Pregnancy comes not only with joy but for some of us many aches and pains and little known conditions as well. Thankfully most of these ailments are short-lived and end with the birth, and have little or no harmful impact on the mother or baby. One such condition is leg cramps. The worst thing about these mostly nighttime attacks is that they can be painful. Many sufferers report being jolted awake by these cramps. They tend to begin in the second trimester.

Leg cramps are common in pregnancy but there is no definitive answer as to why some women have them. Some possible causes include:

• Being dehydrated: Some pregnant women, especially those who are working cut back on water and fluid intake so as to minimize the frequent trips to the bathroom. Trying to cut back on nighttime bathroom visits is another reason why pregnant women avoid drinking fluids, especially in the late evening hours. This can lead to muscle problems.

• Vitamins: Deficiency in certain Vitamins such as magnesium and potassium

• Weight gain during pregnancy: Weight gain in pregnancy can cause stress on leg muscles resulting in leg pain from conditions such as sciatica

• Lack of exercise: Exercise keeps the muscles supple. If muscles are not used often enough this can result in cramps and pains

How to deal with leg cramps

There are number of ways to alleviate leg cramps. Some may not be appropriate for everyone based on their medical condition. Discuss some of these with your OB/GYN or midwife if you have concerns. Prevention tips include:

• Take walks daily unless you are on bed rest or otherwise restricted

• Avoid long stretches of sitting or standing

• Avoid crossing your legs for long periods

• Give your ankles a little exercise. Practice rotating them and wriggling your toes periodically

• Drink lots of water

• A warm bath before bed can help relax leg muscles

• Try lying on your left side so as to aid circulation to your legs

• If possible have someone give you a leg massage before bed

The best way to deal with a leg cramp when you get one is to stretch your leg out. Flex your toes and as your stretch your calf muscles. There will be pain at first but this will gradually disappear. Doing this tends to stop the cramping quicker than just waiting for it to pass.

If you experience persistent pain from these leg cramps see your doctor just in case you have something more serious going on. One of the most likely causes could be a blood clot in the leg. This can be deadly and should be treated as soon as possible.

Some of us breeze through pregnancy without any issues while others are textbook; we have every symptom known to occur during pregnancy. One little discussed condition that affects some pregnant women is pregnancy rhinitis or rhinitis of pregnancy.

What is Pregnancy Rhinitis?

This refers to the stuffy, uncomfortable nasal condition that afflicts many pregnant women during pregnancy. It has no environmental causes and generally begins sometime during the first trimester of a pregnancy, but can occur at anytime during pregnancy. This condition can last for the pregnancy’s entire duration or even a few weeks after you have given birth.

It is believed that the increased levels of estrogen and blood during pregnancy result in the swelling of the mucus membrane causing the feeling of stuffiness. Sometimes these conditions also result in the production of excess mucus which helps to trigger pregnancy rhinitis.

What are the Symptoms?

Like most such conditions, the symptoms vary from person to person. However, some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy rhinitis are:

• Stuffy nose (congestion)
• Constant sneezing and coughing
• Itchy nose
• Headache and stuffy feeling in sinus cavities

Treatment

The condition normally clears up fully within two weeks of giving birth. Treatment for pregnancy rhinitis varies and depends on the degree of the condition. Some popular treatments are:

• Decongestants: Before taking any over the counter medication for pregnancy rhinitis talk to your doctor. In the past there were fears that oral decongestants could be harmful during pregnancy. However, recent studies have refuted these claims. Nonetheless, be guided by your OB/GYN and your own feelings on this.
• Antihistamines: Some of these are safe for use during pregnancy, but for the safety of the fetus, discuss any concerns and be guided by your medical practitioner.
• Saline drops: This is the safest and one of the most recommended treatments for pregnancy rhinitis. Saline solutions for nasal congestion are available in pharmacies or can be made at home.

Apart from the above, you can also do quite a bit to control the condition yourself.

• Drinking plenty of fluids helps but avoid caffeinated drinks.
• You will also find that sleeping with your head elevated helps to alleviate some of the symptoms and discomfort associated with pregnancy rhinitis.
• Taking a warm bath is good as steam works to clear the nasal passage.
• Moderate exercise is also useful in controlling the condition, but since you are pregnant stick to the basics such as walking.
• Place a humidifier in your room at nights to help increase and control the moisture levels. Be sure to follow the care instructions for humidifiers to avoid breathing in potentially harmful bacteria.

As always, when you are pregnant, even if you have an idea of what is wrong still talk it over with your OB/GYN. There is never any need to take chances with your unborn child.