Edema is the appearance of excess fluid in the intercellular space. This phenomenon can appear locally or spread throughout the entire body. This condition is not only an aesthetic problem that causes inconvenience, but can also indicate pathological processes in many important organs and cause negative consequences in the future. How to deal with edema in pregnant women, and what helps most effectively?
During pregnancy, many internal organs and the systems that ensure their functioning undergo many changes, many of which directly or indirectly contribute to the accumulation of excess fluid between the cells, and therefore swelling of varying degrees accompanies almost every period of waiting for a baby.
Edema caused by:
When pregnancy proceeds normally, swelling should appear only after 30 weeks and only on the legs.
The appearance of an unpleasant phenomenon on the face, abdomen, hips, arms and lower back may indicate serious pathological processes in a woman’s body, these are:
In these cases, you need to quickly contact an observing gynecologist, who will identify the factor that provokes the appearance of pathological edema and prescribe treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of the edema.
How to determine edema during pregnancy? The easiest way to understand whether there is swelling or not is to press your finger on the skin. If the skin quickly evens out, everything is fine; if not, and a light depression remains, it’s most likely swelling.
Treatment of edema with folk remedies during pregnancy is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels, normalizing the functioning of the kidneys and cardiovascular system and removing excess fluid from the body. Folk remedies, which are completely natural, are practically harmless to the body of the expectant mother and are recognized by many gynecologists. Despite this, before starting a course of treatment, it is necessary to consult with a leading doctor , who will assess the degree of swelling, identify the cause of its occurrence, analyze the possible side effects of the folk remedy and help draw up an optimal treatment plan for the individual body.
So, what can you drink for edema during pregnancy?
Diuretics during pregnancy for edema, from natural diuretics, unlike synthetic analogues, when used correctly, do not contribute to the removal of minerals and electrolytes from the body.
Herbs recommended for the treatment of edema:
When taking tea for edema during pregnancy, it is worth remembering that there are diuretic herbs that promote uterine contraction; their use is strictly prohibited - these are parsley root, juniper and strawberries.
Not only herbs are distinguished by their diuretic properties, there are also many vegetables and berries - natural diuretics that have restorative, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties, containing a large amount of vitamins and microelements.
The following have worked well for relieving edema during pregnancy:
In order to brew medicinal fruit juice, you will need 500 g of crushed berries and 3 liters of water, bring to a boil and leave for at least 3 hours; if desired, you can add a minimum amount of sugar. You can drink fruit juice no more than 2 glasses per day.
No less useful are freshly squeezed juices from vegetables such as:
Birch sap, which is drunk 100 ml 2 times a day, is also effective.
The fruits of rose hips, hawthorn and juniper, which are poured with boiling water at the rate of 1:2, boiled for 10 minutes and left for 1 day, will relieve swelling during pregnancy. Decoctions are taken 100 ml 2 times a day.
The red berry is characterized by diuretic, restorative, anti-inflammatory, and choleretic properties. And it is recommended for expectant mothers when edema appears. To ensure that the treatment does not have side effects, it is necessary to choose a watermelon that ripened in August, with no yellowish veins on the cut and with a clear characteristic pattern on the outside of the peel - these signs indicate the absence of nitrates in the fruit. Chemicals used in growing watermelon can lead to poisoning and pose a danger to the baby. During pregnancy, watermelon is eaten up to 500 grams at a time, separately from other foods and a few hours before bedtime.
In addition to natural remedies for internal use, additional effects on the blood vessels and tissues of the body with the help of medicinal baths are recommended to relieve swelling. To prepare a foot bath, use cool water to which you add:
Take a foot bath for 15 minutes, then lie on your left side, slightly raising your legs, and rest for half an hour.
How to treat headaches in pregnant women? More on this later.
Proper nutrition aimed at eliminating and preventing the appearance of edema is a balanced food rich in animal proteins and fermented milk products. In addition, natural diuretics are introduced into the diet, these are:
It is necessary to limit salt, but you should not go on a salt-free diet - this disrupts the acid-base balance in the body. It is necessary to exclude fried, spicy, smoked and canned foods.
