Pain in the legs of pregnant women at night. Legs hurt during pregnancy what to do

Pregnancy is a huge burden on the body. Exacerbations of chronic diseases often occur due to hormonal changes.

Common Causes of Pain

Many women experience pain and discomfort during the period of bearing a child. The back and lower extremities are especially affected.

The causes of pathological changes can be many factors:

• Weight gain. As the child grows, it puts pressure on the spine and internal organs, pinching the blood vessels and nerves.
• A shift in the center of gravity and an increase in the load on the legs.
• Ingrown toenail due to the difficulty of personal hygiene.
• Convulsions due to lack of vitamins and minerals.
• Flat foot.
• Arthritis or arthrosis of the extremities.

The causes of leg pain during pregnancy cannot be ignored.

Edema

Pastosity can be detected both independently and at the appointment of an observing doctor. First of all, the feet and fingers swell. Usually, women themselves notice that it is difficult for them to wear their usual shoes or jewelry.

Most often, edema occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy due to the rapid growth of the fetus. If, due to the accumulation of fluid, the legs hurt in the early stages, this can lead to sad consequences without timely treatment in honey. institution, as this is the first symptom of an exacerbation of a chronic disease.

During pregnancy, swelling can be caused by several problems:

• Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition caused by spasm of blood vessels and characterized by the spread of edema throughout the body.
• Kidney dysfunction (glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis).
• Failures in the work of the cardiovascular system.
• Diabetes.
• Failure to comply with the water-salt regime.

At the first signs of swelling, you should stick to a diet and limit water to 2 liters per day and avoid smoked meats, fatty or overly salty foods.

Sometimes the doctor prescribes treatment with drugs or folk remedies and vitamins.

Varicose veins

A buildup of venous blood that causes vasodilation is called varicose veins.

The disease does not appear immediately. In the initial stages, there is an increase in the venous pattern and swelling of the feet after a hard day, accompanied by aching pain in the legs.

If the disease is not detected in time, spasms of the calf muscles and itching, burning of the skin at night may appear. Veins appear on the lower extremities, sometimes they can hurt and become inflamed.

For the prevention of varicose veins, it is recommended to wear compression stockings or wrap the lower limbs with an elastic bandage. During sleep, try to lie on your left side, after a work shift, give your legs a rest by taking a contrast shower and placing them on an elevated surface.

Increased load

On average, the weight during the period of bearing a child increases by 10-15 kg. The load on the spine does not pass without a trace. During pregnancy, the legs hurt in the evenings or even with a slight load.

Condition improvement is facilitated by:

• comfortable clothes and shoes;
• wearing a bandage;
• special exercises for pregnant women or water aerobics;
• foot massaging;
• walks at a slow pace in the park or by the river.

Wrong shoes

High heels should not be worn during pregnancy.

This is due to the fact that an additional load is created on the spine and pelvis, and many women also have problems with the vestibular apparatus during hormonal changes.

If your feet start to hurt while walking, then you need to choose comfortable shoes that are easy to put on and take off.

Vitamin deficiency

During pregnancy, a woman's body spends a lot of vitamins and minerals. With a lack of necessary elements, the child may develop pathologies, oxygen starvation or developmental delay.

Avitaminosis is dangerous for all body systems. There is a risk of osteoporosis, calf muscle cramps, anemia, and high blood pressure.

Exacerbation of diseases and injuries

Due to low immunity, previously received injuries begin to remind of themselves. The appearance of aching pain in the legs, hyperemia around the inflamed joint may be signs of recurrence of arthritis, gout or osteoporosis.

Diagnostics

Identification of diseases must be carried out at an early stage and prevent their further development.

If he twists and breaks his legs

Painful sensations can be present not only after physical exertion, but also at rest at night or in the evening.

In the first trimester, the legs twist when weather conditions change.

In the second half of pregnancy, pain can depend on several factors:

• lack of calcium, iron, magnesium;
• circulatory disorders;
• action of progesterone;
• taking alcohol or medicines with lithium.

Aching and pulling pains

During pregnancy, the leg can be pulled for many reasons:

• irradiation from the underlying disease;
• flat feet;
• varicose veins;
• joint inflammation.

If your legs hurt a lot with loss of sensation, local fever or joint deformity, you should immediately consult a specialist.

Sore calves or feet?

Unpleasant sensations in the calf muscles, cramps and severe aching in the legs can be a sign of a lack of trace elements or one of the symptoms of varicose veins.

