Home remedies for leg cramps during pregnancy
- how to prevent cramp in pregnancy
- how to stop cramp in pregnancy
- how to avoid cramp in pregnancy
- how to reduce cramps in pregnancy
Leg cramps during pregnancy while sleeping...
Leg cramps are the feeling of sudden, sharp pain, usually in the calf muscles or feet that happen when a muscle suddenly shortens and becomes tight (spasms). They can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes and it can even be difficult to move when they hit.
Right leg cramps during pregnancy
Even when the leg cramp has stopped, you might feel tenderness in the muscle for up to 24 hours.
Here's why you might be getting leg cramps and what you can do about them.
Why am I getting leg cramps - is it a pregnancy symptom?
Well, they're common - about 30% to 50% of pregnant women get leg cramps (Zhou et al, 2015).
Like a lot of pregnancy symptoms, leg cramps tend to appear in that pesky third trimester (Zhou et al, 2015).
It’s not clear why women get leg cramps in pregnancy. But it could be the pregnancy affecting your metabolism, too little or too much exercise, electrolyte imbalances or vitamin deficiencies (Zhou et al, 2015).
The good news is that the cramps should disappear as soon as your baby arrives (NICE, 2012; NHS Choices, 2015).