Leg Pain During Pregnancy

So, it is very important to be proactive and sensitive to the slightest pain that does not seem normal during this period. Leg pain during pregnancy is common because of the additional weight that a woman carries during this period, as it puts more pressure on the legs. This problem mostly clings during the last few months prior to the due date.

Leg pain during pregnancy is a result of sudden muscle tightening that can happen due to many reasons, like muscle strain, lack of fluids in body, irregularities in blood circulation, very limited body movement, and undue pressure on the spinal nerves. Hence for a pregnant woman, movement of leg muscles is a must.

The uterus expansion is also one of the causative factors, as it puts pressure on the blood vessels that connect the leg and the heart.

Given here are a few tips to be followed whenever a shooting pain in either leg is encountered during pregnancy:

• Regular walking keeps the leg muscles active and toned. This is a very important activity for pregnant ladies.
• Rotate the ankles and wrists frequently. This also includes wriggling the toes.
• Drink a lot of water to keep the body hydrated.
• Take bath in lukewarm water to relax the muscles of the body.

Besides all the stated remedies, one should include enough calcium and magnesium supplements in the daily diet. At times, lack of calcium is a factor for leg pain, though this is not the case always. Leg pain while sleeping is also quite common, and hence, it is recommended that pregnant women use lighter blankets to sleep at night.

There are other types of leg pain as well that are encountered during pregnancy. One of them is the sciatic nerve pain which can lead to complications in a normal delivery. This is felt when the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back to the feet is inflamed due to the increased weight of the body during pregnancy.

This excruciating pain shoots all along the back and down to the feet. This kind of backache and leg pain during pregnancy occurs if a woman is subjected to standing for long durations, lifting heavy objects, or due to excessive weight gain.

Upper leg pain is also a consequence of a pressurized sciatic nerve. Therapeutic baths are recommended for pregnant women suffering from sciatica. Before bath, the patient is given a glass of cold water to drink.

When taking bath, she should use lukewarm water with some Epsom salt in it. Make sure to keep your head wrapped in a towel while having bath. These baths are supervised by a therapeutic bath specialist.

In case of pain in the right leg, the doctors usually recommend changing postures and lying on the left side of the body to reduce the pressure on the nerves.