Pregnancy may be the first time in your life when you have real difficulty falling (or staying) asleep. Your changing body, hormones, and emotions can make for restless nights and drowsy days. Leg cramps are another sleep-stealing culprit. They can begin as early as your first trimester but are most common in the last few months. Cramps are usually in the calf and foot, and make walking almost impossible. To ease a cramp, straighten the afflicted leg and flex your foot to point your toes toward the ceiling and stretch the calf muscles. Hold and repeat until cramp subsides. Doctors aren’t exactly sure why muscle cramps occur, but proper hydration, a balanced diet and regular exercise seem to help prevent their occurrence. Be sure to consume lots of water and stock up on calcium, magnesium and potassium -- three key electrolytes. Go easy on sodium, as it dehydrates the body. And aim to exercise at least three times per week when pregnant to keep muscles active and less prone to cramping.
~ Dara Duff-Bergeron is a veteran fitness trainer and a specialist in women’s health and fitness. With a decade under her belt, Dara now shares her exceptional experience and down-to-earth philosophy through Fit Family (fitfamily.ca) personal training and Belly Bootcamp (www.bellybootcamp.ca/) pre- and post-natal fitness. Dara is mommy of one with another on the way, and lives in Toronto with her own little fit family.
