Cramps during pregnancy are relatively common and affect nearly half of pregnant women and are usually associated with normal changes during pregnancy.
Although this is not a cause for concern, the appearance of cramps should always be reported to the obstetrician, especially if it is very recurrent, as it can also be a sign of a decrease in dehydration or a change in the values of certain minerals, such as calcium and potassium, which can be replaced to relieve discomfort.
- In general.
- Good ways to relieve cramps include: stretching the affected muscle.
- Performing a massage.
- And applying hot water compresses to the area.
- To avoid appearing very often.
- In addition to consulting the obstetrician.
- It is important to exercise regularly and maintain a balanced diet.
- Rich in water.
- Fruits.
- Vegetables and seeds.
These are the most common causes of cramps during pregnancy and what to do in each case:
This is the most common reason for cramping during pregnancy and this occurs because pregnancy is a phase of major changes in a woman’s body, making fatigue more than usual. This fatigue can eventually put a lot of pressure on the muscles, especially in the legs, causing the development of cramps.
What to do: Simple techniques such as stretching muscles, massaging the affected area and placing hot compresses are enough to relieve cramps.
Weight gain is one of the main reasons for the development of leg cramps, particularly due to the baby’s growth, which ultimately puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels passing from the abdomen to the legs.
That’s why muscle cramps don’t usually appear until after the third trimester, as happens when the baby is older, which puts more pressure on.
What to do: Ideally, women should try to increase their weight gradually and healthily. In addition, when the belly is already very large, it is also important to rest more during the day. Here are some nutritional tips during pregnancy to avoid gaining weight.
During pregnancy, it is normal for blood circulation to be slower due to the effect of pregnancy hormones and increased blood volume in the body. For this reason, it is normal for blood to eventually accumulate in greater amounts in the legs, creating swelling and facilitating the appearance of cramps.
What to do: A good way to avoid this type of cramping is to rest regularly throughout the day with your legs slightly raised, above the level of the heart, to facilitate blood circulation. Discover other ways to combat fluid buildup during pregnancy.
Proper water levels are very important for the functioning of the whole body, including the development of the baby. For this reason, when the woman does not drink enough water, the body may try to compensate by taking water out of places where it is less important, to protect pregnancy. One of the places that may be affected are muscle fibers, which do not function properly and cause cramps.
In addition to cramps, other signs that can help identify dehydration include a constant feeling of thirst, decreased urine, and dark yellow urine.
What to do: During pregnancy, it is recommended to drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration. Discover in this video 4 techniques to drink more water during the day:
Calcium and magnesium are two minerals that are very important for the functioning of muscle fibers and, therefore, when some are below ideal values, complications, such as cramps, can occur.
What to do: You should consult the obstetrician for a blood test and confirm calcium and magnesium levels in the body. If modified, your doctor may prescribe the use of a supplement to restore levels of these minerals.
It is the most serious but also the rarest cause of cramps during pregnancy. However, pregnant women have an increased risk of clots that can eventually clog one of the vessels in the leg and cause deep vein thrombosis.
However, in addition to cramps, thrombosis is also accompanied by other easy-to-identify signs such as sudden and severe pain, leg swelling, redness and dilation of the veins.
What to do: Whenever there is deep vein thrombosis, it is important to go to the hospital to confirm the diagnosis and start the diagnosis. In some cases, thrombosis can be resolved within minutes, alleviating symptoms, but in any case, it is always important that the pregnant woman is cared for by a doctor. See 5 tips to avoid deep vein thrombosis.
Here are some tips to follow to avoid more bouts of cramps during pregnancy:
While these foods are rich in minerals that help prevent cramps, it may be necessary to take supplements rich in these minerals, which should only be taken by the pregnant woman by medical indication.
See more tips in the video below
Although it is very uncomfortable, most of the time having cramps is not dangerous, it is recommended to follow the advice we talk about to alleviate and prevent these episodes.
However, if they occur frequently, it is advisable to inform the obstetrician during the prenatal period, so that you can investigate possible causes, through doses of electrolytes and vitamins in the blood, and, if necessary, prescribe medications to correct, such as magnesium. vitamin supplements.