Pregnancy
A lot of different changes come along when a woman is pregnant. Leg cramps are just one of the things that most pregnant women will encounter during their journey. There are a lot of different changes in the body that can cause leg cramps, which include blood circulation, dehydration, weight gain, vitamin deficiency, and fatigue.
During pregnancy, hormones work overtime, and blood volume increases. This causes the blood circulation in the body to slow down, which leads to swelling and cramping in the legs. There are numerous ways to improve blood circulation during pregnancy. Some tips include sleeping on the left side of the body, elevating the legs above the heart, placing a pillow between the legs while sleeping, and taking regular walks.
Weight gain and fatigue are entirely normal with pregnancy. However, nurturing another human and walking around with the extra weight can stress the leg muscles. Stretching and regular mild exercise can help keep the leg muscles from cramping.
Vitamin deficiency also plays a role in leg cramps during pregnancy. Calcium and magnesium deficiency mainly play a role here. However, prenatal vitamins are usually enough to solve this deficiency.