In cases where the calves of the legs hurt during pregnancy, you need to get up and walk a little or lightly massage the ankle area.

Due to the increased load on the arch of the foot, flat feet may develop.

The disease is manifested by symptoms:

• burning in the feet;
• fatigue, heaviness of the legs;
• pain in the pelvis, knee, ankle;
• corns in the area of ​​the thumb.

In the early stages, a flat foot can be corrected by wearing an orthosis, massage, and therapeutic exercises. In an advanced case, surgery is required.

Night view of pathology

Due to nervous tension and hormonal changes in women during pregnancy, the phenomenon of night pain in the legs can be observed. Unpleasant sensations occur suddenly and require immediate movement of the limb. After the symptoms subside, but may appear the next night, gradually leading to insomnia or depression without adequate rest.

The syndrome has no exact cause, and after pregnancy, the phenomenon disappears without a trace.

How to relieve leg pain?

In early pregnancy

During this period, you need to rest more, take vitamins, eat right. It is preferable for working women to engage in light physical labor.

It is also necessary:

• purchase compression stockings for the prevention of varicose veins;
• learn to sleep more on the left side;
• do not cross your legs while sitting;
• Wear comfortable shoes, no high heels.

In case of changes in the general condition, pain in the legs or lower abdomen, spotting, you should immediately consult a doctor.

At a later date

With increasing load during fetal growth, constant physiological pain can occur.

To prevent pain in the legs, you must:

• monitor weight and eat foods containing fiber;
• observe the water-salt balance: reduce the amount of salt and drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day;
• do self-massage of the feet, ankle;
• take contrast baths;
• rest more often with legs folded on a pillow or roller.

Can be treated with folk remedies?

Folk remedies during pregnancy must be taken with great care. Before use, it is worth studying the properties of the medicinal plant and its effect on the child.

• With edema, it is recommended to drink a rosehip decoction. Vitamin C in its composition will strengthen the immune system. The drink has a pleasant taste, it can be brewed instead of tea.
• Clove oil well eliminates joint pain after a long day at work. It is useful to rub it during a massaging session.
• Warm mustard seed foot baths improve local circulation.

Prevention of pain in the legs

It will not be possible to completely remove discomfort in the legs, but with the help of preventive measures, pain can be reduced and the development of diseases can be stopped.

• Balanced diet. A pregnant woman should exclude smoked, spicy, fried and salty.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks. It is better to drink pure water.
• Walk in the park more often, do not miss the opportunity to walk barefoot on the sand or small pebbles.
• Do not lift heavy things and rest more.

It is important for expectant mothers to listen to their inner feelings and be less nervous over trifles. Pregnancy will go well if you follow the doctor's recommendations.

Pregnancy is a condition that comes with a lot of side effects. A complaint of discomfort and swelling in the legs in the first trimester is one of the most frequent. Why do my legs hurt during early pregnancy, and is there any reason to worry?

To understand the reasons why legs ache, hurt, pull or twist in early pregnancy, it makes sense to divide them according to the manifestation of symptoms.

Why do legs ache in the first trimester

The majority of pregnant women face this problem when the baby is already quite large, in the second or third trimester. However, often the legs begin to ache as soon as the baby has made itself felt.

One of the possible causes of such an unpleasant symptom is varicose veins. Often the expansion of the veins "beeps" in the first months of pregnancy. Which, however, is quite logical: physiological restructuring makes itself felt.

The enlarging uterus begins to put pressure on the large veins of the small pelvis. This causes the blood to stagnate. If the legs of the expectant mother ache for this reason, then the following symptoms will complement the varicose veins: the legs will itch, appear, and a network of vessels will become visible.

How to fight? Special compression underwear, relaxing foot baths, reducing the load (walking less, resting as much as possible).

In connection with what pulls the leg during pregnancy in the early stages

If from the very beginning of pregnancy it pulls the calves of the legs, the best advice would be to consult a doctor. Of course, if mommy did not play sports the day before (which is doubtful, given the "special" position). Unfortunately, these symptoms give out urolithiasis or may signal kidney failure.

It's all about the rapid growth of the uterus, squeezing the ureters. This leads to fluid retention and inflammation. If pulling legs in early pregnancy, you should visit a specialist. Perhaps this is a “harmless” lack of potassium, and mom just needs to balance her diet.

