How to Treat Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Leg cramps during pregnancy can be very uncomfortable.

During the last half of pregnancy, many women develop cramps in their legs or feet. The pain of these cramps can be bad enough to wake a woman from sleep. The following article will discuss how to treat leg cramps during pregnancy.

Things You'll Need

• Extra pillows
• Support stockings

Instructions

1. 

   Wear support stockings during the day.

2. 

   Try to avoid standing for long periods of time.

3. 

   Exercise your calf muscles before going to bed. Do this by pulling your toes up toward your knee while pushing your heel away from you.

4. 

   Massage your calf muscles before going to bed.

5. 

   While you are sleeping, elevate your legs on a pillow.

Tips & Warnings

• When you get a leg cramp, try to walk, if possible.

• If you are stretching a cramped muscle, be sure to stretch gradually.

• Leg cramps can be very painful.

• Avoid sudden, jerky movements when you have a leg cramp. This will only exacerbate the cramp and may even lead to muscle injury.

Resources

• Leg cramps during pregnancy information