Now that I'm in my third trimester, I keep getting these painful cramps in my calves. Sometimes they even wake me up at night. What can I do to make them stop?
– Emelia
You're not alone — many pregnant women get these lower leg cramps, often in the middle of the night in their second and third trimesters.
Experts aren't sure what causes "charley horses" (the nonclinical name for painful cramps in your calf muscles). Although they can be extremely painful, charley horses are — luckily! — usually brief.
What might help:
Talk to your doctor to see if extra calcium or magnesium could help you. But don’t take supplements without checking with the doctor first.
If the leg pain doesn't ease; is severe; or is accompanied by swelling, warmth, or redness in the leg or trouble walking, talk with your doctor right away.
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date Reviewed: Jan 1, 2021