Leg Cramps

Leg cramps, also called charley horses, can be bothersome during pregnancy, especially if you experience them at night. Cramps are characterized by a sharp, grabbing pain in the calf A cramp is a spasm in two sets of muscles that forces your foot to point involuntarily.
The best way to relieve a leg cramp is to stretch your muscles.

Flex or bend your foot to stretch leg muscles in the opposite direction. You can do this by standing up or by gently pressing the knee down with one hand while you gently pull the upper part of the foot toward you with your other hand. Stretching exercises before you go to bed at night may help. Don't point your toes or stretch your legs before getting out of bed.

Some medical experts believe leg cramps occur more frequently if there is an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous in the body. Do not consume more calcium than you need-l,200 mg is the recommended daily dose.

That's about 4 cups of milk. (See also the chart on page 188 for the calcium content of some foods.) Soft drinks, snack foods and processed foods are high in phosphates; you may need to cut down on them or eliminate them from your diet.