Watch the video about pain and swelling of the legs during pregnancy:

Why does he twist his legs in the early stages

If “your” leg pain in early pregnancy can be described as twisting, then most likely we are talking about restless leg syndrome. This misfortune happens at the very beginning: the expectant mother should make one careless movement - and painful muscle contraction will not keep you waiting.

Other sensations in the legs that accompany the expectant mother along with the twisting of the legs in the early stages of pregnancy:

• tingling in the legs;
• feeling that the calves seem to “burn”;
• itching, which is accompanied by a sharp dull pain.

In the first trimester, the legs can twist mainly due to the change of weather. If the problem is not dealt with, at the end of pregnancy, these unpleasant sensations will be repeated every night.

The reasons are the same: the load increases, the outflow of blood slows down. The need for various elements becomes significantly higher. In the top are often vital: magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamins B and D. You can try to get by with properly selected complexes for expectant mothers and fruits. Other appointments must be made by a doctor.

Why does it bring legs together in the first trimeter

Experts believe that the reason that brings the legs together in the early stages of pregnancy is frivolous hormones (the body gets used to it), softening of the ligaments (ligamentous apparatus), a lack of calcium, an increased load on the body and weight.

Leg pain in early pregnancy

Oddly enough, “ordinary” flat feet can give a pregnant woman a lot of worries. Including pain in the legs. Gentle physical activity and properly selected shoes can relieve the pain caused by flat feet. Stilettos and high heels should be put aside for not "round" time. The current version is very comfortable, soft and stable models with a small heel (3 cm).

If none of the listed reasons seems suitable, it makes sense to abandon the "pregnant" symptoms and visit specialized specialists. After all, the expectant mother could, for example, simply pull the ligaments.

Swelling of the legs in the early stages: what to do

Experts say that if - it's not good. Fluid retention is an eloquent evidence of a malfunction in the body. It is not difficult to understand that the legs are swollen: the expectant mother will feel discomfort when putting on her favorite shoes. A feeling of heaviness in the feet, tightness of the skin are secondary signs.

Possible causes of edema:

Legs hurt in early pregnancy: a sign ... ... Constipation during early pregnancy: causes ... Headache after childbirth: why it occurs, how to treat ...

Many women complain that their legs often ache during pregnancy. With an increase in the embryo, the load on the vessels and the urinary system of the mother is equal to double. And it can make life very difficult.

Complications of pregnancy

Most women during the gestation period experience a number of difficulties. From the moment of conception and registration, women report the following violations of the body to the doctor observing the pregnancy:

• nausea;
• vomiting;
• constipation;
• pain in the lumbar region;
• swelling of the limbs;
• anemia;
• allergic reactions.

Complaints come even from those who lead a healthy lifestyle and have never had health problems before. With the right approach, many complications can be minimized or avoided altogether.

The pelvic organs can be considered the most vulnerable during pregnancy. The total body weight of a woman gradually increases, and the center of gravity shifts. The main load falls on the lower limbs. This condition is accompanied by aching pains, which greatly complicates the daily motor functions of the expectant mother. She begins to experience stiffness of movements, disruption of tissue trophism and normal blood circulation in the vessels of the legs.

Complications of pregnancy can seriously harm the development of the embryo. The fetus, at the slightest ailment of the mother, will not receive the substances and oxygen necessary for the formation of its internal organs. Lack of nutritional compounds provokes secondary complications.

Joint inflammation is a common problem during pregnancy. Pain and swelling of the legs in this case are the result of diseases such as arthrosis and arthritis. An acute lack of calcium and vitamin D, which are vital for cartilage tissue, makes itself felt by inflammatory diseases of the joints. Also, a high level of the hormone relaxin in the blood softens the bone tissue. The load on the joints every day of pregnancy will only increase. As a result, pain and swelling will appear and will not leave the woman alone until the very moment of delivery.

Causes of pain and swelling of the lower extremities

The walls of blood vessels are naturally endowed with elasticity, which provides them with resistance to unbearable physical loads on the muscular system and the ligamentous-tendon apparatus. Venous valves have two leaflets, which, when closed, pump blood through the vessels, preventing it from flowing back.

In pregnant women, blood volume increases along with the concentration of certain hormones. The variability of the hormonal background can lead to relaxation of the venous valves, and sometimes the complete absence of their closure. Thus, the process of blood circulation is disturbed. Women with this problem begin to experience increasing discomfort in the legs and feet.

