Gynecologist warns: pregnant women should not cross their legs

Why pregnant women should not sit cross-legged for physiological reasons

The main doctor monitoring a pregnant woman is a gynecologist. He gives certain recommendations, following which a woman will be able to bear a healthy and strong child. The specialist is sure that it is undesirable for a pregnant woman to sit with her legs crossed. There are several reasons:

1. A woman's veins in the thigh area are pinched. This impairs blood circulation and is fraught with the development of varicose veins, which often causes dangerous thrombosis, which puts the life of the woman and baby at risk. It is dangerous for a pregnant woman to sit (cross-legged or with one leg crossed over the other) for a long time on a hard, straight surface: a chair, bench or stool.
2. A pregnant woman may experience stagnation of blood circulation. When veins are pinched, it is more difficult for blood to move through them, especially moving from bottom to top. The pelvic area and lower limbs suffer. For a pregnant woman, this condition is doubly dangerous; the blood supplies the baby with nutrients and oxygen, so deterioration of blood circulation is fraught with the development of fetal hypoxia.
3. If the bad habit persists in women experiencing the 34th week of pregnancy and beyond, crossed legs can contribute to the formation of abnormal positioning of the fetus. During this period, the baby begins to change position, taking the optimally comfortable position for childbirth.
4. If you sit for a long time, a pregnant woman's legs will become numb and numb.
5. The woman's spine suffers. An uncomfortable posture increases the load due to the displacement of the usual center of gravity. During pregnancy, a woman's spine is weakened and is affected by the hormone relaxin. It prepares the body for future childbirth. The pelvic and spinal ligaments relax. It is not advisable for a pregnant woman to load them additionally.

Doctors are against this position in general. Poor circulation is unpleasant for anyone, regardless of gender, age or position. It is enough to sit correctly to avoid possible consequences. A pregnant woman has to think about two things at once: the baby and her own health.

What doctors say

Varicose veins

Why can't pregnant women sit cross-legged? In this position, the veins in the legs of the expectant mother are pressed together, which can lead to the development of varicose veins, a common ailment of pregnant women. According to statistics, 20-40% of pregnant women suffer from this disease. Genetics and hormonal changes contribute to the expansion of veins. During pregnancy, the venous walls weaken, this happens simultaneously with an increase in blood volume and increased stress on the veins.

Varicose veins cause stagnation of blood in the veins and vessels of the legs. This leads to swelling and blood clots. The rupture of a blood clot provokes the creation of extremely dangerous situations, including the loss of the child and the death of the mother.

At the initial stage, varicose veins do not manifest themselves in any way! A woman simply does not pay attention to a barely noticeable venous deformation. And the destructive mechanism has already begun to swing!

How does the disease progress? When performing a leg-over-leg pose, the veins and vessels in the popliteal fossa are compressed. Blood flowing through the arteries accumulates in the lower parts of the legs - it is not allowed to continue moving through the body by pinched veins. Venous blood gradually accumulates and bursts the veins from the inside. The blood flow is increased by the uterus, which puts pressure on the pelvic veins. Swelling of the legs begins.

At the initial stage, the limbs swell slightly, this can be noticed in the evening. By morning the swelling subsides. In 3 out of 10 cases, the first alarm bell is leg muscle cramps that appear at night; they are accompanied by itching. The next stage of development of the disease becomes visually noticeable changes:

• Spider veins. Small vessels that look like cobwebs visible through the skin. The “picture” of blood vessels “paints” the disease in purple or blue.
• "Worms." A more terrible manifestation of varicose veins is the expansion of the main veins. Such “worms” swell above the surface of the skin and reach a thickness the size of a finger. Their color is greenish.

Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic problem. Compression of the veins is dangerous due to complications (thrombophlebitis, internal bleeding, trophic ulcers). Some women do not experience pain in these areas, while others suffer from severe pain in the affected areas.

How to prevent a dangerous condition. Prevention should be carried out for all women in an interesting situation, preventing the development of the disease. Get special compression hosiery (anti-varicose stockings, tights). Twice a day, do exercises aimed at strengthening the leg muscles and improving blood flow in the lower extremities. After exercise, perform a light foot massage with stroking, rubbing movements over the entire surface of the skin of the feet.