A good role is played by giving up refined foods and fatty sweets, for which there is a healthy alternative - dried fruits.
You should not limit the amount of water you consume ; in order for the body to function normally, at least 2 liters of water are required. Only it should come from healthy sources: filtered water, freshly squeezed juices, decoctions, fruit drinks and broths. It is better to avoid tea, coffee, sweet lemonades and carbonated water.
Where does swelling come from and what to do about it? About this in the video:
Excess fluid, accumulation of sodium ions in the intercellular space of tissues, and impaired lymph circulation lead to the formation of stagnant zones - edema. The etiology of swelling is quite extensive. Fluid retention in tissues is caused by exo- and endogenous factors of various natures. Edema can affect internal organs and appear on the face, body, and limbs. Faced with a similar problem, many are interested in the question of how to get rid of swelling?
Swelling causes discomfort, worsens appearance, and can signal the presence of chronic diseases, problems with the body, or the development of pathological processes. Regular swelling is a serious cause for concern. Therefore, regardless of the location of the stagnant zones of fluid, it is very important to establish the root cause by undergoing a medical examination.
The causes of pockets of fluid stagnation include:
Edema of the lower extremities often occurs with venous insufficiency, acute thrombosis of the deep veins of the leg, impaired renal function, wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Women suffer from swelling of the legs during pregnancy. The cause of this phenomenon may also be a dysfunction of the thyroid gland, obesity, prolonged sedentary or standing work.
Swelling under the eyes occurs with kidney disease, excessive fluid intake before bed, alcohol abuse, chronic fatigue, and dietary errors.
Swelling of the hands rarely occurs separately from swelling of other parts of the body . Most often, this symptom complements the overall picture. Appear along with edema of the lower extremities. This phenomenon occurs during pregnancy, due to excessive stress on the wrists and uncomfortable posture during sleep.
General swelling of the body is typical for women with hormonal imbalance, in the first half of the menstrual cycle. The reasons include: a sedentary lifestyle, a sudden change in diet, long-term use of medications (steroids, progestogens), intoxication, dehydration, bladder dysfunction.
Violation of lymph flow and blood circulation can be caused by various unfavorable factors. If edema appears as a result of acute pathological disorders in the functioning of body systems, it is important for treatment to establish the root cause by undergoing a medical examination. Before using folk remedies, it is worth ruling out serious illnesses.
Swelling caused by chronic processes in the body, violation of the regime, unbalanced diet can be quickly eliminated by available means and methods of alternative medicine.
Let's consider how to get rid of edema, we will give the most effective, efficient methods.
The choice of treatment methods depends on the nature and localization of stagnant zones of fluid accumulation. If the cause of trouble is an unbalanced diet, adjusting your diet will help you quickly get rid of swelling.
To normalize the water-salt balance, it is worth limiting the consumption of salty, spicy, smoked foods, and marinades. Salt and hot spices in large quantities slow down diuresis and retain fluid in the tissues. It is not recommended to drink large amounts of water or alcoholic beverages before bedtime. It is equally important to get rid of bad habits.
The diet should contain vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries, cereals, foods rich in fiber, vitamins B, C, E, A, PP. Foods rich in essential amino acids and antioxidants will help improve metabolic processes at the cellular level. Herbal infusions, green tea, still mineral water, and fresh juices help reduce swelling.
Physical activity, running, and playing sports will help eliminate venous and lymphatic congestion, strengthen blood vessels, and prevent the appearance of edema. During hot periods, it is recommended to take a contrast shower. A light massage of the feet, legs, and wrists will help get rid of swelling of the lower extremities and arms. Rubbing stimulates blood flow and increases the outflow of fluid from stagnant zones. To thin the blood and improve lymph flow, a special diet may be prescribed.
To remove excess fluid from the body, for all types of edema, it is very important to normalize the functioning of the kidneys. In this case, diuretics, decoctions, and tinctures of medicinal herbs will help.