From the very first weeks of pregnancy, you should review your wardrobe, not forgetting about shoes. Everyday shoes will gradually feel cramped. Unfortunately, many women save money on buying new items of clothing that they have never worn before. It is extremely important to keep your feet calm. It is recommended to wear shoes without high heels and soft soles from the first trimester. Socks should not be too narrow. You should also avoid products made of synthetic materials and select shoes according to seasonal conditions.

Rubber sneakers, sneakers, boots will negatively affect the health of the legs. Some get used to such shoes and use them as daily shoes. If you have to move down the street in rubber shoes, then indoors you should definitely change into something more suitable.

One of the quite common problems with the feet is onychocryptosis - ingrown nails into the soft tissues of the final phalanx of the finger. Most often suffers from a large toe of the foot. The disease is a consequence of wearing uncomfortable too narrow shoes, flat feet or improper cutting of the nail plate.

The lack of trace elements in the mother's body causes muscle cramps and fatigue of the lower extremities. Even a full nutrition of a pregnant woman cannot ensure the normal development of the embryo without additional vitamin complexes. Their deficiency in the mother's body is often the root cause of increased swelling and convulsive muscle contractions.

The most dangerous condition in pregnant women, causing swelling and pain in the legs, is fetal fading and preeclampsia. Such complications of pregnancy cause severe intoxication of the whole organism, which is expressed in severe edema.

Symptoms accompanying complications of swelling of the legs

In case of circulatory disorders in late pregnancy, the following unpleasant symptoms are observed:

• increased swelling;
• redness;
• aching pains;
• convulsions;
• feeling of heaviness;
• rapid muscle fatigue;
• hanging the temperature of the inflamed areas of the legs;
• aches in the joints;
• the appearance of vascular "asterisks";
• exit of deformed veins to the surface of the skin;
• inability to bend the legs normally at the knees.

This is the most common symptom of varicose veins. The most dangerous thing is that it is almost impossible to stop the disease with increased loads on the lower extremities. The walls of the large vessels of the legs are deformed and lose their elasticity. The next step without proper therapy is thrombophlebitis.

Symptoms of onychocryptosis (ingrowth of the nail plate into the soft adjacent tissues of the finger) are very painful and boil down to the following:

• intense pain in the metatarsal part of the foot;
• the inability to fully rely on the entire area of ​​​​the foot;
• redness of the inflamed area;
• the exit of ichor and pus from under the nail plate;
• severe swelling of the entire finger;
• increased body temperature at the site of injury;
• necrosis of soft adjacent tissues.

To endure pain with such a strong inflammatory process is sometimes simply impossible. It is necessary to seek help from a doctor when pain and swelling do not have the opportunity to pass for more than two days and even after a night's sleep.

Treatment of sick feet

Turning to the doctor for help, it is necessary to clearly differentiate the origin of the pain. It can be muscular, vascular, articular, bone or nail plates. There are a huge number of nerve endings under the nail plates, so any violation of the nail tissue causes throbbing pain.

To get rid of swelling and pain in the legs during pregnancy, you should correctly diagnose and find out the root cause. The approach should be comprehensive:

• Change your usual daily shoes for more spacious and soft. In the room you need to change shoes in a change of shoes. Choose shoes according to the season.
• For tired aching legs, warm salt baths will provide a good effect. You can add a few drops of essential oils to the saline solution. Tea tree, calendula, rosemary, chamomile, juniper, citrus oils are ideal. Along with the relaxing and stimulating effect, the oils will also have an antiseptic effect.
• Massage procedures. Massage is not indicated for all women. In cases with thrombosis of large vessels, any pressure and massage passes are strictly contraindicated.
• Mud cure. Mud compresses are very useful for pain and swelling of the legs. After the compress, the remaining dirt is washed off with warm water, and a softening cream or oil composition is applied to the skin of the legs.
• Close care of the nail plates. Trim the nail plates after a warm bath. Then the feet are treated with hypoallergenic creams or oil suspensions. The composition of such funds usually includes all the necessary trace elements and antibacterial substances. The cream will give the skin elasticity and will not allow fungal infections to join.
• Avoid significant physical activity. This includes heavy physical labor, too intense exercise in the gym and carrying heavy loads.
• Give your feet rest. Even if you feel a little tired, you need to lie down, raising your legs slightly higher than your torso. To do this, it is convenient to put a pillow or a roller from a blanket. So the blood flow stabilizes, and the swelling will go down.
• Taking a contrast shower. It is strictly forbidden to take a bath with a full immersion of the body of a pregnant woman in hot water. A contrast shower perfectly strengthens the walls of venous vessels, which significantly reduces swelling and eliminates pain in the legs.
• Adjust your diet and eating behavior. You will have to exclude dishes with a high content of salt and hot spices. Too salty, smoked, fried and spicy food retains water in the body, which causes high swelling. You need to take food in small portions (no more than 300 grams) 5-6 times a day.
• To drink a lot of water. The daily norm of water for an adult is from 2 to 3 liters. Strong teas and tonic drinks, factory-made juices can only provoke additional puffiness. To help maintain a normal electrolyte balance will be herbal teas, dried fruit compotes, low-concentration home-made juices, fruit jelly, fermented milk drinks.
• Take hormonal drugs with caution. Timely diagnosis will allow the doctor leading the pregnancy to correctly adjust the dosage of hormonal agents. Increased swelling causes progesterone.
• Connect the intake of vitamin complexes and trace elements. Almost all vitamins and microelements contribute to the strengthening of blood vessels, the elasticity of muscle tissues and the elasticity of the skin.
• Wear compression socks and stockings. This will help to avoid varicose veins and congestion in blood vessels and tissues.