Relax! When lying down to rest on the sofa, raise your legs above your head - this position will improve the outflow of venous blood. Venotonic creams will be a good help (they are applied to the affected areas in the morning and evening). Your doctor will determine which ointments are right for you. Try traditional medicine:

• Apply compresses from a decoction of hop cones to painful areas.
• Rub your feet in the evenings with horse chestnut tincture (50 grams of crushed product per 250 ml of alcohol). This remedy works well for nighttime leg cramps.
• Alternately apply a paste of tomatoes and Antonovka apples to the diseased areas.
• Dilute apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons of vinegar per glass of water). Rub the product on your feet.

Fetal hypoxia

Can pregnant women sit cross-legged? If you want your growing baby to suffer from a lack of oxygen, please sit! When the expectant mother sits cross-legged, blood circulation in the pelvic organs worsens, which negatively affects the development of the baby and prevents the flow of oxygen to it.

When the baby does not receive oxygen along with the blood flow, hypoxia (oxygen starvation) begins. Hypoxia is scary at all stages of pregnancy:

• Intrauterine development slows down.
• The process of laying down important internal organs is disrupted.
• The death of the baby, miscarriage and premature birth occurs.

If a baby experiences chronic intrauterine hypoxia, he becomes “weak.” Even if the birth goes well, newborn babies are light in weight and, in future development, noticeably lag behind their peers. Such babies require resuscitation measures immediately after birth.

In the first trimester, hypoxia is difficult to detect; it is detected by ultrasound and Dopplerometry. That is why prevention for the expectant mother is so important. Prevention is not a 100% guarantee against the occurrence of hypoxia, but it reduces the risk by 70%. You need to follow a few simple rules:

1. Don't sit cross-legged.
2. Completely eliminate smoking and alcohol.
3. Eat well, take vitamins.
4. Take long, regular walks in the fresh air.

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The favorite position of crossing your legs while carrying a baby harms the mother’s spine! During pregnancy, interesting metamorphoses occur in the female body regarding the supporting apparatus:

• Changing the fulcrum. Now the body weight transfers the load to the heads of the metatarsal bones. This negatively affects the condition of the joints and foot ligaments.
• The center of gravity moves forward. At the same time, the muscle load on the pelvis, legs and lower back increases.
• Weight gain adds to the inconvenience. During 9 months of pregnancy, a woman can “increase” by 10-30 kg.
• In the last trimester, the “pregnant” body begins to intensively produce the hormone relaxin. This is necessary for successful childbirth - relaxin weakens the vertebral and pelvic ligaments, making this area very vulnerable.
• Pregnancy provokes increased production of another hormone - progesterone. Its task is to improve the blood flow of the pregnant body. But a large flow of blood to the vessels provokes swelling of the roots of the spinal cord canal, which causes back pain.
• The expectant mother gives her nutrients to the little person growing inside her. And the mother herself experiences a lack of nutrients (calcium, potassium, magnesium). Microelements are responsible for the stable functioning of the musculoskeletal system. Their deficiency causes pain in the joints and spine.

What happens when a pregnant woman constantly sits cross-legged during these transitions? Do you want to develop osteochondrosis, chronic problems with the spine? This is exactly what awaits you if you don’t give up your favorite pose. According to doctors, sitting with crossed legs is most dangerous after 33 weeks of pregnancy.

Medicine, doctor's advice. Start preventing spinal pain in advance, without waiting for the painful state of the body! Following a few simple rules will help you:

1. Watch your weight! A well-chosen diet will help to avoid its excessive addition. Eat more calcified foods (meat, yoghurt, milk, fish, herbs, nuts).
2. From 20-22 weeks, constantly wear a prenatal bandage. It reduces stress on the spine and supports a heavy tummy.
3. Avoid sitting cross-legged.
4. Sit correctly! Place a small pillow under your back and use an orthopedic mattress for rest. At this time it is better to lie down than sit; it is recommended to take short walks and breaks after sitting in one place for an hour.
5. You can’t stay in a standing position for a long time. If necessary, use a small stool to place your foot on.
6. Pool! If you have never visited this establishment, do it during pregnancy! Swimming relaxes the back muscles well and evenly distributes the load on the spine.

