Experiencing Leg Cramps During Pregnancy?


During the final months of your pregnancy, you may awaken suddenly from a deep slumber with sudden and extreme muscle cramping in the lower back of your leg. Many people refer to these painful episodes as "Charley Horses," a term that most likely originated in baseball jargon!

What Causes it? What Does it Feel Like? Although the exact cause of leg muscle spasms during pregnancy is unclear, it has been speculated that the leg muscles become overworked from carrying extra weight or that an imbalance of certain minerals is a contributing factor. Since your pregnant body is experiencing circulation changes, poor blood circulation is also associated with muscle cramping. Typical leg cramping during pregnancy occurs during sleep in the calf muscles. Yet, if you would describe your pain as sharp, sudden, and "radiating" down one leg, then you could be experiencing sciatica, which is pain that may be caused by your uterus pressing on the sciatic nerve in your hip area.


What To Do? In most cases, when you have muscle cramping in your calf, it can be resolved by pulling your toes toward you, and massaging the muscle area. If you think that the muscle cramping may be related to your diet, ask you pregnancy doctor about mineral supplements. In addition to calcium, potassium, and magnesium, some believe that vitamin B12 is helpful, as well. For sciatic nerve pain, you should experience relief as your baby moves around, which shifts the weight of your uterus off the nerve. Some find it helpful to apply a heating pad to the hip and/or leg area to relieve pain. To improve circulation, avoid crossing your legs, stretch throughout the day, take a short walk, and lie on your left side when resting.

Is it Serious? Having occasional leg cramps in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy can be  common. But, whatever the cause of your discomfort, always call your doctor right away about any questions or concerns, especially if you experience new, unusual, severe, constant, frequent muscle pain or cramping. Also, be aware that if the area feels warm, swollen, red, or sore, that these can be signs of a blood clot, which can occur more often in pregnancy, and is a very serious condition that needs immediate medical attention.

Lastly, remember to drink plenty of water during the day, as keeping hydrated is an important factor in preventing leg cramps, and enjoy a warm, luxurious milk bath to relax your muscles before bed!


Written by Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

                                          Cute Hospital Delivery Gowns, to Deliver in Style...

The "Elle" Hospital Delivery Gown is our newest fabric choice at ModMomMaternity.com!

It will look so cute & cheery on you, in the first pictures after your baby delivery! This gown was designed by a labor and delivery nurse, so it will be simple for the hospital staff to have easy access.

The design includes:

-Snaps completely down the back for complete coverage from behind.

-Snaps at the breastbone for discrete & easy breastfeeding. Providing privacy when visitors come!

-Ribbon sash to tie in the back or the front to accent your beautiful belly.


After you leave the hospital, use your gown as a nightgown or nursing pajamas. It is beautiful and comfortable, as well as easy for breastfeeding in the middle of the night!

                                                            Spring Baby, Spring Maxi

You will find a maternity maxi dress to suit your style, among our collection of modern maternity clothes for the Spring! Our selection of maternity maxi dresses come in a variety of solids and prints, with sizes ranging from XS to 3XL. Many can be worn during pregnancy and beyond, since they are designed with discrete nursing access for moms who will be breastfeeding. Most women love to wear maxi dresses, pregnant or not, as they are always comfortable and can be worn to most any occasion!

                                                  Designer Diaper Bags for Nursing Moms!

The "Mamie" Diaper Bag was designed for nursing moms. It has plenty of room to store a breast pump and has a detachable cooler on the bottom to store breast milk! Whether you are currently a breastfeeding mom or plan to be, you will love the modern style, convenience, and practicality of this designer diaper bag while traveling or being out for a long day with your little one.

The Messenger Diaper Bag- For Great Style & Function

                                      
                                                       Helpful Tips for the Labor Coach

A labor coach is the person who stays with you during your labor and delivery. It is usually the father of your soon-to-be-born child, but could also be a family member or friend. It is helpful if this person has gone to childbirth classes with you, so that they can encourage you to use the techniques that you have learned and better understand what you are experiencing. If you and your coach have not gone to baby delivery classes do not panic, most importantly make plans for someone to be with you during your labor and delivery who can provide you with comfort, support, and encouragement.

Some helpful tips to do and discuss with your labor coach, several weeks before giving birth to your baby:

1. Attend childbirth-preparation classes together, like lamaze classes, which help you learn breathing techniques to use during painful contractions. Ask your pregnancy doctor or local hospital for class recommendations. Do not hesitate to ask a lot of questions and take notes. When my husband and I attended classes, learning about the stages of labor helped him anticipate my needs & be a better advocate for me. It was great for him to know when to get me ice-chips & was comforting when he was confident to ask the medical staff questions as they began inducing labor during my first delivery!