The maternal organism and the embryo are constantly in dire need of the following trace elements:

• gland;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• fluorine;
• iodine;
• zinc;
• phosphorus;
• selenium.

Table No. 1 shows the necessary trace elements for the health of a pregnant woman and her fetus.

Vitamin complexes included in the diet of a pregnant woman will ensure the stable operation of all the internal organs of the mother and the developing systems of the embryo. Taking vitamins, a woman protects herself from pain and swelling in the lower extremities. Table No. 2 provides a list of essential vitamins.

It should be borne in mind that the appointment of any drugs for a pregnant woman should be done only by a doctor who controls the pregnancy.

Sore legs during pregnancy sometimes cause such pain that a woman is unable to walk and lead a normal life. Increasing painful discomfort also causes psychological distress. The woman becomes irritable, easily excitable and more vulnerable to infections.

Diet during pregnancy is of great importance. Food should be saturated with vegetable fibers and at the same time a sufficient amount of protein. This will give strength to muscle tissues and the ligament-tendon apparatus, which will reduce swelling of the lower extremities and general fatigue.

Every pregnant woman needs to watch her weight. Natural weight gain during embryonic development is allowed, however, when the weight of the expectant mother is too large, this will invariably lead to increased swelling of the lower extremities and pain when walking.

Pregnant women should not be embarrassed and queue for a public toilet if they feel the urge to urinate in a crowded place. You can safely go out of line. Delay even for a short time of urination will necessarily lead to swelling of the limbs.

If you notice too frequent swelling and soreness of your legs, you should give them rest as often as possible. To do this, the woman must lie down and raise her legs above the level of the lumbar. Also, pregnant women should not cross their legs while sitting on a chair and lay their legs over their legs. This position will contribute to the development of varicose veins.

A common mistake pregnant women often make is not taking their daily fluid intake. Some women reduce their intake on their own in the hope of reducing swelling and avoiding pain. It is extremely dangerous to do so. This will lead to a violation of the water-salt balance in the body. Edema is provoked not by water, but by salts and decay products. Sodium salts and hot spices should be reduced in the diet.

An important point for every pregnant woman is the normalization of the stool. Avoiding constipation is quite difficult, especially in late gestation. The increased load coming from the fecal masses that accumulate in the iliac region causes swelling of the legs, the development of varicose veins and the poisoning of the body of a woman and her unborn baby with toxins from lingering feces.

It is recommended that pregnant women sleep on their left side. This is especially important in the later stages, when the uterus is already maximally expanded. The inferior vena cava in this position, mostly located in the right hypochondrium, will freely pump blood. Thus, high swelling of the legs can be avoided.

Today in knitwear stores it is possible to purchase socks without elastic bands, which will eliminate the pinching of the ankles and feet in general. The greatest puffiness usually falls on the area of ​​​​the foot. The spine should be kept straight and maximally unloaded.

The pregnant woman must independently monitor and correct her gait, trying to distribute her weight as evenly as possible in order to avoid increased stress on the lower limbs. You can not transfer the fulcrum to one leg and hold in this position for some time. This is often experienced by women using passenger transport services. There are frequent cases when, during the gestation period, women who did not have problems with flat feet before conception unexpectedly revealed this pathology of the foot. In principle, such a manifestation of flat feet refers to an acceptable norm. In any case, careful correction of the gait and "behavior" of the foot is necessary under the supervision of a specialist.

