Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Oh, how I hate leg cramps during pregnancy! This isn't the first time that I experienced it, but I still couldn't bear the pain whenever I feel my leg muscles tightening. Usually, it occurs at the middle of the night. I didn't know if I made a wrong turn while sleeping last night, the next thing I knew I was already crying in pain. I already tried to stretch my calf muscle by flexing my toes back toward the shim, but that didn't help still. So, I called out Baby Guian's nanny to flex my toes for me.And there, I found relief.

Whew, I don't know until when I'll experience these leg cramps. So, I researched about it to learn more how to get relief when it strikes and to avoid experiencing it further.

Why am I having leg cramps during pregnancy?

No one really knows why women have more leg cramps when they're pregnant. It's possible that your leg muscles are tired from carrying around all of your extra weight. Or they may be aggravated by the pressure your expanding uterus puts on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and the nerves that lead from your trunk to your legs.

Leg cramps may start to plague you during your second trimester and may get worse as your pregnancy progresses and your belly gets bigger. While these cramps can occur during the day, you'll probably notice them most at night.

How can I prevent these cramps?

Try these tips for keeping leg cramps at bay:

• Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time.

• Stretch your calf muscles regularly during the day and several times before you go to bed.

• Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes when you sit, eat dinner, or watch TV.

• Take a walk every day, unless your midwife or doctor has advised you not to exercise.

• Avoid getting too tired. Lie down on your left side to improve circulation to and from your legs.

• Stay hydrated during the day by drinking water regularly.

• Try a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles.

• There's some evidence that taking a magnesium supplement in addition to a prenatal vitamin may help some women. Check with your provider before taking any kind of supplement during pregnancy.

You may have heard that having leg cramps is a sign that you need more calcium, and that calcium supplements will relieve the problem. Though it's certainly important to get enough calcium, there's no good evidence that taking extra calcium will help prevent leg cramps during pregnancy. In fact, in one well-designed study, pregnant women taking calcium got no more relief from leg cramps than those taking a placebo.

What's the best way to relieve a cramp when I get one?

If you do get a cramp, immediately stretch your calf muscles: Straighten your leg, heel first, and gently flex your toes back toward your shins. It might hurt at first, but it will ease the spasm and the pain will gradually go away.

You can try to relax the cramp by massaging the muscle or warming it with a hot water bottle. Walking around for a few minutes may help too.

With this information on hand, I know exactly what to do now when I experience leg cramps.

Thanks www.babycenter.com for this info!

Pregnancy Update: Week 21

When I arrived at the office this morning, I was still feeling a little better. But after 2 hours in front of my desk, I can already feel my lower abdomen aching. I don't know what's causing this discomfort; I felt worried because perhaps, it's the placenta previa totalis again. I haven't visited my OB-GYNE since the last time I had an ultrasound, I guess that's over a month ago. So, this lower abdominal pain really scared me.

For now, I just did a research about my pregnancy update. Since my due date is on October 22nd, I'm now entering week 21.

How Big is the Baby at 21 Weeks Pregnant?

By pregnancy week 21 your baby now weighs over 10 ounces and is a little larger than 7 inches long or about the length of a full banana by now! Your baby will continue to grow at a remarkable pace as you continue your pregnancy week by week.

Your Baby's Growth and Development

By pregnancy 21 weeks your baby's growth has now slowed somewhat though your baby is still growing and developing at a remarkable pace. At pregnancy week 21 your baby's organs and central nervous system are still developing and maturing. Your baby's skin continues to develop and mature as well.

Though not fully matured or developed, your baby's digestive system is also working minimally at pregnancy 21 weeks. The intestines are slowly starting to contract and relax during pregnancy at 21 weeks, and your baby is able to swallow and absorb fluids through the amniotic fluid at 21 weeks pregnant.

Though it seems unusual that your baby may swallow amniotic fluid, this actually helps mature the digestive system.

At some point in your pregnancy, you might actually start noticing that your baby has started hiccupping. Believe it or not, hiccupping in utero is actually quite common, and typically not a sign that your baby is in distress. Fetal hiccups typically begin sometime during the second trimester. You may notice hiccups as a small, repetitive and rhythmic movement that occurs for a few minutes at a time in your belly. Many women actually enjoy the sensation of their baby's hiccups because it reminds them that all is well with their newborn baby.

Changes in Mommy:

You may be noticing aches and pains in your leg during or after 21 weeks pregnant. Just as with varicose veins, discussed in previous weeks, support stockings can help alleviate leg heaviness and aches during pregnancy. Try putting your maternity support hose on first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. This will help alleviate unnecessary swelling and discomfort in your legs.

Also consider propping your feet up when sitting if you don't already do so. Another way to alleviate aches and pains is regular exercise and stretching. Consider a 15-minute stretch and walk during your lunch break or once in the morning and once during the afternoon. This will go a long way toward alleviating aches and pains.

Source: www.pregnancyhut.com
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Pregnancy Update: Week 20

I am now in week 20 and so my bulging tummy is becoming more visible. I even started wearing maternity clothes because my jeans and shirts are so tight already. With my black leggings on and loose blouses and shirts, I could move comfortably without having to worry about abdominal pain later.

So, how about the little fella inside? "He's" doing good, I guess, because at night, he keeps on doing somersaults which leave me sleeping rather late. But as far as his condition inside is concerned, I don't have a clue since I haven't had another ultrasound yet. Anyway, I made a research a while ago to check on my baby's development at week 20.

Week 20: How Big is Baby?

By pregnancy week 20 your baby is now almost 9 ounces and is between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 inches long! The pregnancy week by week changes occurring at this stage are truly remarkable.

