Swelling

Hi, G.! I had swelling for much of my pregnancies, too and when I elevated my feet above the level of my heart, it helped tremendously. Also, staying away from fast food and high sodium and drinking plenty of H2O helped a ton. Good Luck! -- C.

First taking a lukewarm bath with a leg massage with fabulous lotions afterwards from your hubby can help, as well as increasing your water intake and just sitting down with 24oz's and your legs up. Second, if I were you I would call the doctor. It can be a sign or symptom of many different things. Some scary, some very normal, so Im not even going to go there. I just know that my Dr. told us that if there was ever any strange swelling other than the normal foot swelling at the end, to call her. Sometimes it's better to call over nothing and have peace of mind.

Since you have never had the swelling before I would call the doctor. There could be many things causing the swelling and I would just play it on the safe side. After you talk to the doctor and everything is fine try to keep your feet elevated as mush as possible and up your water intake. I had no swelling with my first but my second my feet were so swollen I couldn't even wear shoes.

I would definitely bring it up to your doctor and get your blood pressure checked. With my first I had swelling in my feet towards 30 weeks - I didn't have many other consistent symptoms of pre-eclampsia, but 3 weeks later went into full eclampsia (had a seizure and sky high blood pressure, and ended up being induced 7 weeks early).

I certainly don't want to fuel any worry - but it never hurts to be save when you and your baby's health are at stake!

Hope everything works out!

I am at 34 weeks with my second and I never experienced it last time either but I am having it something fierce this time...in both my arms/hands and legs/feet. My midwife told me to avoid excessively salty or sweet things and drink lots of water. The biggest help so far though was that I bought some light support knee high hose and it really helps my legs.

Good luck!

Make sure your water intake is adequate- your body will retain water if it is not getting enough water. Also, make sure your salt intake is adequate- not too much and not too little. Watermelon and garlic are natural diuretics so eating some may help to flush out extra water. Wear a pair of supportive hose and try putting a little footstool under your desk to prop your feet up. I had some swelling with my first (born in April) but not my second (born in November). I definitely hated those ankles!

Swelling actually can come from just the pressure of the uterus on the blood vessels that are returning your blood back to your heart through your legs. It can also be a normal result of your body trying to reserve water to expand your blood volume, so that your placenta will be well supplied with blood so that it can function well. It can also be a sign of dehydration, and salt deficiency, and of not getting quite enough salt, calories, protein, and nutritious fluids (water can make you feel too full to eat and provides you with no nutrients). It is actually easier to get a salt deficiency in pregnancy than it is to get too much salt--unless you have a serious kidney disease or heart disease. You can google for "Brewer Pregnancy Diet" if you're curious about that statement. If you want more information, you can PM me, email me, or check my website.

http://home.mindspring.com/~djsnjones/id35.html

In the meantime, you can try eating something every hour that has protein in it--like a handful of nuts, a handful of trail mix (not the kind with candies in it), a handful of cheese cubes, a cup of yogurt, 1/4 cup of cottage cheese, etc.
Best wishes,
J.

G., do you sit at work? If so, place a foot stool or get an empty box and put your feet up will you are working. This helped me tremedously. Also, try putting two pillows under your feet while you sleep. You will see the difference in the morning. And really watch your diet with the salt. Good luck.

Hi G.! Are you eating alot of salt in your diet? Some swelling is notmal especially in the legs and feet at this point in your pregnancy, so it may just be that. I would try to limit salt if that is an issue. Is it painful at all? Are you feet swelling too? If you sit at an office, it is not from being on your feet, but what I did with my last pregnancy, is put a box of something under my desk to prop my feet on and that helped. Maybe it will help you out too.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

With my first, I had no swelling and only gained about 23lbs. I exercised throughout that pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my twins, my feet and ankles swelled up. I called them my Fred Flintstone feet. I had more fluid because of the 2 babies, and was not able to exercise much.

I tried to elevate my feet, and limit salt, but with the amount of fluid that came out of me when delivering, I can see why my feet were swelled up.

I had the same thing, best thing that worked was raising my leg above the hip level, while I am sitting.

It is difficult to do it if you are working. I had communicated this to my manager and team mates. I had two chairs and I used to have my leg on the second chair. The moment I put y foot down..they will swell. I increased 2 size due to pregnancy. Still 1 size bigger :-))