They have a diuretic effect:
Kidney tea based on the herb orthosiphon, tincture of corn silk, and rosehip decoction will help normalize kidney function. Rowan juice, viburnum, green varieties of apples, lingonberries, black currants, watermelon, and dairy products have a mild diuretic effect.
You can prepare herbal infusions yourself or purchase ready-made formulations in pharmacies.
Diuretic cocktail recipe:
The following recipe will help you get rid of general swelling, the preparation of which will require a glass of viburnum juice, rowan berries, half a lemon juice, three tablespoons of phytolysin, 100 g of natural honey. Take a tablespoon five times a day in the morning.
When treating with diuretics, it is recommended to consume foods rich in potassium. The diet should include cereals, dairy products, fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
Most often, swelling of the legs occurs during the hot season. The dilation of blood vessels leads to a slowdown in blood flow and the appearance of swelling. For swelling of the lower extremities, a contrast shower, cool foot baths, massage, diuretics, and sea salt baths will help quickly eliminate this phenomenon. For varicose veins, which is the cause of swelling of the extremities, appropriate therapy is prescribed by the attending physician.
To avoid swelling of the lower extremities, you need to choose comfortable shoes and avoid wearing high-heeled models. Throughout the day, it is recommended to take short breaks and stretch your legs. To improve the outflow of fluid, you can place a cushion or pillow under your feet, and keep your feet elevated before going to bed.
For swelling of the legs, mix two parts of warm castor oil with one part of turpentine. Add egg yolk and 50 ml apple cider vinegar to the resulting mixture. Rub the prepared mixture on your feet before going to bed and put on socks.
Elderberry decoction, herbal infusions based on lemon balm, mint, St. John's wort, horsetail, birch buds, tincture of parsley seeds, and kidney tea are good for swelling of the extremities. No less effective are medicinal ointments and creams, before using which you should consult your doctor.
In alternative medicine, drinking pumpkin and cucumber juice will help you quickly get rid of swelling in your hands. Take one glass a day for a month. Lotions, baths from medicinal plants, contrast showers, massage of fingers and wrists are useful.
No less troublesome is caused by allergic swelling that occurs from insect bites. Accompanied by itching, rashes, pimples, and pain. To avoid inflammation, redness of the skin, and scars, it is necessary to remove swelling immediately after its appearance.
Cold compresses and alcohol solutions will help relieve swelling from acne. Moisten a clean cotton pad with medical alcohol and hold on the skin for 10-15 minutes. You can wipe your face with ice cubes, frozen chamomile infusion, and apply cold to the area of inflammation. A timely procedure slows down the development of inflammation and helps relieve swelling and swelling of acne.
You can use the following anti-edema remedy. Dilute a teaspoon of table salt and sea salt in a tablespoon of warm water. Apply a gauze pad soaked in saline solution to the pimple. Wait until the tampon is completely dry. Salt draws out excess fluid from the tissues and “dries out” the pimple. Lubricate the damaged area with antiallergic cream or tonic.
Dry heating of the affected areas with salt wrapped in a fabric bag will help relieve swelling and swelling from acne. Warming is carried out several times a day for 10-20 minutes.
Warming up can be alternated with applying an iodine mesh to the affected areas. The procedure carried out at night is very effective in eliminating swelling from acne.
Rubbing the affected areas with Kalanchoe tincture and white radish decoction will help eliminate inflammation, itching, pain, and swelling from acne . Decoctions of medicinal chamomile, lemon balm, mint, sage, lotions made from rose petals and rose hips have no less effect. Tea tree oil diluted with water 1/1 and aloe juice will help to quickly relieve inflammation, swelling, and redness of the skin.
Therapeutic cosmetics, lymphatic drainage masks, and anti-swelling gels will help relieve swelling from acne. You can disguise facial swelling using modeling creams with a lifting effect.
Diuretics, rubbing the skin with ice cubes, a light massage, and applying green tea bags will help get rid of puffiness under the eyes. Fresh potatoes, cabbage leaves, cucumber and pumpkin juice are good for eliminating facial swelling.
