Almost every woman looks forward to the birth of her own child. This is why pregnancy becomes one of the most long-awaited and joyful events in life, gradually changing your whole life and even your worldview.
However, any joy of future motherhood is easily disrupted by constant health problems, such as morning sickness, mood swings and other disorders. One of these complications that can easily ruin everything is swelling. They usually appear after the fourth month, making the last months simply unbearable.
Typically, such problems are only physiological in nature, and therefore, if you make an effort, you can get rid of this problem quite simply. Below you will learn about how you can easily cure swelling that occurs during this period not only with the help of medications, but also with simple folk methods.
During this period, especially the last three months, swelling is considered quite common. This happens due to the body’s reaction to the formation of a child and, as a result, a violation of water-salt metabolism.
However, determining their presence is quite simple and there are several ways to do this:
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At its core, pregnancy cannot be called a disease. However, during this period, the woman’s body undergoes quite strong changes compared to its initial state.
This is why quite a large amount of fluid is often retained. In fact, this process is quite natural and begins almost from the very beginning of pregnancy.
So the body gradually begins to stock up on water, which is necessary for the formation of the child, as well as the functioning of the placenta and amniotic fluid. At the same time, water is also necessary for the normal functioning of the female body.
However, there is a possibility that this volume of liquid will become larger than required. This is precisely the main reason for the appearance of edema. However, there are other reasons:
Only a doctor can determine the cause of such a problem. Therefore, you should immediately make an appointment, because it may happen that you have not only a physiological problem, but also a pathological one.
At the moment, the classification by type will distribute them according to severity:
Below we will look at what to do with each of them.
To get rid of swelling as quickly as possible, there are several fairly simple remedies.
How to quickly relieve swelling during pregnancy? Will help:
Of course, when edema appears, it is better not to self-medicate and turn to professionals, that is, doctors. However, there are several emergency measures that will help with the solution.
Swelling in the legs is the most common problem among almost all women. It is in this zone that swelling begins its initial march through the body.
This happens due to a strong increase in pressure in the veins that are located in the legs. As a result, stagnation appears in the body, which leads to the formation of problems.
The question of how to relieve swelling in the legs during pregnancy should be answered by your doctor. He is obliged to determine the cause of the disease and the simplest and most effective methods of treating it.
At the moment, to treat this problem, it is best to use special gels and ointments:
Their use will help strengthen the capillary system of the legs if they are applied externally to the site of swelling 2-3 times a day. However, due to external use, these ointments usually do not have any special contraindications.
However, there are some folk remedies that will help treat swelling. Eg:
Of course, this is not a complete list of home remedies for treating swelling of the legs, but they are the most harmless.
Most often, the problem of swelling of the hands occurs in those whose work involves activities such as sewing, modeling, knitting, or spending a lot of time at the computer. This disease is quite easy to notice, because even the shape of the fingers often changes, so it becomes very difficult to put on rings.
This problem occurs due to the following reasons:
As you can see, any of these reasons is good enough to visit a doctor.
Diuretics such as Phytolysin will also help. However, most often, simple normalization of the drinking regime and gymnastics are suitable for solving the problem. However, there are also some traditional methods. For example, this is the use of lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks. You should also completely eliminate salt from your diet.
In fact, swelling of the face and nasal mucosa during pregnancy becomes not only a nuisance for a woman, from which it is desirable to quickly get rid of, but also an aesthetic problem. When the face begins to slowly swim, it simply plunges any woman into shock, so she thinks little about the medical side of this problem. And in vain.
Usually this swelling begins in the eyelids, and then spreads to the nose. This is how swelling of the mucous membrane gradually occurs, which is accompanied by a runny nose and constant sneezing. This all leads to the fact that the baby may begin to experience a lack of oxygen.
In addition to the use of diuretics, such as Canephron tablets, Furosemide may be prescribed. However, diuretic teas and ointments, for example those made with horse chestnut, are usually used for treatment.
There are also simple folk methods that can quickly make your face more pleasant.
In the last months of pregnancy, the amount of accumulated fluid reaches its maximum, so internal edema may appear. It is during this period that gestosis is most likely to appear, which can lead to death of both mother and child.
During this period, the use of medications can have a very bad effect on the child, so diuretics are usually prescribed only to hospitalized mothers. They are prescribed only by prescription with the least amount of side effects. Decoctions of birch leaves and parsley can also be prescribed.
