Introduction
Calf cramps are a phenomenon that affects many pregnant women. A calf cramp describes a painful cramping of the calf muscles, which is mostly caused by an incorrect excitation of the nerves in the leg. Pregnant women in particular are often affected by this condition.
It is assumed that more than one in ten expectant mothers are plagued by frequent cramps in the lower leg muscles. The exact causes have not yet been clarified, but there are several factors in pregnant women that can promote such cramps. They also occur mostly at night and often prevent women from sleeping.
It is not known why of all things the calves are often affected. The cause of calf cramps is not to be found here in the behavior of the pregnant woman herself, but is an interaction of many factors that occur during pregnancy and are unavoidable. Calf cramps are increasingly reported in the last third of the pregnancy, but they can also occur in the second third.
This indicates that the increasing development of the child and thus also the weight load for the woman plays a significant role in calf cramps. If the pain occurs significantly earlier, a gynecologist should be consulted. It is also advisable to consult a specialist if the pain does not occur in thrusts and cramps but remains permanent and constant. In the worst case, a thrombosis may have formed in a leg vein, causing the pain and requiring urgent medical treatment.
Causes
The causes of calf cramps during pregnancy are manifold and often occur together. Magnesium is an important mineral that the muscles need. If this is missing or if there is a deficiency, the muscles cannot relax as well and cramps can occur.
If the muscle is also subjected to increased stress, this also promotes cramps. Both factors occur more frequently during pregnancy than in physically healthy young people. The extra strain is usually caused by the additional weight load.
The magnesium deficiency, on the other hand, is due to a change in the maternal metabolism and especially in the mineral and fluid balance. A more frequent urge to urinate and an increased loss of fluid, for example through sweating, are at the expense of the magnesium level. Reduced blood circulation in the leg muscles also promotes the development of cramps.
Pregnant women are particularly affected by this, as they have a significantly higher risk of circulatory disorders due to the interaction of the increased production of hormones and the reduced exercise that inevitably occurs during pregnancy. Thromboses during pregnancy can also be a consequence. They cause a rather constant pain when they occur in a leg vein.
Since they can sometimes be very dangerous, immediate consultation with the gynecologist is recommended in the event of such pain. Not infrequently, the cramp can be triggered directly by irritation of the associated nerve. Since the uterus continues to grow and take up space during pregnancy, nerves in the lower abdominal area can become trapped, which is directly noticeable in the legs.