There are no universal methods in the treatment of edema. Therapeutic therapy and preventive agents are selected individually, taking into account the root cause. Before using medications or traditional medicine, you should consult a medical specialist.
Pregnancy is a pleasant and long-awaited time for every woman. But besides the positive aspects, it also has some discomfort. Swelling is a common occurrence during this period. And it is better to find out in advance about the causes of its occurrence and methods of treatment. And by applying simple preventive measures, you can avoid health problems.
Important! Starting from week 20, it is not recommended to gain more than 350 grams of weight per week, otherwise there is a high probability of edema.
The appearance of edema can be recognized by several signs:
During pregnancy, various changes occur in the female body. All body systems are rebuilt to provide the baby with everything necessary. First of all, hormonal levels change. The production of progesterone increases several times, since it is this hormone that is responsible for the safety of pregnancy. It also affects fluid retention in the body, which can cause edema.
Another natural cause of this condition can be named - this is an increase in the volume of circulating blood. Such swelling often appears on the feet or hands.
Swelling may also appear if a woman has problems with blood vessels or kidneys. In this case, you need to visit a doctor and take urgent measures. Such swelling can provoke gestosis. This is a condition in which the blood supply to certain organs is disrupted. A pregnant woman may experience increased blood pressure and even fainting.
More accurate confirmation can be obtained by taking a urine test for protein. Varicose veins can also affect the development of swelling.
Important! Preeclampsia is the first cause of the development of hypoxia in the fetus.
There are several stages of swelling:
Preeclampsia comes in varying degrees of severity. At the very beginning, it has symptoms of rapid weight gain and swelling. If the condition worsens, protein appears in the urine, blood pressure rises and poses a threat to the health of the mother and child.
Note! Various carbonated waters, coffee and tea can aggravate the appearance of puffiness.
The risk group for the development of gestosis includes:
If the first symptoms of swelling occur, measures should be taken to eliminate them.
To prevent edema, you need to move a lot from the very beginning of pregnancy. If you remain in a sitting position for a long time, congestion may occur. Excellent results are achieved by physical exercise and regular exercise.
From the very first days of pregnancy, you need to drink as little as possible of various sweet drinks. It is important that the body receives a lot of clean water. If there is not enough fluid, it begins to linger in the body, which contributes to the appearance of edema.
Using simple recommendations, you can get rid of swelling or prevent it:
It is very important to eat right. Portions should be small, it is better to sit down at the table more often. Food should be healthy. Pregnant women need to consume more vegetables, fruits, fish and dairy products. It is better to steam or boil foods. It will be useful if you introduce raisins and dried apricots into your diet.
It is worth getting rid of tight clothes and shoes during pregnancy. It is also very useful to walk a lot in the fresh air and swim in the pool. Walking for an hour every day is effective in combating swelling.
Important! Pregnancy is not the best time for self-medication!
Simply raising your legs 15 cm above your body will help reduce swelling; this should be done in a lying position.
It is recommended to take the following diuretic drinks:
If diet does not help, doctors prescribe diuretics that can be taken by pregnant women. Such remedies include canephron, phytozoline and kidney tea. At the same time, kidney collection and tea should not be confused. Tea is allowed for pregnant women.
In addition to diet and diuretics, the doctor may prescribe medications that strengthen blood vessels. Such medications are Lipoic acid, vitamin E, Magnerot.
Depending on the stage of swelling, treatment can take place in a hospital setting or at home.
Folk remedies should be used very carefully and it is better to do this with the permission of your doctor.
If the swelling is caused by gestosis, then the pregnant woman is hospitalized. In this case, treatment is aimed at removing excess fluid from the body, as well as preventing hypoxia in the fetus. If the case is milder, then special diuretic juices or teas are effective.
Among the popular folk methods is birch sap, which is taken undiluted 3 times a day, 1 spoon. You should not take it for more than a week.
Important! It is interesting to learn more about how to get rid of swelling during pregnancy using folk remedies, see here.
During the week, you can also take fresh celery juice. They drink it one teaspoon at a time.