Despite the fact that any woman can expect swelling, there are measures that will help get rid of it quickly. Of course, it is advisable to simply undergo preventive measures, which will completely solve this problem.
There are several simple rules that will help you quickly get rid of their presence:
So, by adhering to these simple rules, any swelling will quickly go away.
Under no circumstances should the problem of edema be left without the attention of your doctor. The pregnancy period itself is very responsible, so you should be very careful not only about your health, but also about your unborn child.
Additional information about swelling of the legs during pregnancy can be found in the following video.
There are risks in using medications to treat edema in pregnant women. A safe alternative to removing excess fluid is the use of traditional medicine.
The accumulation of fluid in tissues occurs due to various reasons. Sometimes this happens to women during pregnancy. How to relieve swelling during pregnancy without resorting to medications? Folk remedies can be used as an addition to the main treatment or in the absence of any diseases.
The motivation for searching for anti-edema agents is the presence of excess fluid in the tissues. It is important to have complete confidence that swelling really exists. To do this, it is enough to consult a doctor who monitors the health of the pregnant woman or conduct a few simple tests.
Swelling and pastiness can be easily determined by pressing on various parts of the body. With swelling, after pressing, pits remain on the skin that do not immediately disappear, and the usual shoes become tight. Traces from elastic bands of socks also indicate the presence of excess fluid in the tissues of the legs.
Visually, swelling is easily noticeable on the face and eyelids. When the hands become swollen, the rings on the fingers begin to create discomfort; they can only be removed with additional effort. Sometimes excess fluid interferes with normal blood circulation, which causes numbness and tingling in the limbs.
The spread of edema can be local or systemic. If excessive accumulation of fluid during pregnancy occurs in the legs, arms, face, lumbosacral spine, lower abdomen, then we speak of local edema. General swelling occurs in most areas of the body.
Typically, swelling makes itself felt after the 20th week of pregnancy. This is due to a significant increase in a woman’s body weight during this period, changes in the composition and concentration of hormones, as well as a possible risk of developing diseases of internal organs. The presence of heart disease, kidney disease, and allergies cause swelling at an earlier stage.
Having discovered signs of edema, the expectant mother must consult a doctor who is monitoring the progress of her pregnancy. The medical institution will find out the exact cause of fluid retention in the body and determine the degree of risk for the woman and fetus. Sometimes the situation requires medication. In other cases, the doctor can only give general recommendations and continue to monitor the pregnant woman’s health.
Means and methods for eliminating edema always depend on the source of their origin. It is impossible to effectively combat fluid retention in the body without addressing the cause. Sometimes special treatment is required. And sometimes it’s enough to change your habits and taste preferences.
The fight against edema should begin with an analysis of your daily routine. You should pay attention not only to rest and sleep, but also to moderate physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to fluid retention inside.
The use of herbal remedies internally in the form of infusions and decoctions must be agreed with a doctor. This is due to the fact that plant raw materials have their own pharmacological properties and side effects. Only a specialist can take these nuances into account.
Hot weather and increased physical activity contribute to the accumulation of fluid in the body. Showering and resting in a cool room will help reduce swelling in such situations.
Legs swell during pregnancy due to impaired blood circulation and lymph flow, as well as under the influence of hormones. In the absence of serious pathology, swelling is easily eliminated if the pregnant woman lies down and rests for about 15 minutes with her legs elevated.
When swelling of the legs creates discomfort and is caused by varicose veins, additional remedies will be useful. They are easy to use at home. Doctors also recommend using compression garments.
Folk remedies such as foot baths and contrast showers are excellent for helping with swelling. Water at room temperature is suitable for baths. To improve the effect, you can add sea salt or herbal infusions to the water. Sea salt relaxes muscles well and improves blood circulation.
Herbal infusions for baths can be made from birch leaves, chamomile flowers, and mint leaves. Essential oils are also suitable for procedures:
Essential oils are added 2-3 drops to the bath.
Fresh leaves of cabbage, burdock and plantain are proven folk remedies for eliminating heaviness and swelling during pregnancy. The leaves are washed, applied wet to the skin of the feet, fixed and left for 1-1.5 hours.
Massage of the feet and legs with or without the use of special products helps eliminate swelling. Massage has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, lymph flow, and stimulates metabolic processes in the subcutaneous tissue. At home, you can do a massage yourself or have loved ones help you with this.
You can relieve swelling of your hands during pregnancy using cool baths. To increase efficiency, add baking soda or sea salt to the water. Infusions of mint and lemon balm leaves are also suitable.
