How can I prevent leg muscle cramps?

• Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time.

• Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes when you do sit down.

• Stretch your calf muscles several times before you go to bed: Straighten your leg, heel first, and gently flex your ankles and toes.

• Relax the cramp by massaging the muscle or warming it with a hot-water bottle.

If your muscle pain is constant and not just an occasional cramp, contact your doctor. A pregnant woman can develop venous thrombosis, or a blood clot, which requires immediate medical attention. This is very rare though.