Safe methods include carrot and pumpkin juices. These drinks are good for the kidneys.
In late pregnancy, frequent standing in the knee-elbow position helps. Thus, it is possible to relieve the load on the kidneys and even reduce tone.
It is periodically recommended to arrange fasting days: fermented milk or buckwheat. Fasting days allow you to remove excess fluid and improve the functioning of the digestive system. Even in one day, from 500 g to 3 kg of excess water can be removed.
Advice! Consume all foods without salt and sugar.
For swelling during pregnancy, it is recommended to take the following drinks:
The following infusions can only be taken with the permission of a doctor.
In the second half of pregnancy, it is not recommended to consume more than a liter of fluid per day.
In addition to food restrictions, strengthening blood vessels is of great importance. For these purposes, it is necessary to use vitamin complexes and agents that strengthen blood vessels. But such prescriptions must be made by the attending physician.
Important! For severe swelling, diuretics are prescribed by a specialist for a short period.
Other folk methods for getting rid of edema include applying cabbage leaves to your feet.
There are also certain foods that are recommended for edema. These are kefir, asparagus, celery, cottage cheese, pumpkin, grapes and watermelon.
It is important to remember that all these methods relieve swelling, but if the swelling occurs as a result of a disease, folk recipes will not help. Only the doctor leading the pregnancy will help to identify the real cause of the problem.
Treatment aimed at enabling a woman to get rid of edema during pregnancy always depends on the degree of swelling, the cause of the swelling, as well as the general well-being of the pregnant woman and the results of her laboratory tests and various examinations.
If a woman’s condition does not cause any particular concern, then she can be treated (better said, preventive measures aimed at removing excess fluid from the body) of swelling on an outpatient basis (that is, at home). If the situation is more serious, and the test results make one suspect something is wrong, then a woman suffering from hydrops of pregnancy is hospitalized and undergoes inpatient treatment.
Regardless of which treatment is chosen - outpatient or inpatient - its main goal will be to prevent the accumulation of fluid in the body. To do this, the woman is prescribed a special diet that minimizes the content of sugar and salt, and is also recommended to lead an active life and spend more time in the fresh air.
All methods, the purpose of which is to help the expectant mother get rid of edema during pregnancy , can be divided into three general groups: dietary restrictions, traditional medicine and the use of medications (diuretics). Let's take a closer look at each of these methods.
The most common method of treating dropsy in pregnancy is, of course, diet! The basic principles of proper nutrition if you are predisposed to edema are:
Among the traditional medicines aimed at getting rid of edema during pregnancy , there are a whole lot of different infusions, decoctions and teas, the main principle of action of which is their diuretic effect. The course of treatment with such drugs ranges from three weeks to a month.
Most often, when preparing all diuretic folk remedies, herbs such as horsetail, lingonberry leaves, bear's ears, kidney tea, bearberry leaves and some others are used. But, despite the fact that all these herbs have a mild diuretic effect and are considered harmless for pregnant women, you can only start taking them with the consent of your doctor!
Before you start taking various medications to relieve swelling, think about it - all diuretics have one common contraindication - pregnancy! Therefore, if the doctor nevertheless decides to prescribe them, this means that the situation is quite serious, and the risk from taking medications is lower than the risk from the absence of such treatment.
Typically, courses of such therapy are very short, which allows to slightly reduce the negative impact on the fetus. The most common diuretics used in such cases are Canephron, Cyston and Fitolysin. In addition to being a diuretic, they also have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antiseptic effects. That is why the range of their contraindications is very wide. Never prescribe them to yourself! You will not get rid of the existing problem, but will only harm your baby!
Very often, for the treatment of edema, drugs are prescribed that have strengthening properties, which strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood flow in the body (including in the placenta and uterus). Among them are vitamin E, vitamin N (lipoic acid), Magnerot, Magnelis, Magne-B6 and others. Thanks to this strengthening, the vascular walls retain fluid well, preventing it from leaking into the tissue and leading to swelling. In cases of treatment in a hospital setting, a woman undergoes a course of drips with magnesium, which supplies your body with useful substances (which also reach the baby), and also improves uteroplacental blood flow.
