If you are a pregnant woman who wakes up at night because of foot pain during pregnancy, if foot pain during pregnancy interferes with your sleep and rest, if you want to know the cause of foot pain during sleep during pregnancy.
If you are looking for a cure for foot pain during sleep during pregnancy, we recommend that you read on. Leg cramps or leg muscle spasms in pregnant women may come to you even during a night’s sleep and wake you up.
what you will read next :
Introduction
Muscle spasms in pregnant women unfortunately interfere with their sleep at night. Usually, pregnant women describe this problem from the second trimester of pregnancy. In other words, leg muscle spasms begin around the second trimester of pregnancy and will usually be with the pregnant woman until the end of pregnancy.
If you want to know the causes of leg cramps in pregnancy or are looking for ways to improve the pain caused by muscle spasms in pregnancy, read more. It is said that during pregnancy, the muscles of a pregnant woman’s legs become tired of carrying excess weight during pregnancy. An enlarged uterus also puts pressure on the main pelvic arteries that carry blood from the pelvis to the heart. An enlarged uterus can put pressure on the nerves that run down the pelvis and to the legs. All of these can cause spasms. And cramps in the muscles of the legs and lower pelvic floor muscles. Muscle spasms usually begin in the second trimester. As the pregnancy progresses, the fetus grows and the uterine spasm gets worse and worse.
Epidemiology
Leg muscle cramps, also called leg muscle cramps, (LMC) are sudden and involuntary contractions of the leg muscles. These contractions are tonic-colonic and very painful. These contractions usually occur at night and cause sleep disturbances.
These contractions are very common during pregnancy and in the last trimester of pregnancy the prevalence will be about 30-55%. Statistics show that About 54% of these contractions begin after the 25th week of pregnancy 76% of women experience these symptoms twice a week. 81% of pregnant women only complain of painful contraction attacks during nighttime sleep.
Leg muscle cramps in pregnancy
Leg muscle cramps are a common symptom that women experience in the second or third month of pregnancy. About 50% of pregnant women experience leg muscle cramps in the last trimester of pregnancy. This cramp usually comes to the pregnant woman at night and does not allow the pregnant mother to rest completely. In addition to the painful sensation, the person may feel cramps in the leg, sole or both areas. Many women may experience the above symptoms after sitting for a long time in a uniform position.
What causes muscle contractions in pregnancy?
We said that more than fifty percent of women experience painful leg cramps late at night during sleep. There are several reasons for this experience, which we will describe below:
- Circulation changes:
During pregnancy, there are changes in your movement and blood flow. These changes are completely normal and there is no need to worry. These changes occur due to hormonal changes in pregnancy. In the last trimester of pregnancy, the body experiences an increased volume of blood, which increases slowly due to these two swellings in the legs and cramps in the legs are possible. You can use the following methods to improve blood flow during pregnancy:
1) Lie on your left side
2) Keep your legs as high as possible
3) Put a small pillow between your legs or under your legs while sleeping at night
4) Change your position frequently during the day while sitting or lying down
- Dehydration:
If you are pregnant, you need to drink 8-12 cups of water in 24 hours. Leg muscle cramps and spasms can be a sign of dehydration. You need to hydrate enough to have clear urine. Dehydration is a common cause of leg cramps and spasms.
If you have leg cramps for any reason and have dark, thick urine, know that dehydration is probably the cause of these symptoms.
- Weight Gain:
Weight gain during pregnancy When your baby grows in the womb or gains weight during pregnancy, the pressure inside the abdomen rises and the nerves and arteries that move to the legs and down the pelvis are pressed. This pressure can cause spasms and weakness in the leg muscles. It is better to keep your weight in proportion during pregnancy and be sure to be active during the day. Weight loss and physical activity can prevent leg spasms.
- Fatigue:
It is normal for a pregnant woman to experience fatigue and loss of energy during pregnancy. In addition to being inactive, this condition can increase the risk of leg cramps. It is natural that in the last trimester of pregnancy there is weight gain and fatigue and decreased mobility, all of which can cause leg muscle spasms, especially during sleep.
- Calcium and magnesium deficiency:
If you are pregnant and your daily intake of calcium and magnesium is not adequate, you may experience more leg cramps. A study of about 400 pregnant women found that taking calcium and magnesium supplements did not improve cramps significantly. If you do not get enough calcium and magnesium in your diet, you do not need supplements, but if you do not have enough healthy diet, it is better to consult your doctor.