2. Encourage your labor coach to bring an overnight bag to the hospital, packed with snacks, water,  toiletries, comfortable shoes & a change of clothes. You may even want to get your coach a special "Pregnancy Support Team" shirt! When I delivered our second child, my husband became light-headed & nauseated from not eating and had to leave the room at a time that I really needed him!

3. Discuss different scenarios with your coach, such as a change in your preferred delivery method. This will help you be more flexible & mentally prepared if your labor and delivery plans do not go as you expected or learned in childbirth classes. With our first child, we did not expect that I would need a C-section after 8 hours of difficult labor. But having learned about the possibility, we were able to accept it better and realize that a safe delivery was most important!

4. Discuss the need for patience with each other. Not only can labor take several hours, but you may do or say things to each other that could be taken personally. Due to the way that each of us handles difficult situations and pain, we may become sensitive to things that usually wouldn't bother us. With our third child, having a baby went much smoother for me. But just as I was about to deliver,  I remember my husband commenting, "This hasn't been so bad! We should have a fourth!" At the time, even though it had been easier than my others, his timing was not good!

The anticipation of having a baby is always filled with feelings of excitement, but it is also a time of not knowing what to expect, which can be frightening. Learn as much as you can and then be flexible, prepared, and patient. When I was pregnant, someone shared this, "Women have been having babies for thousands of years and you will get through it too!" It's so true...you will get through your labor and delivery, just as so many women have before you. And best of all, you will then have stories to share with other moms, too!

                                     Stylish Nursing Clothes for the Modern Breastfeeding Mom!

The modern maternity clothes of today include many options for pregnant and nursing moms, like nursing tops, nursing dresses, and nursing pajamas. In the past, maternity fashions were very limited and nursing clothes were not readily available.

I still remember the inconvenience and embarrassment of trying to breastfeed my newborn in public over twenty years ago. I would work myself into a frenzy, searching for a place of privacy to breastfeed, either retreating to my car in the parking lot or sitting on a commode in a public restroom! Even if I threw a blanket over my shoulder for privacy, it was difficult to not expose my post-preggo belly and rolls during the process of nursing my newborn.

Today, there are many stylish nursing clothes available for breastfeeding moms that are creatively designed for easy nursing access. Although they tend to be more expensive than regular maternity clothes, consider that most of them can be worn during your entire pregnancy and beyond since they have a discrete nursing design. When purchasing nursing clothes, remember to invest in a few comfortable and good quality nursing bras that can be worn during your pregnancy and beyond, too.


By adding nursing clothes to your maternity wardrobe now, you will be ready to nurse your baby with confidence, when ever & where ever you decide to go!

Baby Boy Nursery Ideas Made a Reality! - Press Release

                                               Beautiful, Stretch Lace Baby Shower Dresses

Your baby shower will be a day that you will never forget! It is a day that you have probably been anticipating for many months, as your family and friends will gather in excitement to shower you with gifts of love to help you prepare for your baby's arrival. It will be a day of laughter, photos,  delicious food, fun games, and surprise gifts!

And yes, you will be the guest of honor! So, finding a special dress to wear is important! When looking for your dress, you may want to consider one that is made of stretchy lace fabric. Not only is lace feminine and elegant, but when it has the ability to stretch, it gives you added comfort!

At ModMomMaternity.com, we offer a wide selection of beautiful, lace maternity gowns, that are fully lined, in a variety of styles and colors. Whether your prefer a strapless version or one with bell-shaped sleeves, all are beautifully trimmed with scalloped edges for added style.

                                                         Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Up to 90% of pregnant women develop pregnancy stretch marks, especially during the final months of their pregnancy. They are red or purple colored stripes that fade to a whitish-silvery color during the following 6 to 12 months after pregnancy.

The definite cause of stretch marks seems to vary, but most agree that when the skin is rapidly stretched and pulled, its collagen production can not keep up with the increased demands which results in the skin's inability to stretch as it needs to,  resulting in tissue damage that causes scars, called stretch marks. For this reason, many believe that slow, steady, and consistent weight gain during pregnancy may help reduce pregnancy stretch marks. But, it is always best to regularly consult with your doctor for his/her recommended weight gain guidelines that are best for your individual situation. Some believe that genetics play a role in whether one will develop stretch marks, too. However, some have reported that they developed stretch marks, but their mother and/or sister didn't. Others have said that they got stretch marks with their first pregnancy, but not their second!

Since most women are conscientious of developing stretch marks, many companies have developed creams, salves, and oils which claim to prevent them. But, be aware that there is much controversy as to if they actually work. However, what most do agree upon is that keeping your belly well moisturized helps to reduce the uncomfortable itching that often accompanies a growing belly!

To whatever degree you may experience stretch marks during pregnancy, remember that although there is no absolute cure to prevent them from occurring or disappearing, there are many treatment options and suggestions to lessen their appearance. Consult with your pregnancy doctor to get treatment options that are safe for you and your baby. Also, be prepared that insurance companies may not cover these treatments, as they are cosmetic in nature.