Edema is a fairly common companion for a pregnant woman. Before we discuss how to remove swelling during pregnancy, let's figure out what this problem is and why it occurs.
Everyone knows that during pregnancy a woman undergoes a number of changes. As the baby grows in the womb, the load on her body increases and the functioning of all organs of the expectant mother undergoes a restructuring. In addition, during pregnancy, the need for additional blood increases, because in a woman’s body not only a new organ (placenta) is formed, but also another blood formula is formed - the blood of the unborn baby, which may differ from the mother’s. In addition, the child grows and develops while in amniotic fluid, that is, in an aquatic environment. The need for water also increases accordingly, so a pregnant woman begins to feel thirsty more often. Edema occurs due to the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues, resulting in swelling of the part of the body where the accumulation occurred. Edema does not necessarily appear externally. If a woman rapidly gains weight during pregnancy (more than 300 g every week), this may be the cause of swelling of the internal organs, which is much more dangerous than standard external edema.
In the first trimester, expectant mothers very rarely encounter the problem of edema during pregnancy. Most recorded cases of this annoying nuisance are recorded in the third trimester, when the load on a woman’s body approaches its peak. For each expectant mother, edema manifests itself differently, some are more susceptible to fluid accumulation, others to a much lesser extent. There is even a small percentage of women who may not experience swelling at all during their entire pregnancy. If you are not entirely sure that you already have edema, do not rush to find out how to remove edema during pregnancy and start taking active steps . First, let's make sure that you really have swelling. It's very simple. Usually the legs are the first to swell, namely the ankles. To find out if you have swelling, you need to press on your shin at the base of your leg, closer to the bone. If, after you remove your hand, a significant visible mark remains at the point of pressure, then your leg is really swollen. It’s still too early to sound the alarm, but when you visit your doctor, be sure to mention that you are experiencing swelling. This is a relatively normal occurrence in the later stages of pregnancy. If swelling occurs after drinking large amounts of liquid after exercise or eating salty foods, then this is quite normal. To eliminate them, you need rest - you should lie on your left side and over time everything will return to normal. Provided that you do not have time for a long rest, such swelling will definitely go away after a night's sleep. If your swelling has not gone away in the morning, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Swelling that does not go away after sleep may be a symptom of gestosis or kidney problems.
Renal edema most often occurs on the face. If you have any kidney problems, pregnancy may complicate, renew or develop them. Such swelling is treated in conjunction with the problem of its occurrence. If the expectant mother's lower back begins to swell, shortness of breath appears, or her lips turn blue, then most likely this indicates the presence of heart problems.
Preeclampsia is the most dangerous cause of swelling in the expectant mother. This complication occurs in women exclusively during pregnancy. The main reason is the child’s lack of necessary substances. As a result, the blood thickens and it does not reach the child as quickly as he needs. Most often, this disorder occurs in expectant mothers who limit themselves too much in food for fear of gaining extra pounds. However, for this reason, the body begins to lack essential nutrients. Due to a lack of albumin, water seeps into the tissues, forming edema. With gestosis, they are accompanied by high blood pressure and the presence of certain proteins in the urine that are absent in the urine of a healthy mother. One of the signs of gestosis may also be an increase in hemoglobin levels at 18–20 weeks of pregnancy. The most severe form of gestosis is eclampsia, which entails unconsciousness, convulsions and seizures. Therefore, it is so important to diagnose gestosis or, in the worst case, preeclampsia in time. In the case of the latter, additional symptoms may be associated with edema: headache, vomiting, deterioration of hearing or vision, disturbances in the emotional state, itching, pain in the stomach or liver.
Only your doctor knows how to remove swelling during pregnancy if you have been diagnosed with gestosis . There is no need to consult several specialists. Each doctor, when making a prescription, is guided by his experience and your personal characteristics. Only your obstetrician-gynecologist knows all the intricacies of your pregnancy and can choose the most suitable treatment for you.