Another effective way to get rid of edema during pregnancy is “leg relief” - throwing your legs over the wall or back of the sofa when the woman is in a lying position. To choose a specific treatment method that is right for you, you will first need to consult a gynecologist who will find out the cause of your swelling and prescribe adequate treatment.
During pregnancy, almost all women experience such an unpleasant phenomenon as edema. In most cases, parts of the body, usually the legs, become very swollen in the evening. In the morning the swelling subsides. As a rule, swelling is not harmful, but sometimes it can indicate serious problems. What to do if your legs swell during pregnancy?
Edema is a consequence of the fact that a lot of fluid has accumulated in the body. This happens for several reasons:
There are two types of swelling: obvious and hidden. How to determine both?
Obvious swelling appears on the face, arms and ankles.
Recognizing obvious swelling is quite simple. It is necessary to lightly press on the skin in a place where there are no muscles. The dent from your finger will not disappear immediately - it will remain when you press on any swollen part of the body. Indentations from socks will also not disappear for a long time.
Hidden edema is more difficult to recognize. They manifest themselves in an increase in the pregnant woman's weight by more than 300 g per week.
According to doctors, during the entire pregnancy the increase in body weight should be no more than 12 kg. The remaining kilograms are considered extra. To identify hidden swelling, the doctor may advise measuring the amount of fluid you drink and urine excreted.
If the difference is too large, the McClure-Aldrich test is performed. The woman is injected with sodium chloride subcutaneously. If everything is in order with the body, a blister forms in the place where the injection was given. It will disappear in about an hour.
If there is hidden, internal swelling, the blister either does not appear or disappears faster.
If swelling appears mainly in the evening and goes away in the morning, as well as when changing your diet and daily routine, then there is no need to worry. However, if a woman wakes up with swelling, you should sound the alarm. This condition negatively affects the nutrition of the fetus. The result of such violations is hypoxia and even the death of the child.
How to get rid of edema during pregnancy? First of all, you need to find out why they appeared. In most cases, it is enough just to reduce the amount of salt consumed, physical activity and time spent in the sun. What to do if these measures do not help?
If swelling appears in the first weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo weekly tests and measure blood pressure.
Such an examination will help the doctor find out why a pregnant woman's arms, legs and face swell. Depending on the identified causes, treatment will be prescribed. Perhaps these will be diuretics, herbal preparations or herbal infusions. Sometimes hospitalization is indicated.
If the swelling is so severe that it threatens the child's health, the doctor may prescribe medications. As in the previous case, these are diuretic tablets and herbs, medications to improve metabolism and normalize blood pressure.
Edema that occurs for physiological reasons is most often associated with malfunctions of the heart and kidneys. Cardiac swelling affects only the legs. In this case, the woman experiences shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and her lips may turn blue. Renal edema is most pronounced on the face, although it also affects the limbs.
Both conditions require consultation with a doctor. The sooner treatment is started, the better the birth will be.
If swelling appears starting from the 12th week and does not go away until the end of pregnancy, we can talk about gestosis. This is a very dangerous condition, as it causes swelling of the placenta, uterus and even the woman’s brain. To alleviate the condition, treatment should be started on time.
It consists of several stages:
Medicinal herbs are quite effective. For example, hawthorn, bear's ears, bearberry, and horsetail have diuretic properties. According to the rules, you need to drink 1 glass of decoction per day.
It is worth mentioning separately about rose hips. It is absolutely safe for both mother and child. Rosehip has a diuretic effect and strengthens the immune system.
Dry rose hips quench thirst very well. They help control weight and saturate the body with vitamin C. It is noteworthy that rose hips contain more of this vitamin than lemons and black currants. This fact is good news, because the above products in large quantities can cause heartburn. Rosehip decoction does not have such side effects.
