Q. I'm experiencing intense nighttime leg cramps to the point that i'm having trouble sleeping. Is there anything I can do?

A. Pregnancy changes your weight, as well as your posture and center of gravity. This puts additional stress on your leg muscles, which can result in leg pain or spasms. There's more blood in your veins and tissues now, too, and that can also cause leg pain. In addition, pregnancy can alter the curve of your back, which may put pressure on the sciatic nerve and spark a shooting pain down the back of your leg. Luckily, there are a few remedies you can try. To avoid leg cramps, stretch your calf muscles before going to bed , walk 20 minutes a day and take a warm bath in the evening to relax your muscles. If your legs are swollen, elevating them can help relieve cramps. When you get a cramp, you may be able to work away the muscle pain by straightening your leg, pushing down with your heel and gently pointing the toes upward. You can also try massaging the muscle or warming it with a heating pad. Be sure to mention your symptoms at your next doctor appointment, especially ones that persist after delivery; you could have Restless Legs Syndrome.