Serious stages of gestosis often require hospitalization; in some cases, if the mother’s life is at risk, forced labor may even be used. However, much more often the expectant mother is simply prescribed infusion therapy. That is, appropriate droppers are used to improve blood circulation in the mother-placenta-fetus system. In addition, diuretics and a strict diet are recommended, thanks to which the baby receives all the necessary nutrients. Unfortunately, gestosis cannot be treated, but it can be brought under control and significantly alleviate the condition of the expectant mother and her child. Thanks to appropriate procedures, a pregnant woman gets the chance to carry a child for the entire required period.
To decide how to remove swelling during pregnancy, you first need to find out the root cause of its occurrence . For this purpose, one examination by a doctor is not enough, so he will most likely recommend taking the necessary tests in order to give you final recommendations or refer you for hospitalization. Wait for the final verdict of your obstetrician-gynecologist; you should not self-medicate or ask for advice from “experienced” and very experienced ones. Remember, you, like your baby, are unique. Trust a specialist who will take into account all your features and make suitable recommendations.
When the expectant mother begins a period of edema, she should be given increased attention. Especially if swelling began in the early stages of pregnancy. The doctor monitors weight dynamics, the functioning of the cardiovascular system and kidneys. Everything is aimed at noticing complications in time, if any occur. As a rule, preventive herbal preparations are prescribed. This could be hawthorn, which normalizes vascular tone, sedative sedatives or renal (lingonberry, bearberry, birch buds, horsetail, etc.). One of the popular folk remedies for edema is a decoction of dried apricots. Just pour boiling water over the dried apricots and leave overnight to drink the resulting infusion half an hour before meals.
There are several tips that you can follow to make your situation easier. Start with a productive holiday. Are you getting enough sleep to allow your body to recover? Wear comfortable shoes. High heels put even more strain on your back. Maintaining balance in your position is more difficult than before, and shoes with heels certainly do not make this process any easier. Don't buy tight shoes and expect them to stretch. This will only further provoke the appearance of edema. Make sure you are comfortable in the clothes you wear. It is better to buy things made from natural fabrics that allow air to pass through and do not pinch you anywhere.
The correct sleeping position will help remove swelling. Try to sleep on your left side, with a folded blanket under your feet so that they are above the level of your heart. This pose will improve blood flow and relieve swelling by morning.
If you have to sit for a long time during the day, periodically do a small “warm-up” in the form of circular rotations of your feet. It's good if you have a small bench to rest your feet on. Limit your exposure to the sun.
Previously, it was recommended to reduce daily fluid intake, but dehydration has not brought any benefit to anyone, especially for the expectant mother. However, try to stick to no more than two liters per day. Carbonated sweet drinks should be avoided. If possible, eliminate coffee and all drinks containing caffeine, including strong tea, from your diet. It is also better to avoid mineral water in favor of purified water. Drink freshly squeezed juices and fruit drinks (cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks are especially useful, they have a natural diuretic effect). To prevent edema during pregnancy, herbal decoctions of rose hips, parsley root, juniper or lingonberry leaves are often prescribed. You shouldn't drink everything at the same time. It is better to take the decoction 25-30 minutes before meals. The daily dose is usually divided into four parts and taken until six o'clock in the evening. Some expectant mothers benefit from kidney teas, but they are not suitable for everyone, so it is best to consult a doctor before using them. Some herbal teas can remove useful minerals from water, thereby disrupting electrolyte metabolism.
Limit the use of salt in food, as well as pickled, spicy and sweet foods. They also contribute to an increase in the need for water beyond the norm. Limit fried and smoked foods. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, give preference to protein foods (meat, fish, cottage cheese, liver, etc.). Make sure that your diet includes foods that have a diuretic effect: grapes, parsley, asparagus, black currants, celery and paprika.
Walking in the fresh air is useful when it is not too hot outside. If there are no contraindications, do not neglect exercises and special exercises for pregnant women, visit the pool. To relieve swelling, take baths with a water temperature no higher than 35-36 degrees.
