Pregnancy leg cramps are common, especially during the third trimester. These can cause a great deal of discomfort. They are not the only cause of night leg pain in pregnancy, but they might very well be the most painful.
Why are Leg Cramps More Common During Pregnancy?
As we wrote, night cramps are common during pregnancy. In fact, there are estimates that as many as 30% of pregnant women suffer from at least one of these conditions.
Still, no one knows the true cause. There have been several theories, though. These include a missing vitamin or element like iron or folic acid, muscles that are overly excitable because of hormones, and changes in activity level. In reality, it could be that the reason is different for different women.
Other Causes of Night Leg Pain in Pregnancy
Unfortunately, pregnancy is associated with more than one type of night leg pain. For instance, pregnancy can make sciatica leg pain worse. In fact, the uterus may create pressure on that area that will be hard to relieve before delivery.
Venous insufficiency is also common during pregnancy. There are several causes. First, the pressure from the uterus will impede venous flow. The increase in pressure will cause veins to dilate. Hormonal factors also take affect. Estrogen, for instance, has many vascular effects. No matter the cause, the bottom line is that many pregnant women will have heavy legs by the end of the day.
Finally, many pregnant women suffer from restless leg syndrome. It turns out that 10-30% of women will suffer from restless legs at some point during their pregnancy. The exact number depends on the specific criteria used, and how the prevalence was measured. Still, no one knows exactly why this happens. Theories include folic acid deficiency, iron deficiency or the effects of hormones. While this is not a cause for pain, it can affect these women’s quality of sleep considerably.
Remember Blood Clots
A blood clot in the leg veins is called a deep vein thrombosis or DVT. A DVT will cause rapid swelling and pain in the leg. But, sometimes, that is not the case. As many as 30% of people are asymptomatic. They just don’t feel the clot when it happens.
Pregnant women are at greater risk for blood clots than non-pregnant women. Multiple changes in clotting factors are responsible for this risk. For this reason, pregnant women should not ignore sudden swelling and / or pain in a leg. This is especially true if the symptoms are on one side and not both. Still, clots can sometimes cause both legs to swell.
Pregnancy Leg Cramps Treatment
In theory, treating the cramp can be achieved by forceful stretching. This is because all night cramps are relieved with forceful stretching. But, that is often easier said than done.
Other treatments are similar to the treatment of night cramps in non-pregnant people. The main difference is safety. While a non-pregnant person might try quinine, or pickle juice, a pregnant women might not be able to. Also, hydration, which is key to prevent cramps, is not easy during pregnancy. First, pressure on the urinary bladder causes more urgency with peeing. Second, pregnancy swollen feet is a common problem. So, adding more fluid to the mix is not always easy to do.
Treat Relevant Medical Conditions
While most pregnant women are healthy, some are not. Some will have medical conditions that might cause cramping that is separate from the pregnancy leg cramps. In fact, many medical conditions are tied to leg cramps. For instance, neurological conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, hormonal and endocrine conditions. Limited blood flow to the legs can cause symptoms that feel like leg cramps. Finally, medication side-effects can also cause muscle cramps. If any of these conditions is present, to resolve the cramps, you have to identify and treat them.
Magnesium for Pregnancy Leg Cramps?
Magnesium is an important electrolyte that helps our muscles contract. So it makes sense that magnesium supplementation will help with muscle cramps. Alas, magnesium probably does not help with pregnancy leg cramps. A serious review of the available literature could not identify positive results. A similar review evaluated other supplements including calcium and various vitamins. The authors could also not identify any consistent benefit for any of these.
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