Many pregnant women suffer from painful attacks of cramp in their calf muscles. The initial cramping is acutely painful, and may wake you up at night. This pain may last several minutes. When the muscles have relaxed, you may be left with a dull ache for 20 minutes or so.

Cramp tends to occur in later pregnancy. No one knows for sure what causes it. It is not related to salt deficiency.

What can I do about it?

• As quickly as you can, flex the foot of the cramped leg by pulling or pushing your toes towards your shin. This will stretch the cramped muscle in your calf. You can do this either lying down or standing up. Keep flexing until the cramp eases. (Don’t, whatever you do, point your toes! This will make the cramp worse.)
• Alternatively, stand up and use your hands to support yourself facing a wall. Bend the leg that doesn’t hurt and stretch out the leg with cramp straight behind you with your foot flat on the floor. Lunge forward towards the wall to stretch the cramped muscle. This is a good stretch to use before an exercise session or sports - or if you feel cramp coming on.
• Some women find that it helps to massage the cramping muscle. Others find this too painful.
• There is no research to support the use of salt, or other mineral tablets, unless you are really deficient in these nutrients.

Leg pain alert

Cramp usually gets better within a few minutes. If you have longer lasting pain in either of your calves, perhaps accompanied by local redness, swelling or difficulty in walking, see your doctor urgently. These symptoms may indicate a thrombosis (blood clot), in one of the veins of your legs. Pregnant women are at particular risk of thrombosis, especially after a day or so of relative immobility in bed or whilst travelling.

If you have to stay in bed during the day, make sure you regularly move your legs and feet to improve your circulation. Drink plenty of water. If you are in bed because of illness or surgery, your doctor may prescribe regular injections of a drug called heparin, to reduce the risk of thrombosis formation.

When travelling, break your journey every hour to take a short walk. Keep your feet moving when sitting still, and drink plenty of water.

Regularly updated by babyworld midwife Hannah Hulme Hunter

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