There is quite a lot of information on the Internet about how to remove swelling during pregnancy. But each expectant mother is individual and has her own characteristics of pregnancy. Therefore, the diagnosis of edema or anything else should be done by an experienced specialist. Don’t neglect going to the doctor, don’t be afraid to seem like a coward or an alarmist. Especially if this is your first pregnancy. If you are concerned about something, it is normal that you want to make sure that it is safe for you and your unborn baby.
Take care of yourself and your beloved child. Have a nice pregnancy!
Swelling of the arms, legs, and face during pregnancy is considered a common occurrence, yet doctors carefully monitor this symptom and test results. Edema can be dangerous for the body and indicate disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. When deciding how to get rid of edema during pregnancy, you need to determine the cause of its occurrence. Swelling is manifested by the presence of excess fluid - swelling of the arms, legs, as well as the face, lower back, and abdomen occurs.
Excess fluid is associated, first of all, with the increasing need for drinking, as well as with the accumulation of sodium in all tissues except bone, which retains water.
There are simple recommendations from professional experts on how to relieve swelling during pregnancy:
Physiological edema is easy to remove; just follow the doctor’s recommendations, eat right, and get plenty of rest. If various diseases lead to edema, the doctor prescribes medication. Diuretics are prescribed very carefully, as they have many side effects and contraindications.
Swelling during pregnancy: 11 ways to relieve swelling
During pregnancy, a woman is especially careful about her health, and the appearance of edema during pregnancy can be a cause for concern. You should know the causes of this common problem and how you can alleviate the condition.
As a rule, the ankles and legs swell first, but swelling may also occur in the arms and face. Almost 75% of women experience swelling of varying degrees during pregnancy.
What causes edema during pregnancy?
“...almost 75% of women experience varying degrees of edema during pregnancy...”
— Sometimes the growing uterus begins to put pressure on the veins, which leads to disruption of the outflow of blood from the lower extremities and disruption of normal blood circulation in the body. Because of this, the feet, ankles and legs begin to swell during pregnancy.
- At the same time, edema during pregnancy can be caused by hormonal changes in the body.
What should expectant mothers expect?
Basically, edema is caused by an increase in the volume of fluid in the body of a pregnant woman.
— The liquid softens the tissues, which allows them to expand and move for the comfortable development and growth of the baby.
— Additional fluid also helps strengthen the pelvic joints and tissues, preparing them for childbirth.
- Edema most often appears in the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Sometimes swelling intensifies during the day, reaching its worst state in the evening.
- Hot weather, sedentary lifestyle and fatigue usually aggravate the condition.
However, remember that pregnancy swelling is just a temporary condition. It will go away as soon as you give birth.
When should a pregnant woman worry?
Despite the fact that swelling during pregnancy is normal, there are conditions that require immediate medical intervention. Be aware of the following symptoms: Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any alarming symptoms!
— Severe swelling of the legs, fingers and area around the eyes can be a symptom of gestosis in pregnant women. Preeclampsia is a serious health complication in late pregnancy. With gestosis, the functioning of the kidneys, blood vessels and brain of the expectant mother deteriorates. Its most characteristic signs are increased blood pressure, swelling and the appearance of protein in urine tests, as a sign of impaired kidney function.
- If one of the legs swells more, and the swelling is accompanied by pain in the thigh and lower leg, then this may be a sign of thrombosis and requires immediate medical attention.
- Excessive swelling of the arms and hands may be a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. The swelling puts pressure on the nerve endings of the hands.
“...signs of gestosis are increased blood pressure, swelling and the appearance of protein in urine tests in a pregnant woman...”
Most likely, you will not be able to completely get rid of edema during pregnancy, but you can definitely reduce unpleasant symptoms with the help of 11 simple rules:
Try not to sit or stand for long periods of time.
2. Sleep on your left side.
When you sleep on your left side, there is less strain on the vein that carries blood from your lower extremities to your heart.
3. Eat right.
Eating a balanced diet and avoiding unhealthy foods will help reduce pain and swelling.
Medical experts call 8-10 glasses of water the required amount for pregnant women.
Important! Drink just plain water. Juices, carbonated drinks, and sweet teas contain a lot of sugar, which will have a bad effect on edema during pregnancy.