To prepare the decoction you will need 50 g of berries and 500 ml of just boiled water. Mix the ingredients in a thermos. Leave for about 5 hours. Afterwards it needs to be drained and mixed with sugar or honey. 500 ml of rosehip decoction is enough for one day (150 ml per dose). By the way, they can replace black and green tea. You can take rosehip decoction during all weeks of pregnancy without exception.
The basis for preventing edema is changing your diet. Moreover, it needs to be changed from the first weeks of pregnancy.
Among other things, you can take diuretics or herbal decoctions during pregnancy.
However, they must be used under the strict supervision of a physician. Otherwise, the treatment will only do harm.
Edema appears in almost all pregnant women. It is important not to ignore them, but to identify the cause as soon as possible and begin treatment. Most often it involves taking herbal diuretics. Herbs will relieve swelling and help improve the functioning of the heart and kidneys. An excellent remedy for edema during pregnancy is rosehip decoction. In addition to its main effect, rosehip saturates the body with vitamin C.
The load that a woman's body experiences during pregnancy increases many times over. An increase in the weight of the fetus and uterus causes compression of the veins of the abdomen and pelvis, as a result of which the outflow of blood from the pelvic organs and lower extremities is disrupted. This leads to the development of swelling and varicose veins (varicose veins).
What are the dangers of varicose veins on the legs during pregnancy, what to do and how to relieve swelling during and after? High-quality and qualified information can only be obtained from a phlebologist, because each case is individual and recommendations for treatment and prevention are given based on the specific situation.
Visually, varicose veins become noticeable when the veins become dilated in the form of blue nodes. Varicose veins (varicose veins and swelling in the legs) are observed not only in pregnant women. This disease is often diagnosed in other cases, but pregnancy can be one of the provoking reasons for the development of this disease. The risk of varicose veins is especially high after the birth of the second and third child, as well as with a hereditary predisposition.
This phenomenon, which accompanies pregnant women, may have different causes. Physiologically, during this period, the structure and condition of the veins becomes more loose. In addition (and this has already been discussed above), the enlarged uterus compresses the veins running from the legs to the heart (iliac veins and the inferior vena cava), which leads to disruption of the venous outflow from the lower extremities. Also in pregnant women, the circulating blood volume increases. This pathology has other reasons: which ones exactly will be determined by the doctor at the appointment, collecting complete information about your state of health, the course of pregnancy and lifestyle.
The first and most important signal is the swelling of the legs itself, especially in the later stages.
But there are other signs that should not go unnoticed in order to avoid unpleasant consequences:
The legs swell both in the later months and in the early stages of pregnancy, most often at 5–6 months. And this is observed in many pregnant women: up to 40% of women suffer from this disease. Early swelling may come and go. Throughout pregnancy, veins begin to change shape, which is accompanied by pain and itching.
If you notice that your feet hurt and swell during pregnancy, or spider veins have appeared on your skin, you don’t need to ask “what should I do?”, you should immediately consult a doctor who will help you understand the causes and select an adequate course of treatment.
The Energo Medical Center provides qualified assistance in solving this problem. When treating and examining pregnant patients, individually selected techniques and the most safe and harmless methods are used.
This can be either one reason or a whole complex, and much depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Varicose veins (varicose veins) do not always occur during pregnancy, sometimes the disease appears earlier for other reasons, and in the early or late stages (especially in recent months) manifests itself in the form of swelling and pain in the legs (one of the signs of pathology), and this it is necessary to treat as prescribed and determined by the doctor.
Aesthetic unattractiveness and “spoiled” appearance of legs is an external defect that spoils the mood and affects the self-esteem and psychological state of any woman. But this is not the only thing that causes swelling of the legs and varicose veins.
If at the initial stage this is a slight physical discomfort, then at later stages varicose veins can lead to inflammation of the venous nodes (the development of thrombophlebitis), as well as to the appearance of ulcers on the skin (above already formed nodes).
The danger of varicose veins, not only during pregnancy, also lies in the formation of blood clots (pulmonary embolism), which can break off from the vessels and move to other organs, which can be life-threatening.