To improve blood circulation, it is recommended to do hand exercises. You can prevent and eliminate hand swelling with regular massage. You can quickly relieve swelling in your hands by raising them above your head.
Swelling in the face appears due to changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy, as well as diseases of the kidneys and cardiovascular system. You can cope with the problem yourself in several ways in addition to treating the underlying disease.
In addition to general recommendations and treatment of pathologies, tonic compresses based on leafy black or green tea are suitable. A clean napkin is soaked in the prepared infusion and applied to the face, including the eyelids. The compress is left for 15-20 minutes, after which it is washed with cool water.
It is safe to use masks made from cosmetic clay. Green, blue and white clay copes well with facial swelling. In addition, this product additionally cleanses the skin.
Experts never ignore swelling that occurs in pregnant women. This is dictated by the high risk of developing late toxicosis. The first signs of this condition are often swelling. If you do not respond in a timely manner, the situation may end in the death of the mother and child.
Swelling in pregnant women can be a symptom of kidney and heart disease. Such swelling is most often localized in the face and legs. Failure to promptly seek medical help in these cases can adversely affect the life, as well as the health of the pregnant woman and her unborn baby.
You should immediately contact a medical facility if, in addition to swelling, a pregnant woman experiences numbness in the limbs, convulsions, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.
You should take a responsible approach to the use of various means and techniques during pregnancy. When giving preference to folk remedies and simple ways to combat edema at home, a number of factors should be taken into account.
This is the only way to effectively combat edema without worrying about the baby’s health.
How to relieve swelling during pregnancy, what is the most reliable way? As obstetricians-gynecologists say, edema occurs in 60% of pregnant women. They are an accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the body, manifested as swelling in different parts of the body.
A pregnant woman can check for the presence or absence of edema herself. Many people note that it has become more difficult to remove the ring from the finger, and after removal, a trace of the jewelry remains on the finger for a long time - this already indicates that fluid is retained in the body. When pressing with a finger on the skin of the legs, a depression may remain for a long time - this is called pastiness, a mild degree of swelling.
There are different reasons why legs swell during pregnancy. It is necessary to distinguish between physiological and pathological edema. There is no strict separation between these types, so pregnant women are strictly monitored in antenatal clinics.
Physiological edema is mild, the skin is pasty in the area of the hands, ankles and feet. As a rule, they do not bring any inconvenience to a woman and do not lead to complications.
Pathological edema is a sign of gestosis, which most often develops in the third trimester. Preeclampsia is characterized by three symptoms - the presence of edema, protein in the urine and increased blood pressure (above 140/80 mmHg). If these indicators are present, the woman is hospitalized in the department of pathology of pregnant women at the maternity hospital for treatment. There are 4 degrees of pathological edema:
1st – in the area of arms and legs;
4th – swelling of the whole body.
If a pregnant woman is bothered by headaches, nausea and vomiting, increased body temperature, and skin itching, these are symptoms of preeclampsia (a complication of gestosis). And then eclampsia develops, a sign of which is a seizure.
If complications of gestosis occur, you should immediately seek medical help. It is possible to save the woman and the fetus only by resorting to emergency delivery.
You cannot select medications for edema during pregnancy on your own. At the antenatal clinic, a gynecologist may recommend herbal remedies:
It should be noted that evidence-based medicine does not approve of such prescriptions. Edema during pregnancy can rarely be relieved at home using folk remedies.
Many people believe that herbs are safer than drugs. But that's not true. After all, medications contain 1-2 active ingredients, the properties of which (including contraindications and side effects) have been well studied. But no one has carefully studied herbs, which can contain a lot of substances that can have a negative effect on the body. And allergic reactions, to which expectant mothers are so prone, have not yet been canceled.
Sometimes the doctor may prescribe medications such as Cyston, Canephron. They have a diuretic effect and are prescribed in a short course. In fact, such appointments are useless. There is no need to “treat” physiological edema. They will appear again, but there will be no harm from them. If the swelling appears due to gestosis, then the treatment is completely different.
Drugs are often prescribed to improve uteroplacental circulation - lipoic acid, "Curantil". Their purpose is very controversial. The drugs are not the cheapest, and have little practical value. Magne B6 can be prescribed to prevent night cramps, which often occur in expectant mothers.
One of the more accessible and safe means is infusion of dried apricots. Doctors recommend taking it to relieve swelling (pour boiling water over dried apricots at night, and drink the infusion in the morning).