5. Sport is good for pregnant women.
After receiving your doctor's approval, you can perform special exercises for pregnant women, stretching, and swimming. Daily walks in the fresh air also speed up blood circulation throughout the body and improve your mood.
If there are no contraindications during pregnancy, water sports are especially useful: swimming and water aerobics. On the one hand, this is active movement, good physical activity, on the other hand, water puts pressure on the skin, preventing the blood vessels from expanding and the legs from swelling.
6. Lymphatic drainage massage of the legs during pregnancy.
If there are no contraindications during pregnancy, you can do lymphatic drainage massage of the legs (pressotherapy). A massage can be given to you by a specially trained massage therapist, or independently using special pressotherapy devices with cuffs on the legs.
7. Choose comfortable shoes.
Some expectant mothers' feet expand during pregnancy, and their usual shoes cease to be comfortable. And tight shoe lacing can impair blood circulation.
8. Avoid tight clothing
Clothing should not put pressure on your ankles and wrists.
9. Try traditional methods and home therapy
After consulting with a specialist, you can:
10. Relax in the water
Soak your feet in a bath of cool water. Water compresses the body tissues, and you experience relief from pain and heaviness in your legs. Coolness brings relief.
11. Don't smoke and reduce your coffee consumption.
Smoking and drinking alcohol are strictly discouraged for all pregnant women. Caffeine can also contribute to swelling, so if you can't give up coffee completely, try to minimize your intake.
Always remember that pregnancy swelling is only a temporary condition and will disappear as soon as your baby is born.
Take care of your health, be attentive to yourself, take care and maintain a good mood!
In our CATALOG you will find domestic devices for pressotherapy Lymfa-E and cuffs for them. Can be used during pregnancy!
Choose one of the popular pressotherapy kits with the Lymfa-E device from the Russian manufacturer MIC Aquita:
Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid in tissues.
Information Pregnancy itself is a condition that contributes to water retention in the body and the appearance of edema. The enlarged uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which disrupts the outflow of blood from the veins of the lower extremities and leads to edema. In addition, the uterus compresses the ureters, which also results in fluid retention in the body.
The female sex hormone progesterone, which is produced in large quantities during pregnancy, also has an effect. Under its influence, the structure of small capillaries changes, making it difficult for sodium to leave the body, which causes edema. In this case, we are talking about physiological edema, which occurs in almost every pregnant woman, appears mainly in the third trimester, appears in the late afternoon and goes away on its own in the morning after proper rest.
However, it should be remembered that edema is not always physiological, but can be caused by pathological conditions that require mandatory treatment. Such diseases include :
A woman can determine the presence of edema herself by certain signs:
When swelling first appears, you should inform your doctor about it. An obstetrician-gynecologist will conduct a number of diagnostic measures to determine the cause of swelling:
For physiological edema, no special drug treatment is required. A woman is recommended to establish a food and water regime:
For varicose veins of the lower extremities, treatment should be carried out together with a vascular surgeon:
If edema occurs associated with diseases of the kidneys and cardiovascular system , treatment should be carried out under the mandatory supervision of highly specialized doctors: a cardiologist and urologist. A woman is usually recommended for emergency hospitalization.
To treat late gestosis, it is better to place a woman in a hospital for the necessary therapy:
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy indicates developing gestosis. More often, this phenomenon appears in the third trimester (signs may appear from the 20th week) of a normal pregnancy and is also called late toxicosis.
The pathology manifests itself in the form of a triad of symptoms: swelling (starts from the feet and gradually spreads to the entire surface of the body), the appearance of protein structures in the urine, a constant or periodic increase in blood pressure. Rarely do you have three signs at once. More often, the development of late toxicosis is indicated by swelling of the legs. Other symptoms are not so noticeable and can only be revealed when visiting a doctor and undergoing routine tests. Significant weight gain may indicate the presence of hidden edema.
