Suffering cramps in pregnancy is very common among pregnant women, as it is one of the most common symptoms. They generally occur in the legs and produce severe pain that can even interrupt sleep in the middle of the night. The cramps They are caused by involuntary contraction in the muscles and often affect the calf or the sole of the foot.
Although it is not known exactly what the cause of these sudden and very annoying muscle contractions is, it is known what they are the factors that increase the risk of suffering them. If you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, you are likely suffering from the annoying leg cramps. Do not miss these tips to calm cramps and avoid these discomforts so typical of late pregnancy.
Tips to avoid cramps in pregnancy
In many cases, cramps appear in the middle of the night, interrupting sleep in a sudden and unexpected way. For all people it is a very uncomfortable and annoying feeling, but a lot more when you are pregnant and suffer various discomforts produced by this state. In addition, cramps appear frequently at night and with what it costs to get a good rest during pregnancy, it is important to avoid any interruptions.
It is not known exactly why muscle spasms occur, but there are some factors that increase the chances of them appearing. By following these tips you will largely prevent your body from suffering from the annoying cramps in pregnancy.
Keep your body well hydrated
Lack of hydration can cause the body's muscles to contract spontaneously. To avoid this, you must properly hydrate your body by consuming between 2 and 3 liters of water per day. But in addition to avoiding cramps, hydration is essential so that your baby can develop properly through the nutrients it receives from what you eat yourself.
If you have doubts about whether your body is well hydrated, you just have to observe the color of your urine. Is must be of a light semi transparent color or very light yellow. If you notice that your urine has a dark yellow color, it may be due to incorrect hydration, so you should increase your water consumption.
Get regular exercise
Muscles need activity to perform their functions normally, otherwise they suffer involuntary spasms and contractions like those that cause cramps. To avoid this, it is very important that you keep your body active, doing a physical activity appropriate for your condition. You just need to walk every day for at least an hour. Check with your doctor before doing any other type of exercise.
Stretch your muscles before going to sleep
If you frequently cramp at night, you may need stretching the leg muscles before going to sleep. You can do some stretching exercises shortly before going to sleep. Stand facing the wall, keeping an arm's length apart. Lean on the wall with your palms open, place one foot behind the other.
Carefully bend the knee of the front foot and bring it toward the wall, keeping the other leg with the knee straight and the heel flat on the ground. Hold the exercise for 30 seconds and repeat the same stretch with the other leg. Avoid making movements with your foot when your leg is bent, you should not move it forward or to the sides, keep it straight.
If despite following these tips you suffer from cramps in pregnancy, what you should do is stretch the muscle carefully. The twin is where cramps are most suffered, so you should stretching the muscle in the leg that is suffering from the cramp. Afterwards, walk a little so that the muscles relax and if you feel a lot of tension, you can take a bath that will help you improve the state of your muscles.