Avoiding leg cramps

Leg cramps can be a frustrating pregnancy symptom, but there are some steps you can take to avoid leg cramps or at least the frequency at which you experience them during your pregnancy.

Methods of avoiding leg crampsduring during your pregnancy include:

Sitting with crossed legs encourages leg cramps

• Don’t stand or sit down for long periods of time.
• Avoid crossing your legs when you are either standing up or sitting down.
• Rotate your ankles a couple of times in each direction when you are sitting down.
• Walk everyday, this will get your circulation flowing.
• Take a nice, warm bath before bed. This will relax your muscles and your mind making it easier to fall asleep as well.
• When you are resting or sleeping lay on your side.
• Stretch. Stretch several times throughout the day and for a bit before bed. Make sure you can feel your calf muscles stretching. One great stretch is to place the palms of your hand on a wall and place one leg behind the other as if you were about to lunge. Instead of lunging, put pressure on your back foot and you should feel your back calf stretching.
  

  Eat bananas to avoid leg cramps during pregnancy

• Eat more potassium. Potassium has been found to prevent cramping, especially in your calves. Bananas and raisins are great sources of potassium.
• Ensure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium in your pregnancy diet. There is some debate as to whether calcium and magnesium actually reduce leg cramping during pregnancy or not, but you need both of these nutrients for your pregnancy so it can’t hurt to try.
• Keep hydrated. Remember though you don’t want to drink too much before bed or you will be up all night going to the bathroom.
• Try this folk remedy. Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink the mixture before bed. We can’t promise it will taste good, but if nothing else works it is definitely worth a shot.

Even if these tips help to reduce the frequency of your leg cramps, you may still experience them a couple of times during pregnancy. Not to worry though, because there is a plenty you can do to alleviate leg cramps and the pain and discomfort they cause.