Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

At different times during your pregnancy, you might have cramps in your legs or feet. They usually happen at night and during the third trimester. This is due to a change in the way your body processes, or metabolizes, calcium. There are certain things you can do to alleviate pain from leg cramps, so read the following tips to help with the pain.

Try these tips to prevent and ease leg cramps:

• Eat lots of low-fat, calcium-rich foods.
• Get regular, mild exercise, like walking. Or try prenatal yoga.
• Ask your doctor if you should be taking a prenatal vitamin containing calcium. If you also experience heartburn or indigestion, taking an antacid like Tums helps with the burn as well as adds the needed calcium.
• Gently stretch the muscle to relieve leg and foot cramps. If you have a sudden leg cramps in your calf, flex your foot towards your body. If you have sudden leg cramps in your shin, point your foot away from you.
• Use heating pads or warm, moist towels to help relax the muscles and ease leg and foot cramps.