Many people believe that if swelling occurs, you should immediately limit fluid intake. This opinion is wrong. In no case should the volume of fluid be reduced, since the body, on the contrary, will begin to accumulate even more fluid, which it will need during childbirth in the event of large blood loss. You just need to adjust your diet - if necessary, reduce the consumption of table salt, spices, fried, smoked, pickled foods. Eat more vegetables and protein foods. Foods such as celery, parsley, apples and citrus fruits are natural diuretics. You need to eat more garlic and onions, they have a beneficial effect on blood circulation.
Emphasis should be placed on organizing the daily routine. Sleep should last about 9 hours, more walks in the fresh air and light exercise are recommended. Several times a day, a woman needs to take the knee-elbow position for 5-7 minutes. This will also have a beneficial effect on the body, reducing the pressure of the pregnant uterus on the bladder and blood vessels.
For swelling in the legs, our grandmothers used cabbage leaves, freshly picked from the garden. They need to be cooled in the refrigerator and applied to your feet as often as you need it. It is not known whether in this way it will be possible to completely and quickly relieve swelling of the legs during pregnancy, but you will get relief - that’s for sure.
A pregnant woman should monitor the functioning of her body daily and contact an obstetrician-gynecologist with any questions.
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Most pregnant women face such a common pathology as edema. They arise due to excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues and are considered the first symptom of diseases of various categories, including:
etc. All these are numerous failures that occur in the body of the expectant mother. Often the cause of their appearance is the course of natural, physiological processes that are standard for the female body. There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence of corresponding symptoms. Their entirety brings discomfort to expectant mothers, including psychological discomfort. These causes are identified as early as possible, and the stage of combating symptoms immediately begins.
The development of edema during pregnancy is based on changes in water-salt metabolism. They also appear due to disruptions in the outflow of blood, which occurs in the veins of the legs and captures lymph, and changes in the composition of blood cells and the vascular wall.
There are 4 stages of development of this phenomenon:
Swelling in the lower parts of the legs - feet and legs.
In the lower extremities, lower abdomen and lumbosacral region.
Formation of tumors on the hands, “puffiness”.
General swelling.
It is not difficult to identify the presence of this health disorder. To do this, just press on the skin with your finger. If after this the skin lifts almost immediately, then most likely there are no problems. But if there is a hole left, then this is an alarming signal. He says that the skin suffers from swelling.
There are cases when only the legs, or more precisely the feet and ankles, swell. This is a fairly natural phenomenon associated with a lack of fluid in the body. In this state, a woman experiences a constant feeling of thirst - because the body’s needs increase noticeably.
Often this problem is associated with a number of others:
swelling of the fingers (it becomes impossible to wear a ring),
swelling in the feet becomes a permanent phenomenon (shoes no longer fit properly),
the face also suffers from edema, and often this turns out to be a warning about the onset of a very serious disease - gestosis (that is, a pregnancy complication such as late toxicosis).
In a standard situation, from the 20th week, types of edema may appear, which are considered alarming. In this case, the patient will need examinations that can determine the causes of edema. At the same time, we must not forget: swelling is not always a consequence of gestosis. If the pregnancy is late, the cause is most often an impaired outflow of urine, which occurs due to the growth of the uterus and compression of the ureters.
Outflows occur for certain reasons. Among them are not only the origin of changes in the observed patient’s body, but also all kinds of pathologies.
Among the physiological problems are the following:
Edema of a pathological nature.
Pathologies and kidney diseases.
Disorders of the body's cardiovascular resource.
Let's consider the physiological disorders that cause swelling of the legs during pregnancy, in more detail:
The fetus grows in the womb, and at the same time the uterus grows. This begins to put pressure on surrounding organs and vessels of different sizes, which in some cases are large. Because of this, it becomes difficult to remove fluid that has not been processed by the body. Edema in this category most often manifests itself after the 20th week, and primarily in those who abuse salty foods. For such problems, outpatient methods are used.
Pathological types of edema (preeclampsia) are a dangerous phenomenon. With it, edema takes over the entire body, resulting in weight gain with increased pressure in the vessels carrying blood. The reason for this condition lies in spasms of blood vessels, deterioration in fluidity and disrupted movement of human blood. This is how the process of tissue death begins. Preeclampsia is little more than a physiological effect, when medical supervision is required.