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Science knows several reasons that can cause swelling and other signs of gestosis:
During pregnancy, swelling in the legs can indicate not only a severe pathology or disruption in the functioning of various body systems, but also be a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle, poor nutrition, or simple fatigue and overwork. Such changes in water balance go away on their own after proper rest or normalization of nutrition. But what to do if you constantly suffer from severe swelling of the legs during pregnancy? It is better to consult a qualified gynecologist. Because the first step is to understand the causes of the pathology in order to eliminate them in a timely manner and prevent further development of complications.
In total, there are several stages of gestosis.
At the first of them, slight swelling of the legs appears, the woman may complain of general malaise, increased fatigue, the doctor diagnoses weight gain that is above normal values. At this stage, swelling may spread to the area of the pregnant woman’s internal organs and even the placenta. The consequence is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the fetus (hypoxia) and a disruption in its development (mainly the nervous system). If you do not pay due attention to the woman at this stage, gestosis progresses to the second stage - nephropathy.
It is expressed in addition to swelling of the legs with increased pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine. When all three signs appear, the woman needs urgent hospitalization, since nephropathy may develop into preeclampsia within a few days and even hours.
A characteristic sign of preeclampsia is the involvement of the brain (it swells) and the fundus of the eye (visual impairment, retinal detachment). The nervous system suffers, mental disorders are possible. If urgent measures are not taken to normalize the condition, eclampsia quickly develops.
The fourth degree of gestosis already threatens the life of both mother and child. Detachment and premature aging of the placenta, oxygen starvation of the fetus are possible, which can lead to its death. There is a risk of termination of pregnancy (spontaneous miscarriage), uterine bleeding, development of liver and kidney failure in the mother, cerebral hemorrhage (stroke), heart attack, cerebral edema can provoke coma. In addition, the formation of blood clots in large vessels and vessels feeding the fetus and the appearance of convulsions are possible. The consequence may be the death of the fetus or the death of the mother.
Swelling can result in serious complications. Therefore, you should not look for treatment methods on your own; you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
If, after visiting a doctor and conducting an examination, a specialist does not identify pathologies in the functioning of a woman’s organs and systems, then simple recipes will help normalize the water balance and get rid of swelling.
If the doctor discovers a problem in the pregnant woman’s body, then specialized treatment is necessary. In some cases, the use of mild diuretics and antihypertensive drugs will be sufficient, in others it will be necessary to hospitalize the woman in a hospital and use special drugs intravenously. It must be remembered that all medications must be prescribed by a doctor. Taking them on your own without control can affect the child’s health.
Traditional medicine can also tell you what to do for swelling of the legs during pregnancy. However, any remedy must be approved by a doctor and be sure to first find out the cause of the pathology. You can use one of the following recipes.
An infusion of white birch leaves is prepared: a couple of tablespoons of dry raw material are poured with boiling water (about half a liter) and left to cool (you can use a thermos). Drink half a glass of infusion before each meal (up to 5 times).
You can also try to get rid of swelling of the legs with an infusion of corn silk (adding a teaspoon of natural honey to half a glass of infusion), bearberry (drink a tablespoon before each meal), meadowsweet and other herbal ingredients.
Herbal ingredients for oral administration are not always safe during pregnancy, so you can use folk remedies for topical use. It is necessary to separate several leaves from the head of cabbage and roll them out with a rolling pin (to achieve their softness and the juice to come out). You need to wrap your legs with cabbage and secure the compress with a bandage. You can do the procedure at night, or in the daytime, leaving the leaves for about half an hour.
In some mild cases of edema, wearing compression garments helps, since the pathology can be caused by varicose veins. In this case, consultation with a phlebologist is necessary. He will tell you whether stockings or knee socks are needed, and will also determine the degree of compression (density). A bandage for pregnant women can alleviate the condition a little - wearing such a device will evenly distribute the load on the back and reduce the impact on the veins, which will help improve blood flow in the lower region of the body. Such devices are put on directly in bed while lying down.
If swelling is accompanied by headaches, spots before the eyes, increased blood pressure, or changes in urine values, you should immediately contact a medical facility. Severe complications of gestosis are treated with emergency delivery via cesarean section.