Baby's Growth and Development:

By pregnancy 20 weeks your baby is now practicing breathing and swallowing on a regular basis. Your baby continues to grow and fill out, with the head becoming slightly more proportional to the rest of the body.

Your baby's skin is becoming more complex at the end of pregnancy week 20, forming different layers. The epidermis, or surface of your baby's skin now has four layers that contain ridges for fingertips. The layers that form in your baby's palms and feet will provide him with his own unique fingerprint later in life.

I'm really getting more excited about this pregnancy. I'm halfway there and so stay with me until this little fella comes out.


Source: www.babycenter.com
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Constipation During Pregnancy

Lately, I've been experiencing constipation. It's so uncomfortable, to the extend that sometimes I don't feel like eating anymore. I always feel as if my stomach is so full, and there's a need for me to move my bowel. But when I'm already there, nothing happens.

They say that constipation is very common during pregnancy. This is mainly caused by hormonal changes brought by pregnancy and influences the whole digestive system. Symptoms often include the following:

• More than four days between each bowel movement.
  
  
• Feces are hard, which are difficult to pass.
  
  
• A feeling that not all the feces are being passed.
  
  

Aaarrgghhh, I really want constipation relief as soon as possible! If only I'm not pregnant, I would have taken one of those tea that I used to drink to help me pass my poops. But for now all I can do is to eat enough fibre, drink more water, and take exercise. I just hope these would help sooner.

Hey, I Felt Him Move!

Yes, the little one is making those mini kicks again. I just felt him move a while ago. And it brought a smile to my face. As early as 19 weeks, I can already feel those little movements, and I can hardly wait to feel bigger ones as my pregnancy progresses.

Twenty-one weeks more and I'm off to see this little guy - (yeah, still hoping here that he's a little guy this time). Can't wait to see how he looks and touch his little hands and feet. Hmmm. I wonder if his foot is as cute as this one.

Image from: downtownbeatons.blogspot.com

Pregnancy Update: Week 18

I am now in week 18 of my pregnancy (almost 5 months at that). So far, so good. So good in the sense that I can manage to travel 8 short and long rides a day, to and from work. However, there are times that I find myself wishing that I'm just at home working and looking after the kids at the same time. In times like these, I simply console myself by saying this pregnancy will soon be over and that everything will be back to normal for me.

So, how am I and the baby doing in week 18? We're good, yeah! Although I'm not sure if I'm already placenta previa totalis-free. I haven't visited my OB-GYNE since my prenatal checkup last April and haven't had another ultrasound yet, so I have no clue. But still, I'm hoping that the placenta already migrated and that the baby shifted position from breech to head first. Anyway, on June 1, I'm planning to visit a new OB-GYNE near our vicinity. Only then will I know how my pregnancy condition is.

For now, I just update myself with what to look forward in pregnancy week 18 by researching on the Internet. So far, here is what I found out:

The Mom:

The hormones in pregnancy can cause changes in the appearance of your skin and hair. You may find that you have uneven patches of color or a butterfly shaped one called "the mask of pregnancy". These changes are more common in dark-skinned women. Your capillaries under your skin on your face can increase, causing you to look flushed. This is sometimes referred to as the "glow" that pregnant women are thought to have about them. You can use your foundation to cover both of these.

Your hair may appear thicker, it may gain a little curl, or it may start thinning. You will find that whatever your hair type, it usually becomes worse, i.e. dry hair becomes dryer.

You can now feel your uterus just below your navel.The average woman has gained close to 12 pounds by now.

SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

• Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Occasional headaches
• Stretch Marks (cocoa butter can help with these)
• Itching

The Baby:

This week your baby is about 5.6 inches long and by the end of the week will weigh about 5 ounces! She is really growing! You are also growing as well, Mom! You can probably feel your uterus just under your navel. You have probably gained about 10 to 12 pounds.

Source: http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/weekbyweek/week18.html
Image Source: www.babycorner.com

Placenta Previa Totalis

Last April, I underwent an ultrasound. I made a post about it in my family blog, The Baby in Between. The result showed that I was experiencing a serious pregnancy complication called Placenta Previa Totalis. Some of you may be familiar with this condition. But for those who are not, you can hop on to my Placenta Previa post to learn more about it.

At first, I was so scared. But after reading various forums where moms, who also experienced the same complication, shared their PP stories, I felt a little relieved. Most of them were able to give birth normally because their placenta migrated after a couple of weeks or months, totally clearing the cervix to give way for the baby. So after reading, I'm more than hopeful that my placenta will also migrate since my uterus will still grow bigger as weeks pass.

I'm now on my 18th week of my pregnancy. Ten weeks more and I'm off to another ultrasound. Keeping my fingers crossed that my placenta already moved out of the baby's way. And I'm praying hard as well that me and my baby will continue to be safe all throughout this pregnancy.

Preggy Again!!!

Whew, it's been a month since I last made an update on this blog. But anyway, I'm here again, making this quick post to update you guys of what's happening to Phoebz. Well, aside from the fact that I'm still a full-time working mom, now I'm excited to announce that I have another baby on the way.

Yes, I'm preggy again! I'm now at 12 weeks, almost over with my first trimester. However, I'm still feeling the same symptoms like on the 1st trimester - vommitting, nausea, morning sickness, moodiness, etc. I thought, once I entered my 2nd trimester, my pregnancy will be a little bit more fun. But, I was wrong.

Anyway, in spite of these really uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms, I'm so glad that my husband is more supportive now than when I was conceiving Baby Guian. If you will look back at my posts here way back 2007, I had a really depressing pregnancy with her because her dad was somewhat "confused" during that time. But now, he's really changed, and hopefully, he'll continue to be the supportive and loving husband that he is.

So that's it for now. Journey with me as I continue to update you on this pregnancy.