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• Ensure you have enough space in bed to move around at night and try raising your
feet slightly on a small pillow
Soaking in a bath with a cup full of Epsom salts added for a maximum of 20 minutes
as the magnesium salts helps aches pains and cramping or purchase some
magnesium spray (available on amazon )
How can I get rid of leg cramps?
If you’re experiencing leg cramps, try and stretch your muscles to relieve the pain. To
stretch your calf muscles, stand on the edge of a ledge or step and slowly lower your heels
so they are below the level of the step. Hold this position for a few seconds before bringing
your heel back up to the starting position.
If the pain is constant and doesn’t go away or if you notice any swelling or tenderness, you
should contact your doctor and let them know. In very rare cases, it’s possible that
pregnant women can develop blood clots in their leg veins which will need urgent
treatment.
Pelvic Girdle pain
Pelvic pain in pregnancy
Some women develop pelvic pain in pregnancy. This is sometimes called pregnancy-
related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).
Symptoms of PPGP
PPGP is a collection of uncomfortable symptoms caused by a stiffness of your pelvic joints
or the joints moving unevenly at either the back or front of your pelvis.
PPGP is not harmful to your baby, but it can cause severe pain around your pelvic area
and make it difficult for you to get around.
Different women have different symptoms, and PPGP is worse for some women than
others. Symptoms can include:
• pain over the pubic bone at the front in the centre
• pain across one or both sides of your lower back
• pain in the area between your vagina and anus (perineum)
Pain can also radiate to your thighs, and some women feel or hear a clicking or grinding in
the pelvic area. The pain can be most noticeable when you are:
• walking