Once on vacation in nature, it is very useful for the feet to walk barefoot on the grass or the sea coast. At the same time, the legs should not even be slightly supercooled.

With severe swelling and pain in the legs, it is effective to apply creams with a cooling effect on the skin of the feet and the ankle area. Usually they include menthol, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary oil.

Too long sunbathing is undesirable for pregnant women. Overheating for the legs has a negative effect equivalent to hypothermia.

Pregnancy is a wonderful time for any woman, during which she is preparing to give life to a little man. But this period is often overshadowed by the discomfort that manifests in different parts of the body. Why do legs hurt during pregnancy, and how to help yourself as safely and quickly as possible?

The reasons

It seems that the body has just begun to rebuild, and this should not bring any noticeable changes, let alone discomfort. But already in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman first encounters unusual and unpleasant sensations in her limbs. First of all, one should distinguish between different problems, and already on the basis of this, find the causes of such a state.

If your legs hurt during pregnancy, then the reasons for this may be:

• flat feet;
• swelling;
• varicose veins.

If severe pain in a pregnant woman appears in the area of ​​​​the big toe of the right or left foot, then there is a high probability of developing arthrosis or arthritis. Most likely, a woman has a genetic predisposition to these diseases and pregnancy only spurred their development. Active treatment directly during pregnancy is usually not carried out, however, immediately after childbirth, a woman needs to take care of her health, undergo a full examination, including x-rays, and get expert advice on how to fix the problem.

flat feet during pregnancy

If a woman's foot anatomy has always been perfect, this does not mean that she will not face flat feet in anticipation of a baby. Two factors immediately provoke the appearance of flat feet during pregnancy:

• Body weight. Body weight increases rapidly. It is especially dangerous to gain more kilograms during pregnancy than is prescribed by the norms. As a rule, such weight gain is pathological. This weight presses on the arch of the foot, and the bone structures are not able to properly absorb the load.
• Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the hormonal background changes completely. So, it also changes the state of the bone structure of the musculoskeletal system. All connective tissues become softer, supple, elastic. Thus, the body prepares for future childbirth, where the elasticity of the ligaments will help the mother give birth to a child without damaging him and her body. But this softening negatively affects the condition of the bones of the foot. Their shock-absorbing ability deteriorates significantly.

What should a future mother do? Refuse to walk and lie at home? Of course not. Walking is very useful for a pregnant woman, you just need to choose the right shoes. High heels are now banned, but flat shoes should not be either. Ideally, if the shoe pair is 3-4 cm high. It is advisable to purchase a special orthopedic insole from the pharmacy and put it in the shoes.

And of course, walking should bring joy. You should not walk to the point of exhaustion, it will not do any good.

Edema

Rare pregnancies do without them. This condition overtakes someone in the later stages, closer to childbirth, and some women suffer from edema from the second trimester. Fluid accumulations are most noticeable on the legs and arms. At the same time, women feel discomfort, as if the leg is bursting from the inside. Shoes usually begin to press and bring discomfort.

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is felt by the heaviness of the legs, squeezing the foot in the shoes. External veins with swelling become invisible

Edema is a condition that is dangerous for the fetus. Edema is one of the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia. In this condition, the supply of nutrients to the baby in the womb is disrupted. The child suffers, although the mother feels relatively well. As a rule, this situation requires inpatient treatment. A number of preventive measures are useful - limiting the intake of fluid, salt, sugar, as well as introducing diuretics into the diet.

Varicose veins

A woman can feel exacerbations of varicose veins starting from about 30 weeks. As in the case of flat feet, the increasing weight of the woman and the softening of the tissues, in this case, the vascular walls of the veins passing in the legs, are to blame for everything. The legs seem to become heavy, swollen, buzzing. With varicose veins, it is useful to lie down, but you also need to do this correctly. It is recommended to take a position in which the legs are higher than the level of the body.

This will get rid of stagnation of blood in the lower extremities. So, 10-15 minutes is enough to get rid of the visible signs of varicose veins (swelling of the veins in the legs), as well as discomfort and pain.

Any movements that do not harm the baby are also encouraged. Special exercises for pregnant women will help restore blood flow and prevent the situation from worsening. Particular attention should be paid in cases where the pregnant woman has not yet gone on maternity leave and continues to be at the workplace.

