Causes of cramps during pregnancy

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Currently, there is no research on why women often experience cramps during pregnancy. In the field of obstetrics, some authors believe that there are many causes of cramps during pregnancy, including:
Because the mother's body during pregnancy has to carry an extra load causing overload. As the uterus grows, it presses on the vena cava, making it impossible for blood to return to the heart, causing a lot of stagnation in the lower extremities, causing muscle contraction. As a pregnant woman's body weight increases during pregnancy, it puts more pressure on the muscles in her legs. The growing uterus puts pressure on the main blood vessels that carry blood from the legs to the heart and nerves from the spinal cord to the legs. The veins that supply blood to the uterus are also compressed, causing a feeling of heaviness and discomfort. Dehydration causes the body to lose electrolytes causing cramps. Lack of calcium, especially in the last months of pregnancy, the body's need for calcium increases to be able to meet the development of the fetus. Mineral deficiencies: Too little potassium, calcium, or magnesium in the diet can contribute to leg cramps. Overuse of muscles, dehydration, muscle strain or simply holding one position for a long time can cause calf cramps during pregnancy.

When having cramps during pregnancy, pregnant women may experience the following signs:
Cramps often appear right after starting to sleep. Cramps start to cause discomfort from the third month of pregnancy and the pain becomes more and more frequent as the fetus grows. This condition occurs during the day and is worse at night. Leg cramps during pregnancy are common in the calves, thighs, feet, especially in the calves. In addition, it can be found in the hands and torso. Particularly in the case of cramps in the abdomen should be paid attention, because there is a possibility of miscarriage. Besides the sudden pain, you can also feel or see a hard mass of tissue underneath the skin. In case if a pregnant woman has cramps accompanied by symptoms such as bleeding, strong pain in the abdomen or on the top of the shoulder, increased body temperature or severe pain in the painful part, it is necessary to quickly go to medical facilities to be checked. timely investigation and treatment.

Having more than 6 contractions in an hour is a sign to watch out for. Pain that does not subside over time, which occurs at the same time as dizziness, lightheadedness or bleeding is a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. In addition, bleeding can also be a symptom of placenta previa or miscarriage. Caution should be exercised with any contractions that occur continuously during pregnancy, a history of preterm birth, an ectopic pregnancy, or a short cervix. The spasms are accompanied by severe abdominal pain and nausea or fever, most likely symptoms of appendicitis, kidney stones, or gallbladder.

To overcome cramps during pregnancy, pregnant women need to change their diet, rest and exercise properly.
Walk during pregnancy every day so that the calves are regularly stretched and before going to bed, you should also stretch your legs a few times. Avoid sitting and standing in one position for too long, when sleeping, the pillow should not be too high. Using warm water mixed with a little ginger and salt to soak your feet before going to bed will help pregnant women sleep well and prevent cramps. In the daily menu, pregnant women need to pay attention to add foods rich in potassium, magnesium, especially calcium (meat, fish, eggs, vegetables - fruits - especially bananas, raisins, pears... ). Drink a lot of water, it is best to add 2 to 2.5 liters of water per day to limit dehydration. Take time to rest. Always keep your mind at ease and avoid stress. Shower with warm water. Soak your feet in hot water mixed with a little salt and ginger to prevent cramps at night. When you notice any doubts about the signs of cramps during pregnancy with ongoing pain accompanied by pain and swelling of the legs, touching and feeling hot around, it is necessary to immediately seek medical assistance. timely help of doctors, avoiding the risk of blood clots during pregnancy instead of cramps. Particularly in the case of abdominal cramps, attention should be paid to the possibility of miscarriage.

If pregnancy cramps, the mother immediately straightens the leg, starting at the heel and then gently flexing the foot perpendicular, toes curled up toward the shin (front of the leg). Massage the calves and thighs with your hands and warm up the muscles with a hot pack. After freeing herself from the cramps, you should get up and walk around, after a while you will feel less pain and more comfortable.
Cramps are quite common in pregnant women and mostly do not affect mother and baby. However, if you have a lot of cramps, along with the abnormal signs mentioned above, you should immediately go to a medical facility to be checked by a doctor.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively.
In addition to regular check-ups, pregnant women will also be advised on nutrition and exercise so that the mother can gain weight reasonably while the fetus still absorbs nutrients well. Health check-ups under the close supervision of experienced and specialized obstetricians help mothers gain more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as minimize complications affecting the mother. and child.