Muscle cramps during pregnancy

Muscle cramps during pregnancy are one of the common inconveniences experienced by about half of all expectant mothers. Most muscle cramps during pregnancy occur in the lower extremities, especially the calves. A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles that occurs suddenly and most often occurs at night.

Symptoms of muscle cramps during pregnancy

Muscle cramps during pregnancy can occur in any muscle or muscle group, but are most common in the legs. Muscle spasms that occur in the back or abdomen are also possible.

Muscle cramps or spasms are characterized by:

Involuntary contraction or tightening of a muscle
Usually sudden
Accompanied by a sharp pain

You should consult your doctor if your symptoms occur frequently, are associated with swelling or redness, and are not relieved by traditional methods.

What causes muscle cramps during pregnancy?

Muscle cramps during pregnancy are most likely due to one or more of the following:

Overuse (carrying the extra weight from pregnancy or exercise)
Dehydration
Change in blood flow or circulation
Lack of stretching before exercise or extensive use
Nerve compression
Lack of minerals (potassium, calcium, or magnesium)

If you frequently experience muscle spasms, they are likely due to more than one of the causes listed above.

How to prevent muscle cramps during pregnancy

Ideally, it's best to take steps to prevent muscle spasms rather than spend time treating them when they occur.

Below are steps you can take to help prevent or reduce the chance of muscle cramps during pregnancy:

Drink plenty of water and fluids to stay hydrated.
Stretch your muscles well before training or active use
Eat well-balanced meals to get the necessary nutrients and minerals.
Take prenatal vitamins containing calcium, potassium and magnesium. To avoid overdose, do not take additional supplements without consulting your doctor.
Eating foods high in potassium, such as kiwifruit, bananas, or cantaloupe, is a great way to get some of the nutrients you need to prevent muscle cramps.

How do you treat muscle cramps during pregnancy?

The most important steps you can take is to use the methods above to prevent or reduce the frequency of muscle spasms.

If you're experiencing muscle spasms, here are steps you can take to help ease the pain or discomfort:

Massage the muscles and nearby muscle groups to provide relief.
Stretch the muscle.
Apply heat with a heating pad.
Apply cold with an ice pack to relieve pain.
You may find that massaging your muscles with heat or ice helps relieve pain more effectively.

If your muscle cramps remain frequent and do not respond to the above treatments, see your doctor. This may be a sign of another condition that requires a different type of treatment.