To know how to remove swelling of the legs during pregnancy (at the beginning or at the end), you need to determine the causes and get rid of the factors that influence the appearance and signs of the pathology. Therefore, if you are prone to edema and varicose veins, it is necessary to take preventive measures and take care of your health. And one of the good ways is periodic consultations with a phlebologist, including during and after pregnancy.
The reason to consult a doctor is a feeling of discomfort, dull and aching pain in the feet and legs without a clear location and other obvious signs. You should not wait until the disease begins to progress; it is better to immediately take the necessary measures and make your pregnancy easier.
At the initial appointment, the doctor collects information on the patient’s health status, how the pregnancy is progressing, whether there are any complaints, etc. To understand why the patient’s feet swell during pregnancy, and what to do in her case, how to get rid of the swelling, an examination is also carried out, since a professional doctor will notice a number of signs without special examinations.
As a basic or additional examination for varicose veins during pregnancy, an ultrasound examination of the main veins of the lower extremities can be prescribed, which allows you to see the structure of the veins, assess the condition of their valves and determine whether there are venous blood clots.
The prescription of a treatment regimen for varicose veins and edema during and after pregnancy is based on the clinical picture of a particular case and examination results.
Depending on the characteristics of each specific case and the degree of swelling or varicose veins, the doctor may prescribe:
As an additional treatment method, self-massage of the legs can be included (you can also use a cream): it is advisable to perform a massage in the evening before bed, starting from the legs and ankles in the direction from bottom to top, in order to improve blood flow. At the same time, massages of the lumbosacral region can be performed. For complex forms of varicose veins, massage is possible only with the permission of a doctor.
Special gels and ointments are prescribed only by a doctor, since many of them are contraindicated for pregnant women. After childbirth, various treatment methods can also be prescribed, which are selected individually. Modern treatment methods and technologies are safe for both ordinary patients and pregnant women.
Nutrition and diet against edema during pregnancy
Effective and efficient treatment of edema and varicose veins during pregnancy requires a more balanced diet. During pregnancy, under the influence of hormones, the blood thickens greatly, so expectant mothers are advised to drink as much fluid as possible, up to 3 liters. Mostly it should be water, but you can include a small amount of juices, fruit drinks and compotes (natural).
But in the second half of pregnancy it is necessary to monitor your condition, and at the first signs of toxicosis (nephropathy), it is advisable to reduce the volume of fluid by 2 times. Otherwise, the liquid can only increase toxicosis or cause premature birth.
Another good remedy for edema during pregnancy is nutritional correction. That is, you need to include in your diet foods that reduce blood viscosity. Such products include seafood, eggs, milk, spinach and broccoli, cereals, as well as celery, cherries, tomatoes, etc. The diet also needs to be agreed with your doctor.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the doctor draws up a schedule of visits, which includes control appointments and a visit to the doctor at the end of treatment. Also, as a recommendation, the doctor may schedule preventive visits to assess the condition of the patient and the venous system.
If the selected treatment regimen does not produce the required results, the doctor will select other options, make adjustments and determine what else can help with edema during pregnancy and how to remove it. In difficult cases, additional examinations may be prescribed.
Unfortunately, varicose veins, including during pregnancy, are an irreversible disease, but by strictly following the treatment regimen and preventive recommendations, you can significantly slow down the development of varicose veins or even reduce or eliminate swelling.
Prevention of edema and varicose veins during pregnancy
Compliance with even the simplest rules will allow you to avoid or delay the development of varicose veins if you are predisposed and the occurrence of swelling in an interesting position.
What should you do to avoid varicose veins or severe swelling during pregnancy, and to prevent your legs from hurting too much?
If your legs (feet, legs, etc.) swell during pregnancy, and you don’t know what to do and how to deal with swelling, then you need to consult a specialist.
A good doctor will determine the stage and extent of the disease and select the correct treatment regimen.
You should consult a doctor at the first signs, or if you have a genetic predisposition. Lack of treatment or good prevention will lead to irreversible consequences, which can become a serious complication in subsequent pregnancies.