The time when a woman is expecting a baby is one of the most beautiful in her life. However, pregnancy is not always ongoing calmly and without complications. Often this period causes a lot of unpleasant, painful and uncomfortable sensations. In this case, the expectant mother has no pathology. This article will tell you about why a leg hurts during pregnancy in a particular case. You will find out the main causes of unpleasant sensations. It is also worth saying why it often hurts between the legs during pregnancy.
Leg pain
Expectant mother may experience discomfort in the lower extremities. In this case, the pain can be aching, stitching, pulling, itching and so on. Each cause of discomfort has its own symptoms.
If you suddenly realized that a leg hurts during pregnancy, you should contact a specialist with this problem. First, visit your gynecologist and tell him about your feelings. The doctor will conduct an examination and determine the help of which specialist you need. If the leg hurts during pregnancy, then a rheumatologist, traumatologist, surgeon, phlebologist or therapist can correct the situation. The choice of a specialist depends on the cause of the pathology that has arisen. Find out why the legs hurt during pregnancy.
Phlebeurysm
This pathology occurs in almost 40 percent of expectant mothers. Women who abuse uncomfortable shoes or high-heeled shoes are at risk. Also, varicose veins during pregnancy often develop due to a hereditary predisposition. In addition, pathology can occur in women who work in the service sector and spend the whole day on their feet.
Over the course of pregnancy, the reproductive organ greatly increases in size. This leads to the fact that the large veins of the small pelvis are pinched. The situation is especially aggravated when the expectant mother lies on her back or right side. Legs hurt during pregnancy due to stagnation of blood in them. In this case, convulsions, swelling, itching and other signs may appear. Most often, symptoms appear by the end of the day. It is worth noting that discomfort can be noted only in one or both limbs.
Correcting this condition is not only possible, but also necessary. However, medication should be prescribed only by a doctor. Most often these are the usual venotonics in the form of tablets. Moreover, treatment is carried out only from the middle of the term. In especially severe cases (if thrombosis occurs), surgery may be chosen. In this case, one must take into account the risk to the fetus and compare it with the benefit for the expectant mother.
Urolithiasis or kidney failure
Often calf pain during pregnancy due to impaired renal function. If there are problems associated with this body, then you are at risk. That is why it is recommended even before pregnancy to conduct treatment if necessary.
With the growth of the uterus, an increase in pressure on the kidneys occurs. In this case, the right side of the body suffers more. The ureters are constricted and the outflow of fluid from the body worsens. All this leads to stagnation of urine and the occurrence of an inflammatory process. Pathology of the kidneys is accompanied by an increase in the load on the vessels and urinary canals. At the same time, the expectant mother experiences pain and discomfort in the groin area. The pain can give to the lower leg or even the calves.
Of course, it is necessary to treat the disease. However, this can only be done after examining a specialist and conducting additional research. Diuretics, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents can be prescribed for correction . It all depends on the gestational age.
Vitamin deficiency
Why do leg bones hurt during pregnancy? Often, discomfort is the result of an insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in the body of a future mother. With the development and growth of the fetus, he needs more and more calcium. This substance is necessary for the proper formation of bones, teeth and ligaments. A child in the womb takes calcium from the body of the expectant mother. This may be the reason for the lack of this element.
If the bones between the legs hurt during pregnancy and the reason for this is the lack of calcium, then the treatment is quite simple. In most cases, the expectant mother is prescribed a multivitamin complex and a certain diet. All this very quickly corrects the situation and eliminates pain.
Musculoskeletal system
If the muscles of the legs hurt during pregnancy, then this may be due to a change in the load. With the growth of the fetus, the cavity of the genital organ increases. Outwardly, this is quite noticeable: the future mother has a very large tummy. Due to this process, the center of gravity can shift. The load on the back and legs increases. The expectant mother may feel pain in the lower back and lower leg. Also, discomfort often appears in the calf area.
Treatment in this case is not prescribed. With such symptoms, a pregnant woman needs more rest. If you have to spend all day on your feet, then try to sit down and relax periodically. A bandage can also be a salvation. However, this device must be selected by a specialist.
Pelvic bone discrepancy
If the bones between the legs hurt during pregnancy, then the reason for this may be the approach of childbirth. Often, the expectant mother experiences such sensations from the middle of the term. In this case, there is a feeling that you have been riding a horse for a long time. No worries. After a few weeks, this discomfort will disappear and you will become much easier. However, it is worth reporting this sensation to your gynecologist.
Some women do not at all feel how their bones diverge. Discomfort usually appears in thin and fragile women.
Body weight growth
Often, calf pain in women during pregnancy due to an increase in body weight. While waiting for the baby, the fat mass increases, the mammary glands increase. Also, we can not say about the strong growth of the tummy. By the end of pregnancy, the weight of the genital organ is approximately seven kilograms. This includes amniotic fluid and a child’s body weight. The breast of the fairer sex is increased by at least half a kilo each. All this does not pass without a trace. Relatively fast weight gain affects well-being.
After about thirty weeks of pregnancy (some even earlier), lower limbs begin to swell. Many believe that this is a consequence of excess fluid and stop drinking water. However, this action is erroneous. Due to the refusal of heavy drinking, the situation can only worsen. If your feet and calves swell, you should certainly inform your doctor about this. If necessary, you will be assigned a series of tests.
Most often, women are advised to follow a certain diet: give up everything salty, pepper, fat. It is worth eating boiled meat, bean dishes and fish. Drink more. Prefer plain water, cranberry drinks and rosehip drinks. Raise your legs up often or take a horizontal position.
Wrong shoes
If the leg hurts during pregnancy, then the reason for this may be the wrong shoes. Often this causes the problem of ingrown nails. Also, poor pedicure can serve as a reason for the curvature of the nail plate. Remember that while waiting for the baby, the foot may swell a little. That is why it is worth buying shoes one size larger. Buy only quality products that are convenient for you. Forget about narrow shoes and high heels. You will have time to vilify them after childbirth.
Injury
If one leg hurts during pregnancy, then the cause may be trauma. It is worth noting that during this period old damage may be felt. If you turned your foot up a few years ago and didn’t attach any importance to it, then it can get sick precisely while waiting for the baby. The thing is that with the course of pregnancy, there is an increase in the load on the musculoskeletal system, in particular, the legs. This can lead to inflammation of old lesions.
If the joint or bone hurts in a certain place, and the discomfort intensifies when moving, then you should immediately contact a traumatologist. Most often, if a pathology is suspected, the doctor prescribes an x-ray. However, such action is contraindicated for expectant mothers. That is why an individual examination and treatment regimen will be selected for you.
What to do to prevent leg pain?
If you want to avoid such unpleasant sensations, then it is worth following some recommendations. Consult your gynecologist and find out what preventative measures exist. Most often, doctors give the following appointments:
- often raise the limbs up so that there is an outflow of fluid and blood from them;
- move and walk more;
- Do not wear tight shoes and high heel shoes;
- use compression underwear;
- use venotonics (tablets and gels) as directed by your doctor;
- drink more fluid to thin the blood;
- refuse harmful foods and fatty foods;
- do gymnastics: swimming, bicycle;
- in case of forced prolonged standing periodically shift from one foot to another and rise on toes;
- monitor weight gain and spend fasting days;
- be sure to take vitamin complexes with calcium (in the absence of contraindications).
You now know why your legs hurt during pregnancy, and what you need to do with it. Watch your well-being. Easy your pregnancy!