Buttocks cramps in late pregnancy

Pregnancy is equivalent to the third stage of development for women. During pregnancy, women will undergo great changes both physically and mentally. Especially in the late pregnancy when the fetus is fully developed, the body and mind of the pregnant woman will undergo great changes. Not to mention the bloated figure, it is common to have leg cramps and buttocks cramps at night, and the limbs will also become swollen. In the final analysis, it is caused by the compression of the lower nerves by the developing fetus. Generally speaking, there are the following types of cramps in the late pregnancy.

1. Cramps caused by cold factors

Cold factors, such as low room temperature in autumn nights, using too thin a quilt when sleeping or exposing legs and feet outside the quilt, can easily cause cramps.

2. Cramps caused by sleeping posture

Bad sleeping posture, such as lying on your back for a long time, with the quilt pressing on your feet, or your feet resting on the bed, can cause poor blood circulation and can also cause cramps.

3. Cramps caused by overwork

As the weight during pregnancy continues to increase, the burden on the expectant mother's legs continues to increase, and the leg muscles are often in a state of fatigue; walking too much or standing too long during pregnancy will increase the burden on the leg muscles, leading to the accumulation of local acidic metabolic products, which will cause muscle cramps.

4. Cramps caused by hypocalcemia

The growth of fetal bones consumes a lot of calcium from the mother. Low calcium will increase the excitability of nerves and muscles, leading to muscle contraction and subsequent cramps.

5. Cramps caused by dietary factors

Meat is rich in protein. Excessive intake will affect the metabolism of carbohydrates, leading to the accumulation of acidic metabolites and causing electrolyte disorders. One of the manifestations of electrolyte imbalance is cramps.

Tips for calcium supplementation:

1. Small amounts of calcium supplementation multiple times are effective

This is more effective in absorbing calcium than taking a large amount of calcium supplements at one time. When taking calcium tablets, you can choose small doses of calcium tablets and take them orally two or three times a day. The same 500 ml of milk, if divided into 2 to 3 times to drink, the calcium supplement effect is better than drinking it all at once.

2. Choose the best time to supplement calcium

Calcium easily combines with oxalic acid, phytic acid, etc., which affects the absorption of calcium. Therefore, the best time to supplement calcium is before going to bed and between meals. Be sure to leave some time before going to bed. It is best to rest for half an hour after dinner, because blood calcium concentration is lowest in the second half of the night and morning, which are the best times for calcium supplementation.

3. Bone soup is not the best way to supplement calcium

Use 1 kg of meat bones to boil soup for 2 hours, and the calcium content in the soup is only about 20 mg. Therefore, using meat bone soup to supplement calcium is far from meeting the need. In addition, the fat content in meat and bone soup is very high, and you will consume fat while drinking the soup. Pregnant mothers should not use this as the only way to supplement calcium.

4. Take calcium supplements and vitamin D3 at the same time

Vitamin D can regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism and promote calcium absorption. In addition to taking vitamin D, it can also be synthesized in the body through sun exposure. You can synthesize enough vitamin D3 by spending more than half an hour outdoors in sunny conditions every day. However, overdose may cause side effects such as loss of appetite, fatigue, arrhythmia, nausea, and vomiting.