Prolonged standing with varicose veins is very dangerous. Blood stasis can lead to thrombosis. If it is often impossible to change position, then it is necessary to wear special compression stockings or tights. They evenly distribute the load and thereby mitigate the negative consequences.

Muscle pain

The appearance of muscle pain is a sign that a person has recently been intensively involved in sports. It is difficult to imagine that a pregnant woman will decide to perform physical exercises on the leg muscles, which made the fibers located here very sore. But in this state, even simple walking is quite a serious load, especially in the last stages.

The weight of a woman increases every week, respectively, and the muscles have to work in an enhanced mode. As a result, lactic acid is formed. Its increased level in the muscles leads to the same sensation of muscle pain during pregnancy. What can be done in this case? Lying down is the worst advice. In anticipation of the baby, you really need to rest more than outside of pregnancy, but this will not help get rid of the aching pain.

You can reduce the increased amount of lactic acid only by movement. It is enough to walk a little at an easy pace or just stretch your legs on the bed.

Association with convulsions

Cramps are another type of leg pain during pregnancy, in which the sensations can be compared to spasms or involuntary muscle twitches. Most often they are observed at night, in a dream. It is believed that the cause of this condition is a reduced amount of electrolytes, namely, minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium. Why is there a lack of these elements right now?

Throughout pregnancy, the laying and development of all systems of the baby takes place. The fetus receives all these elements from the mother's body, and therefore it is necessary to fill this deficiency with vitamin and mineral complexes in a timely manner. In a word, if a pregnant woman has nagging leg cramps, this is a clear sign that it is necessary to pay attention to nutrition, and possibly increase the dose of mineral supplements, of course, in consultation with the doctor.

Leg cramps in pregnant women most often occur at night, but may occur during the day

Radiating pain during pregnancy

In this case, we will focus on cases where pain in the legs during pregnancy is in no way connected with the limbs, and their source is in a completely different system or organ. The most common cause of radiating (radiating) pain is the spine. Why is this happening? The load on the musculoskeletal system increases, because the weight of a woman in just a few weeks increases by several kilograms.

In the spine there is a mass of nerve endings, the largest nerve, the sciatic nerve, also passes here. Its pinching by the vertebrae, caused by a sharp increase in mass and load on this joint, leads to pain in various areas of the hip joint and legs. Moreover, the woman practically does not feel any discomfort in the back. With prolonged or severe pinching, this nerve, which runs from the spine to the lower extremities, becomes inflamed.

In this condition, a diagnosis of sciatica is made. This is a very formidable condition, especially for a pregnant woman, and even more so if her pregnancy is 39 weeks or more. The complexity of the treatment of this group of patients lies in the fact that sciatica requires complete rest in order to relieve the load from the spine. It is best to lie on your back. But for pregnant women, starting from the second trimester, it is advisable to take a supine position only on their side.

The supine position leads to squeezing of large vessels, which can adversely affect the condition of not only the woman herself, but also the fetus in her abdomen. The need for urgent treatment of sciatica in a pregnant woman at 36 weeks and later lies in the fact that a woman can start giving birth at any time, and this stressful situation will only accelerate their onset.

One of the recommendations for a pregnant woman would be wearing a bandage. The supporting corset relieves the load from the lower zone of the spine and evenly distributes it throughout the body. Among all types of load, swimming is the most useful and safest in this situation. Movement in the water effectively supplies the muscles with blood and at the same time does not burden the vertebrae and joints.

Ingrown toenail

Why does this situation most often occur during pregnancy? This happens if a woman has swelling, but she did not have time to replace her shoes with a more comfortable one. Compression of the joints and nail plates sometimes leads to the fact that the nails simply dig into the nail fold. There is a strong, sharp pain. The finger turns red. Usually this affects only one, for example, the right leg. Even just walking seems like real torture. With this problem, you need to approach a podiatrist who will give recommendations and advice.

Ingrown toenails most often appear on the inside of the foot

At home, you can use the following methods:

• Compresses. A little Vishnevsky ointment or ichthyol ointment is applied to the wound and fixed with a bandage. Sometimes such a compress can be replaced by applying a cut aloe leaf.
• Foot baths. To do this, pour a little warm water into the basin, add table salt, soda or medicinal herbs (chamomile, string, calendula) and immerse the sore leg. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes. After that, the edge of the nail softens, it must be carefully cut and rounded with a file.

