How To Cure Leg Pain During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a beautiful and exciting time for expecting mothers, but it can also come with its fair share of aches and pains. Leg pain during pregnancy is one of the most common complaints. Leg cramps during pregnancy that accompany this pain, especially during the second or third trimester.¹ In a study, 75% of women suffered from leg muscle cramps during their pregnancy.² The cramps increased significantly during the third trimester and the cramps were mostly observed during the night.² Whether it's a dull ache or sharp shooting pain, it can make it difficult for expecting mothers to get through the day. In this blog, we will learn what leg pain during pregnancy means, its causes, and explore helpful tips and strategies to relieve the discomfort.

Understanding Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Leg cramps are a common complaint during pregnancy. They're those sudden, tight muscle contractions that usually hit the calves or feet. Most often, they strike during the second and third trimesters, especially at night. ³
Having said that, let’s learn about its causes during pregnancy.

Common Causes Of Leg Pain During Pregnancy

While certain pain around the abdomen region is expected during pregnancy, you might be wondering why your legs suddenly ache so much. Let’s look into some factors that might possibly be causing leg pain.

1. Slow Blood Circulation

Almost 80% of pregnant women suffer from chronic venous insufficiency (a condition where leg veins don’t allow blood to flow back up to your heart).³ Further simplifying, the walls of the vein lose their elasticity which leads to slow blood circulation in the veins. So, the blood flows into the feet but has difficulty getting back up to the heart.⁴ This slows blood circulation and can lead to night cramps, numbness, itching, swelling or leg pain during pregnancy.⁴

2. Nerve Pressure

As your uterus expands, it may put pressure on certain nerves like the sciatic nerve in your legs. Such pressure can result in sharp shooting pain in your lower back which radiates down to your legs.⁵

3. Dehydration And Vitamin Deficiency

 Changes in your diet and hormonal levels can also cause calcium and magnesium deficiency in your body.⁶ You can overcome this with some simple lifestyle modifications. In addition, your doctor can help you by prescribing the necessary supplements in case of vitamin deficiency.

4. Weight Gain

As pregnancy weight increases, more pressure is placed on the legs, especially the calves. This strain can lead to muscle cramps and discomfort. ²

4 Remedies For Leg Pain During Pregnancy

You can efficiently manage leg pain by adopting a few changes like exercise, massages, and heat therapy discussed below during pregnancy. Let’s dive into each of these practices in depth.  

1. Regular Exercises

First and foremost, it is important to maintain a physically active lifestyle during pregnancy. You can perform simple exercises to stretch your calf muscles or go on a brisk walk.⁷ This can contribute to better blood circulation in your legs. Better circulation will eliminate fluid retention in your feet and keep swelling to a minimum.

2. Massage Your Calf Muscles

Next, massages also prove to be a great tool to cure leg pain during pregnancy.⁸ So you should massage your legs whenever you get a chance, especially before going to bed. 

3. Try Heat Therapy

You can also seek relief from cramps with warm showers and baths. Using hot water bottles or warm towels on your calves also eliminates leg cramps effectively.

4. Invest In Compression Socks

Finally, you can wear compression socks to prevent varicose veins (enlarged veins that cause pain) in future. Invest in comfortable footwear which can support the weight of the baby and not strain your legs.⁹

When To See A Doctor

You should consult your doctor promptly if leg cramps persist despite trying the above remedies or if you notice redness, swelling, or worsening pain.

In A Nutshell

Leg cramps during pregnancy are common. While they can be uncomfortable, most cramps are not dangerous. If stretching, adequate hydration, and staying active do not reduce the severity or frequency of leg cramps, it is time to consult your doctor.

Furthermore, if the leg pain in pregnancy worsens or is followed by redness or heightened swelling - please contact your doctor right away. Professional assistance will ensure that they are just normal pregnancy leg cramps and not something you need to worry about.

Lastly, using a pregnancy pillow, elevating the legs, and practising good posture can also be helpful to get rid of the pain. With the proper care and attention, expecting mothers can find relief from leg pain and enjoy a more comfortable pregnancy.

Once you have ensured a pain-free and healthy pregnancy by adopting these remedial measures, you can start planning for the health of the baby on board as well. The best way to do that is to make a checklist of tasks like getting a newborn screening test, preserving your baby’s umbilical cord blood, and so on. Lifecell’s BabyCord is a comprehensive stem cell preservation solution that can help protect your baby from 90+ medical conditions like blood cancers, metabolic diseases or immune disorders in future.

In addition, you can also start looking for essential items you might need postpartum like breast pumps, baby carriers and swaddles, car seats and more! Being thoroughly prepared will help make the parenthood journey a lot smoother for you and your baby.