There's nothing like getting into bed at the end of a long, exhausting day — especially when you're pregnant. Aching for a good night's sleep — literally, if your back's been acting up again — you throw back the covers and prepare to happily drift into dreamland.
But if you're like many expecting moms, something may be keeping you awake tonight — besides what color to paint the nursery: leg cramps.
These painful spasms that radiate up and down your calves are very common during the second and third trimesters. While these cramps can occur during the day, you'll notice them — oh, baby, will you notice them! — more at night.
No one knows for sure what causes them, though there are plausible theories aplenty. It could be that your leg muscles are just fatigued from carrying around all the extra weight of pregnancy. Or that the vessels that carry blood to and from your legs are compressed by your growing uterus at 19 weeks pregnant.
There's also speculation that it may be somehow related to diet or not being fully hydrated, though this hunch hasn't been substantiated by studies.
Whatever the cause, you'll need a quick fix when a leg cramp does strike — especially when it's standing (or lying) between you and a good night's sleep. So here's one for you: Straighten your leg and gently flex your ankle and toes back toward your shins.
The Happy Mom app is with you every step of the way on your pregnancy journey.
Thank you for reading.