Among all the signs of pregnancy, discomfort and pain in the legs is the most common. But modern treatment will alleviate the condition of the woman and will be beneficial for the development of her fetus.

Probably, even men know that during pregnancy, a woman’s legs will certainly begin to hurt. Still would! Carrying a heavy tummy every day by the end of the term becomes simply debilitating. In addition, the center of gravity during pregnancy shifts, which also puts a strain on the legs. To endure this feeling is, of course, difficult and unpleasant, but often women unjustifiably ignore obsessive pains, believing that everyone goes through this, and there is no other way out. This is not the right approach, since pain in the legs can be the cause of a serious illness.

Why do pregnant legs hurt?

• The weight of a woman is constantly increasing.
• The center of gravity shifts and the load on the legs increases.
• Throbbing pain and swelling of the legs are usually caused by excessive accumulation of fluid in a woman's body.
• Ingrown toenails during pregnancy can also cause discomfort. Most often this is due to the tight shoes worn by future women in labor.
• Seizures can occur due to increased blood volume and high levels of progesterone in the blood during pregnancy. It is also typical with or iron in the body, with excessive consumption of coffee. As a rule, he brings his legs together at night. Pregnant women in the later stages are especially affected by this.
• Constant aching pain in the legs, especially after prolonged standing or walking, is usually associated with

Varicose veins very often become a companion of pregnancy. Even if you have never suffered from such a problem before, becoming pregnant automatically puts you at risk. Since you and your baby now share a common circulatory system, varicose veins can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus. After all, it is from your blood that the child receives all the substances important for life. Therefore, the sooner you take the necessary measures, the better for both of you. It is not difficult to recognize varicose veins during pregnancy: the legs constantly ache and hurt (especially after prolonged standing or walking); there is a burning sensation, tingling, itching, fatigue and heaviness in the legs; edema and vascular networks are observed; disturbing nighttime muscle cramps.

How to prevent or relieve leg pain during pregnancy?

• Drink plenty of water. Edema increases when the body is dehydrated.
• Reduce the amount of salt you consume so that water does not stay in the body.
• Stick to a balanced diet, which, without fail, must include foods high in protein (beans, cheese, fish, meat).
• Watch your weight. Gaining more weight during pregnancy than recommended by your doctor can increase swelling in your legs.
• Try to avoid standing for long periods of time. If you still have to stand for a long time, try to rest when possible - sit down and raise your legs. If your legs are swollen, lift them as often as possible.
• Do not cross your legs while sitting.
• Minor stretches should be done very carefully.
• Sleep on your left side. The inferior vena cava, which carries the largest amount of blood in the body, is on the right. Thus, the pressure on this vein will decrease significantly, and pain in the legs during pregnancy can be avoided.
• Wear socks that don't pinch your feet.
• Special tights, stockings, stockings and stockings made from therapeutic compression stockings help prevent problems with blood vessels.
• Shoes and boots should be comfortable and with a small heel, and the shoe last and insole should be of high quality.
• Learn to walk correctly. It is necessary to develop a posture in which the weight is distributed evenly on both legs, and the spine remains completely straight and as unloaded as possible. To do this, try not to bend your lower back too much and not lean back with your upper body, which you really want to do in late pregnancy, when the stomach becomes prohibitively large. You should start training in advance, when the stomach is still invisible - then you will not have problems with varicose veins. You can also learn proper posture by walking with a book on your head.
• Do not miss the opportunity to walk barefoot on the river or sea sand, in the morning dew.
• If your legs are too tired in the evening, take a bath at room temperature, after which apply a cooling gel to your legs and massage them lightly.
• If there is also pain in the feet, try the following procedure: pour very cold water into a large basin or bath; then stand there and step from foot to foot. Instead, you can simply pour cold water from the tap on your ankles and calves. Then wipe dry with a towel.
• There are therapeutic creams and ointments aimed at the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. Since these products are made on the basis of horse chestnut extract, their use is completely harmless.
• Massage and exercise therapy will prevent blood stasis and reduce the likelihood of leg pain during pregnancy. Swimming is also very helpful.
• It should be excluded from being in the sun for a long time and, moreover, not to sunbathe on purpose - ultraviolet weakens the walls of venous vessels and contributes to the appearance of varicose veins during pregnancy.
• It is better to replace bathing with a contrast shower - this will strengthen the walls of venous vessels and significantly reduce pain in the legs.
• You can not lift weights and engage in heavy physical labor.

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