Cramps in the legs
One of the most common conditions in the second half of pregnancy is the increased occurrence of cramps in the legs – especially in the calves or thighs. The most common reason for this is a disturbed water and electrolyte balance, which can easily shift in pregnant women: increased sweating due to stress and an increased urge to urinate (due to the child’s increased pressure on the bladder), there is an increased loss of fluids and minerals through the skin and urine outlet compared to non-pregnant women. Decisive for the development of (calf) cramps are the minerals magnesium and calcium, which are responsible for regulated muscle function and muscle relaxation.
If a deficiency occurs here, muscle cramps can occur. Nevertheless, cramps in the legs can occur despite a regular magnesium and calcium level in the blood. Another cause can be physical overexertion and the additional strain at the end of a pregnancy, which can lead above all to overloading of the leg/calf muscles.
In addition, circulatory disorders of the legs can lead to cramps, as the (calf) musculature cannot be sufficiently supplied with blood or fluid and electrolytes. Such circulatory disorders or such reduced blood supply to the leg muscles can result simply from increased sitting and lying down in the second half of pregnancy (lack of exercise is therefore considered a risk factor for calf cramps).Somewhat more rarely, but nevertheless a quite possible cause for the development of cramps in the legs, can also be a pinched nerve, which can be compressed by the strongly enlarged uterus and by the additional weight of the child and the signal transmission from nerve to muscle can thus be disturbed. Also an excessive presence of phosphorus in the blood (caused by an incorrect diet during pregnancy) can promote calf cramps. Likewise, unfavorable sleeping positions (often supine and permanently overstretched feet) can possibly lead to nightly calf cramps. It is important that if cramps persist over a long period of time and the swelling and constant pain in one leg (swelling of both lower legs usually indicates water retention and is usually harmless during pregnancy), a doctor should be consulted immediately to rule out the possibility of a thrombosis.