- DVT:
Thrombosis of the deep veins of the legs, thighs, or pelvis can be associated with increased pain in the legs, even when sleeping during pregnancy.
Pregnant women are said to be five to ten times more likely to develop the condition than other women. People with the disorder will need immediate action and check-ups to prevent the condition. If you are sitting for a long time, it is better to rest for a few minutes after each hour.
During this time, start walking. It is also necessary to drink enough water. We recommend that if you are pregnant and want to travel, be sure to consult your doctor before traveling. Obviously, one of your doctor’s recommendations will be that during trip, Stop for a walk every hour and walk. You must also get permission from your doctor to travel by plane.
In the following we describe the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in the legs.
- A lot of pain in the leg, especially when you are standing or moving
- Severe swelling
- Sensitivity to touch
- The warmth of the skin around the affected area
How to prevent painful nocturnal spasms during pregnancy?
First of all, you should know that there is no definite solution to reduce the risk of painful cramps to zero, but we will continue to offer the best and most effective solutions that you can use to reduce spasms and painful leg cramps during sleep during pregnancy.
- warm-up exercises:
It is better if you are a pregnant woman who suffers from painful leg spasms at night, before going to bed, do leg stretching exercises. Doing these movements will help you prevent cramps and reduce their severity.
You can do the following:
Stand in front of a wall. Extend your arms so that the palms of your hands rest on the wall without bending your elbows. Now put your right foot forward. Pull your left leg back while your knee is not bent. This relieves spasms and cramps in the leg muscles. Stay in this position for 30 seconds, then change your foot and repeat the same action with the opposite foot.
- Massage:
When you have a muscle contraction and muscle spasm, you can massage the painful area yourself. Use a gentle massage to massage your legs or any other part of your foot. You can continue this massage for a few minutes to reduce the amount of spasm and pain and discomfort.
- Stay physically active:
One of the most effective ways to get rid of painful night cramps during pregnancy is to be active during the day.
If your doctor describes light physical activity such as walking and exercising as safe for you and your baby, we recommend that you do not avoid exercising during the day and being active. Avoid being overweight when you maintain your physical activity throughout the day.
Physical activity also helps to improve blood flow to the arteries, and all of these benefits will ultimately prevent muscle contractions in your calf area. Stretching and warming up before and after physical activity also helps you avoid painful muscle cramps. Finally, if you want to get rid of painful muscle spasms at night or have less attacks of leg muscle spasms, we recommend that you avoid immobility during the day if you have to sit and lie down for a long time. We change our position every hour and try to walk after an hour or two.
When do we need to see a doctor?
If you are a pregnant woman and you experience leg cramps, it is better to know that in some cases, the feeling of pain in the legs can be a warning sign. In the following cases, you should consult your doctor. You definitely need to consult a doctor and even take medication with the items below:
- If the pain in your legs and spasm of your legs is very severe
- If you have permanent leg muscle spasms
- If your painful muscle spasms and cramps are getting worse by the minute
In the following cases, it is necessary to get to the nearest equipped medical center immediately:
- If you suddenly have swelling in one or both of your legs
- If you have pain in your legs while walking
- If you see large, prominent arteries and veins in your leg
Take these into account the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in the deep arteries of your foot.
What can we do to prevent muscle cramps before they start?
- A) Drink eight to twelve glasses of water a day
- B) being active throughout pregnancy
- C) Perform stretching movements of the leg muscles.
- D) Wearing the right shoes during pregnancy is one of the most essential measures to get rid of spasms and painful stretches of the muscles in the back of the leg.
- E) Have a balanced diet that provides enough calcium and magnesium to the body. Magnesium and calcium are found in foods such as yogurt and vegetables with green leaves, whole wheat, dried fruits and nuts.
The final word
It is true that experiencing leg muscle cramps during pregnancy is very unpleasant and sometimes painful, but know that these conditions are common among many pregnant women and most women experience these conditions during the night. It is better to use the solutions provided above to get rid of unpleasant conditions. We also remind you to remember the warning signs and know when you should inform your doctor about leg muscle pain or in what cases your condition will require an urgent examination