coping measures to recover their health as soon as possible.

1. What causes leg cramps in pregnant women?

1. Overnutrition

Some pregnant women are pregnant for the first time and do not know how to balance their nutrition, so they may overeat. This will significantly increase their protein intake, which will change the metabolism of carbohydrates and cause the accumulation of acidic metabolites, further affecting the electrolytes in the body, causing electrolyte imbalance, which may lead to symptoms of cramps.

2. Standing for long periods of time

Pregnant women carry a heavy weight during pregnancy. If they often stand for a long time, the activity of the calf muscles will increase, which will increase the weight burden on the leg muscles. Standing for a long time will increase the acidic metabolic products in certain parts of the legs, leading to muscle spasms, which are so-called leg cramps.

3. Bad sleeping posture

A bad sleeping posture can also affect the leg muscles. Pregnant women usually choose to sleep in a supine position. When lying on their backs, if the bedding presses on the soles of the feet or some of the calf muscles are in an extremely relaxed environment, it can also cause leg cramps.

4. Calcium deficiency

Pregnant women need to increase their calcium intake after pregnancy, because the baby will absorb a large amount of calcium from the mother. If calcium is deficient, leg cramps are likely to occur at night.

2. How to prevent leg cramps in pregnant women?

1. Avoid overwork

Since pregnant women suddenly increase the weight, their bodies cannot fully adapt to it, so it is best not to overwork. Walking too much or exercising too much can cause leg cramps in pregnant women. Pregnant women should pay more attention to rest in their daily lives, and relieve themselves as soon as possible when they are overtired.

2. Protect against cold weather

The muscles in the legs are easily affected by cold, so it is best to keep warm to prevent the legs from getting cold. Cold legs can irritate the muscles and cause cramps.

3. Avoid too much sleep

Although pregnant women need more rest, they should not sleep too much. If they sleep too much, it will slow down the blood circulation, causing some metabolic waste to accumulate in the legs, which is very likely to cause muscle cramps.

Although leg cramps in pregnant women are not a big problem, if leg cramps occur while walking or standing, it is best to relieve the cramps first, and then look for the causes and prevention methods of leg cramps. Pregnant women should pay more attention to their physical condition during pregnancy, and even if it is a small matter like cramps, they should find out the cause.