Causes of Cramps during Pregnancy

Many women experience muscle pull and cramps during pregnancy. Read on to learn more about muscle cramps and pull during pregnancy and tips for dealing with them.Ananya was excited with the good news that she is pregnant. Her imaginations of being a mother and excitement to meet the unborn had no boundaries.Ankit, her husband was equally on cloud 9. Their happiness has made them go to picnics and pilgrim spots, but Ananya was all the while complaining of leg pain, strain and cramps in her muscles.Pregnant women often complain of leg pain and cramps in the muscles due to heavy strain on the body. It is very normal that pregnant women gain extra weight which results in strain on the legs. In few cases even early pregnancy results in cramps and muscle pulls not because of weight gain but due to calcium deficiency.Leg muscles get tired due to the pressure from uterus. There is also more pressure from heart and also from the spinal cord. As the pregnancy is advanced the cramps and muscle pull may get intense as the young and prospective mother can have her own deficiency in health and may not be fully fit to take the strain.Generally, cramps and muscle pull is noticed and observed during the night, though it even persists in the day. The day long strain gets intense during nights, which makes pregnant women to sense intense pull in the calf muscles.Human body is always deficient with some kind of vitamins, minerals, iron and calcium.So, it is but natural that during pregnancy body needs more of every supplement. It is ideal to support the body for the extra exertion with various supplements. After a perfect check up, doctors will be in a position to advise rightly with our body needs.To a larger extent these advices will help the pregnant women to cope up with cramps and muscle pulls. Leg cramps can also be minimized with few handy tips. In this articleSimple and Easy Remedy for the Cramps and Muscle PullFoods Which Help in Reducing Cramps in LegsSimple and Easy Remedy for the Cramps and Muscle PullLet us take a look at some simple and easy remedies for cramps and muscle pull.Stretch the whole body gently and relax your muscles as frequently as possible.Do not squat your legs or sit with crossed legs, as this will interfere with your blood circulation.Try exercising your ankles in circular both clockwise and anti clock wise at regular intervals.Wiggling the toes also can relax the entire leg muscles.Walk a stretch everyday once in the morning and also in the evening.It is better to sleep lying towards left side for long as this will relax the heart muscles.Every activity or work should be done with a relaxed mind and avoid doing tiring activities that can cause strain.Frequent liquid diet is always a good way to stay fit and active during pregnancy.Relaxing feet in warm water for a while and also having a bath will surely relax the muscles. Swimming can be an excellent exercise for muscle pulls and cramps in the legs.Muscle spasms can be minimized by raising and placing the legs on a pillow.Foods Which Help in Reducing Cramps in LegsHave a quick look at the list of foods which can help in reducing cramps in legs.Milk rich with calciumSpinachBroccoliSoy foodsYogurtCheeseCeleryAll leafy vegetablesRaisinsCorn flakesOranges and all citrus fruitsIndian women at large lack calcium, more so during pregnancy. Calcium supplements prescribe by the doctor and foods rich in calcium are sure to relieve you from muscle cramps. When there are sudden attacks of cramps during sleep, it is ideal to gather yourself and stand slowly on your feet. It is very good if you can stand bare foot as it helps the legs stretch and distribute the body weight evenly. Though it is hurting, it is good to put few steps bare foot as the muscle gets straightened and relaxed. Also stretching the leg muscles with the support of wall can give a great relief.If the cramps are frequent and for long it may even result in blood clots and swelling. These symptoms are more in middle and advanced pregnancy stages. The best way to avoid cramps and muscle pull during pregnancy is to keep moving the legs and exercising more often even while sitting or relaxing on the bed. Maintaining fixed sleep timings, moving and wiggling toes during night times also can help reduce the muscle pulls.It is necessary to make sure that you do the above mentioned exercises carefully and consult your doctor before you practice them. It is also very important to consult your doctor before introducing any new food item in your diet for dealing with muscle cramps.Still, if the muscle pulls, spasms and cramps are intense, very hurting and frequent and for long intervals, it is wiser to take medical advice or meet a physiotherapist.What are the causes of muscle pull and cramps during pregnancy? Which are the common symptoms of muscle pull and cramps that pregnant women undergo? How to deal with muscle cramps during pregnancy? Discuss here.