Cramp is a sudden, sharp pain, usually in your calf muscles or feet. It is most common at night. Nobody really knows what causes it, but there are some ideas about causes of cramp and why it can occur in pregnancy.
Avoiding cramp
Regular, gentle exercise in pregnancy, particularly ankle and leg movements, will improve your circulation and may help to prevent cramp occurring. Try these foot exercises:
- bend and stretch your foot vigorously up and down 30 times
- rotate your foot eight times one way and eight times the other way
- repeat with the other foot
How to ease cramp
It usually helps if you pull your toes hard up towards your ankle or rub the muscle hard. Find out more about treatment of cramp, but remember always to consult your midwife, GP or pharmacist before taking painkillers in pregnancy. See alcohol, medicines and other drugs.
Find out about more common minor problems in pregnancy.
