Why do pregnant women have leg cramps? What are the causes of leg cramps in pregnant women?

I think everyone should be familiar with cramps. This is a common thing in life, but do you really know why cramps occur? And why do pregnant women also have cramps? Let's learn about it together today.

Why do pregnant women have leg cramps?

The burden on leg muscles increases, and the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the body is unbalanced. Walking too much and standing too long during pregnancy will increase the activity of the calf muscles, resulting in insufficient calcium in the pregnant woman's body, which can cause leg cramps. In addition, poor blood circulation or cold weather are also possible causes of cramps.

What causes cramps in pregnant women?

1. Overnutrition. Excessive diet causes excessive intake of protein-rich foods, which affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, leading to the accumulation of acidic metabolites and electrolyte disorders. One of the manifestations of electrolyte disorders is cramps.

2. Standing for a long time frequently. Walking too much or standing for too long during pregnancy will increase the activity of the calf muscles, increase the burden on the leg muscles, lead to the accumulation of local acidic metabolites, and cause muscle cramps.

3. Bad sleeping posture. Bad sleeping posture, lying on your back for a long time, with the quilt pressing on your feet, or lying on your stomach for a long time, with your feet against the bed, forcing certain calf muscles to be in an absolutely relaxed state for a long time, can easily cause leg cramps.

4. Calcium deficiency. After pregnancy, the baby's nutritional needs increase, especially calcium absorption. Especially in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the daily calcium requirement increases to 1,000 mg. If the dietary calcium and vitamin D content is insufficient or there is a lack of sunlight, the calcium deficiency will be aggravated, thereby increasing the excitability of muscles and nerves.

How to relieve cramp pain during pregnancy

Don't be afraid of pain. At this time, you should straighten your calves. After about five or six minutes, the pain symptoms will be relieved. You can try to massage the place where the calf cramps. Massage for about 10 minutes and the pain symptoms will disappear. If the pain symptoms are still there, let the prospective father help massage the legs and soles of the feet to completely relax the leg muscles, and the pain will not be so severe. Eat more calcium-containing foods in your diet, such as milk, dried shrimps, bone soup, etc. Langdi calcium carbonate D3 granules contain sufficient calcium. Calcium D can prevent calcium deficiency symptoms during pregnancy and prevent rickets in newborns. Although leg cramps are not a big deal, waking up in pain in the middle of the night every day will also affect rest. We need to supplement calcium to nourish our bodies, and babies with strong mothers will be healthier.

What can pregnant women eat to reduce cramps

1. Banana

When pregnant women have leg cramps, it may be due to a lack of potassium in the body. Bananas contain a lot of potassium, which can help prevent and treat muscle cramps. Other foods rich in potassium include potatoes, cereals or kelp.

2. Milk

Leg cramps are mostly caused by calcium deficiency during pregnancy. Milk is rich in calcium and can help pregnant women replenish the calcium needed by the body. Therefore, drinking more milk can help pregnant women reduce the frequency of leg cramps. In addition to milk, foods rich in calcium include tofu, soybeans, and tofu.

3. Nori

Pregnant women with leg cramps can also choose to eat more seaweed, because when the body lacks magnesium, the leg muscles will become weak, which can easily lead to leg cramps. The magnesium content in seaweed is very high, and seaweed also has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system of pregnant women.