Why you shouldn’t cross your legs during pregnancy according to folk wisdom

The prohibition regarding pregnant women crossing their legs while sitting is ancient, its roots go back to the times of our ancestors, when medicine and healing were firmly connected. Interestingly, the explanation for the bad omen has many similarities with the recommendations of modern doctors. Pregnant women should not sit in this position:

1. The baby will be born clubfoot or will be entwined with an umbilical cord - both statements are justified. Especially for women reaching term. The child moves, changing position, and the pregnant woman continues to sit, crossing her legs. This narrows the space for the fetus to “maneuver.”
2. Esotericists believe that the center of movement of energy flows in humans is located at the navel. Pregnant women should position themselves so that their legs remain straight and their hands are together on their stomach. Then the woman’s energy path is harmoniously closed. You cannot sit cross-legged during pregnancy, otherwise the circle is broken and the beneficial energy disappears irrevocably.
3. Crossing legs in Christianity means prohibition, imposition of a cross. The woman seems to be closing her womb, sealing the baby’s path into the world. This threatens the pregnant woman with a difficult birth or death of the child. It's dangerous for a woman to sit like that.
4. According to the knowledge of Hindu philosophy, a person has 7 types of chakras, all of them move along one spinal column. Sitting with your legs crossed means blocking the movement of these chakras, which threatens an imbalance of energy within the body. Yogis never do this! They are impressed by the lotus position. It is useful for everyone, even pregnant women. Helps a woman relax and achieve harmony.

Important! Folk signs associated with crossing legs are complemented by religious and philosophical teachings.

Everyone needs to listen to them, especially pregnant women. After all, a person has to sit for a long time every day: at work, at school, in transport.

Psychological aspects

In addition to physiological explanations, there are psychological ones that are no less important.
Crossing your arms or legs is a kind of barrier against the entry of negativity. Subconsciously, by crossing them, putting a bag on our knees, or holding a folder or book in our hands, it’s as if we are protecting ourselves from everything bad. This is not suitable for a woman in this position. Sitting for a short time, for example twenty to thirty seconds, will not harm. But otherwise, don't be stationary, change the positions of your legs.

Weigh and consider all tips before putting them into practice. Just don't get carried away! Everything should be in moderation!

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How to sit correctly during pregnancy

There are several recommendations to help a pregnant woman find a comfortable and safe position. A woman needs to sit so that her body receives the necessary rest and relaxation:

1. Choose a chair with a comfortable back. Keeping your back straight, you need to pull your shoulders back. The back touches the chair from below. You can take a couple of bolsters or small pillows and place them under your back. If the chair is an office chair with wheels, you should move your whole body, without turning in one area or using only your waist. Do not sit like a stone statue; a pregnant woman should get up every half hour, taking five-minute breaks.
2. The chair is a stool without a back. Sitting down, slouch as much as possible and freeze for 4–5 seconds. Then bend slightly (10 degrees), straightening your back. Spread your hips and distribute your body weight between them. A woman should keep her knees at a right angle.
3. Behind the wheel. Having adjusted the position of the seat and steering wheel to suit you as much as possible, the pregnant woman should sit relaxed. Use bolsters, placing them under your lower back. Keep a distance of 20–25 cm between the steering wheel and your stomach. Place the seat belt from the shoulder in front across the chest, and the lap belt – as low as possible.
4. At computer. It is advisable for a pregnant woman to minimize the amount of time she spends in front of the monitor. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and straight. A woman needs to install a stand under her feet, raise the monitor to eye level, and collect all her things for working nearby. When turning, use your entire body.

The main thing is to maintain freedom of blood circulation in any position. This is extremely important for pregnant women. Sit upright, maintaining good posture and simple positioning of your legs. No sudden or risky movements. Move gently, using your whole body each time.

How not to sit while pregnant:

• bending your legs down, under you;
• arching your back;
• crossing limbs;
• squatting;
• slouched;
• for a long time, without breaks;
• "in Turkish".

Pregnant women do not have to be graceful, agile or graceful. You should move slowly, carefully, take care of yourself, and sit according to the recommendations. Records of speed and bending ability can be achieved later, after the birth of the baby.

How to avoid the consequences predicted in signs

A pregnant woman should not panic. Fear and any negative emotions harm the fetus. People often forget advice, acting mechanically, as they are accustomed to. If a woman sat incorrectly for a minute or two, everything would be fine.

Most of the events described in signs relate to the future, i.e., the time of birth of the baby. The woman has 9 months and the help of a doctor to avoid negative prognosis. If a pregnant woman has ignored the warnings of her ancestors and the advice of doctors for a long time, it is worth visiting a specialist. At the same time, pay more attention to your behavior. Learn to sit, move correctly and review many other habits.

Exercise for a pregnant woman is very important. Gymnastics allows you to restore blood circulation, which improves the general condition of the legs and the whole body.