Leg Pain During Pregnancy – Inevitable Pain?

During pregnancy, the woman’s body undergoes various changes and it is normal for some inevitable symptoms to come along with these changes. With the weight of the belly and the increase in body weight, some pains become more pronounced in areas most affected by these changes, such as leg pain during pregnancy¹.

The increase in weight along with the belly adds extra strain to the cardiovascular system, which causes the legs to swell a lot and become very painful. This usually begins to occur from the second trimester, when the belly starts to grow faster, and this is natural because blood circulation slows down during this phase.

Due to the increase in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy, which makes the uterus stronger to support the baby, blood circulation slows down, but the blood vessels throughout the body, especially in the legs, become more dilated. That is why so many pregnant women suffer from varicose veins during pregnancy, especially smokers, since smoking blocks the vein walls².

How To Relieve Leg Pain During Pregnancy?

During hot weather, leg swelling and pain may become worse, increasing discomfort so that the pregnant woman may have trouble even putting on shoes or doing common everyday activities. This can be relieved by resting, raising the legs with the support of a pillow so that the legs are elevated above head level, which can help improve blood circulation and reduce swelling. To prevent this leg pain, ideally, from the very start of pregnancy, try not to be sedentary and instead do light exercise like walking, which will greatly help blood circulation function better.

Another very important factor is posture: it is not advisable for a pregnant woman to spend too much time standing or sitting, as this slows the circulation even more³. If you work sitting all day, get up from time to time and stretch, walk around your workplace to help your circulation, and this will help prevent not only leg pain but also excessive swelling of your feet. Wearing low to moderate compression elastic stockings is also recommended to ease this discomfort, and increasing fluid intake, which will help the kidneys function better, contributes to reducing swelling in the legs and the body overall. Avoid salty and heavily seasoned foods as much as possible—salt is one of the main culprits for fluid retention. Choose to eat diuretic fruits like melon, watermelon, or starfruit.

By following these tips and leading a healthy life without a sedentary lifestyle, and with a good diet, you will get through this period more comfortably and with less leg pain. If you still feel uncomfortable to the point it interferes with your daily routine, seek your doctor.

Home remedy to relieve leg pain: Blend the juice of 1 sweet orange, a slice of watermelon, and some cucumber slices in a blender and drink daily. This juice is diuretic and will help eliminate salt from the body, reducing swelling and discomfort.

See also: Toothache During Pregnancy: What To Do? How To Relieve It?