Symptoms
The calf cramp is a widespread phenomenon that is not only found in pregnant women. It occurs in relapses and short-lasting cramps, which are unfortunately experienced as unpleasantly painful. It is reported that this pain mostly occurs at night.
This makes the occurrence of calf cramps even more unpleasant, since the affected persons are torn from their sleep in any case. It should be noted that calf cramps are cramp-like and only occur in episodes. This pain must be distinguished from a constant and permanent pain, which is found, for example, in thromboses of the leg veins.
For further differentiation it also helps to consider the time of pregnancy. Calf cramps often occur in later stages, i.e. in the last third of the pregnancy before birth. If severe pain occurs at an early stage of pregnancy, a specialist should be consulted urgently.
Therapy
There are specific measures to combat acute muscle cramps in the calf, should they occur. There are also a few possibilities to prevent cramps.If the cramp occurs acutely, it is initially very unpleasant and is often perceived as very painful. Also from the outside, when looking at the leg, it can quickly be seen that the muscle contracts strongly, becomes cramped and hardens.
One measure that immediately relieves the pain and should be applied reflexively is to pull the toes towards the shin. You can support this movement with your own hands if you reach your feet with your hands despite your baby’s tummy, or by pressing the soccer firmly against a wall or the floor. A targeted movement of the calf muscles is a remedy for acute cramps.
A short walk around with conscious participation of the affected leg is also helpful. In any case, it is recommended to massage the lower leg during and also after the cramp occurs in order to loosen the muscles. If you do not do this, you will often experience very unpleasant sore muscles the next day.
One method here is to use the flat of the hand to “stroke out” the cramp from the heel upwards. This loosens the muscle and the pain should also be relieved quickly. Heat also has a relaxing effect on the calf area.
A warm bath or a hot water bottle can have a great effect. Prophylactic exercises for the leg muscles can also be used. Frequent stretching and targeted training of the calf muscles can help.
Many women have found it beneficial to do stretching exercises before going to bed. The aim here is also to loosen the muscles and thus relax them. Large lunges and deliberate rolling of the foot put strain on and loosen the musculature evenly.
A further starting point to prevent calf cramps during pregnancy is to improve blood circulation in the legs. Sport generally promotes blood circulation. On the one hand, the possibilities of doing sports during pregnancy are limited, on the other hand even light exercise pays off.
Possible activities include walking, swimming, cycling, yoga and other sports suitable for pregnancy. Overuse of sports is counterproductive, which is why breaks should not be neglected. Even in everyday behavior, one can actively influence the blood circulation in the legs.
If one sits or lies down a lot during the day, it is recommended not to remain in the same positions permanently. On the other hand, occasionally putting your legs up is relieving and promotes blood circulation. This is because the veins that carry the blood away from the legs are relieved of work by gravity.
Ultimately, massages also promote blood circulation, especially in combination with alternating showers and essential oils. Since a frequently assumed cause of calf cramps is a magnesium deficiency, one can increase one’s magnesium level both therapeutically and prophylactically. Usually it is sufficient to consciously eat more magnesium and drink a lot.
A few examples of foods rich in magnesium are nuts, dairy products, spinach or fennel. If the deficiency is severe, a magnesium tablet can be taken in consultation with your doctor. In any case, under no circumstances should you take medication of your own accord during pregnancy, as the altered metabolic situation may have different effects on the organism than usual.
Magnesium must also become magnesium, because in too high a concentration it can inhibit contractions. On the other hand, a severe lack of magnesium is also to be classified as dangerous. Just as calf cramps only occur at the beginning, if the level is blatantly too low, the uterus can cramp up and trigger premature labor.
Alternative medical treatments often contain the so-called “Schüssler salts”. These are preparations of minerals, which are, however, available in homeopathic doses. They are allowed to melt in the mouth until they are completely absorbed by the mucous membrane.
This therapy method is based on the idea that all diseases are caused by an imbalanced mineral balance. The use of Schüssler salts is very common in naturopathy, but is not recognized by medicine as an effective treatment method. This is due to the fact that no effect can be proven by scientific methods alone.