In addition to physiology, edema due to pathology of an organ such as the kidneys has become widespread. More precisely, they develop due to glomerulonephritis. As a rule, the observed diseases are known in advance. This greatly simplifies the diagnosis. But it is not uncommon for a woman in her condition to find out for the first time that she is sick. If swelling occurs with such a pathology, this does not say much about the duration of pregnancy. First, at any stage of the condition, the face begins to swell, then the arms and legs.
When the functionality of the kidneys is impaired, and the natural exchange of liquid substances between vessels and tissues is disrupted, the time comes for the development of pathologies of the cardiovascular organs. Her manifestations look a certain way. In order for fluid to leave the vessels, the heart must function within normal limits, and if its functioning is impaired, problems arise. Characteristic accompaniments of edema include pain in the heart, difficulty breathing, and attacks of weakness. When the corresponding symptoms are diagnosed, hospitalization is required.
The consequences of varicose veins can be very dangerous. Their appearance is associated with the pressure that is exerted on the vessels by the enlarged uterus. A pregnant woman experiences a feeling of heaviness in her legs, and venous nodes may form. There are cases when these symptoms are recognized as one-sided.
The danger level of edema can be quite high. This is especially true when they are not treated. Then the doctor conducts an additional examination. Neither his methods nor the prescribed treatment should harm either the mother or the fetus. Otherwise, unforeseen complications may arise. There are cases when a hospital is prescribed. During exacerbations, self-medication is unacceptable.
We have already listed a number of reasons that cause swelling. Most often they develop due to liquid substances that are not eliminated from the body. They linger in areas called the lower extremities. The uterus, which grows naturally, puts pressure on the veins. They become a factor due to which the veins that carry out the outflow of blood are compressed.
In addition to an increase in body weight, this causes an increase in hydrostatic pressure, which brings the venous vessels into working condition, and the liquid component of the blood plasma is released into the tissue. If there is a predisposition, then due to prolonged exposure to the venous wall, a change in structure occurs. With the development of varicose veins, blood vessels cease to be elastic, and they begin to expand and deform. This leads to an even worse situation.
In particular, this is due to the following phenomena:
Disorders of water-salt metabolism.
Deficiency in protein intake from food.
Increasing load on the kidneys.
Compression of the renal vessels.
If edema during pregnancy becomes pathological, this may be evidence of decompensation of chronic diseases of organs such as the heart or kidneys.
Despite its prevalence, leg swelling during pregnancy has not ceased to be a painful phenomenon. It is not so difficult to verify their appearance. When your favorite shoes turn into a crushing instrument of torture, and the weight exceeds 300 grams. per week, despite the apparent accuracy of the symptoms, sometimes swelling is confused with weight gain that is natural in this case.
If a pregnant woman does not have kidney or heart diseases, then swelling of the legs can only be observed in the second half of pregnancy. The development of the phenomenon varies. There are frequent cases when the legs swell first, and then the arms, stomach and face. In the morning the picture does not seem dire, but in the evening accumulations of fluid again appear in the leg area.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is not always considered a pathology. A pregnant woman's body readily accumulates compounds such as sodium. It has the property of attracting water, and the liquid cannot leave the body. But usually the process is aggravated by facts such as eating salty and fried foods. An additional negative factor is the heat. Meanwhile, it is believed that edema itself does not pose a threat to health and is, in fact, a kind of natural consequence of this condition.
In mild cases, it will take little to alleviate the symptoms - just lie on your side, giving the body the opportunity to rest, take a course of diuretic tea, and also minimize the intake of salt with food. Swollen legs during pregnancy can be a complication, particularly when a woman gains more weight than she should. Then this formation becomes massive, covering the arms, face and lower back. There is practically no state of rest. This condition is called “preeclampsia”. Close monitoring and possible hospitalization is required. When a severe form of gestosis occurs, a noticeable increase in pressure begins, protein is released in the urine, and the fetus and the mother’s health are at risk.
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Often during pregnancy, hands and fingers begin to swell. This is excess fluid in areas such as the wrists and fingers. When the mass of fluid becomes large, it blocks the nerves that are naturally formed in the hands, which deprives them of sensitivity, and the expectant mother feels severe discomfort from this.
When the time comes for the third trimester, doctors do not recommend wearing rings on your hands. For many, swelling occurs in the second trimester - then jewelry is removed earlier. If you do not remove them in time, they will dig into the skin. And when the stage of constant swelling comes, they cannot be removed.
The appearance of such swelling occurs for certain reasons:
Changes in hormonal levels. When pregnancy comes, the body of the expectant mother begins to produce the hormone progesterone, which causes severe changes. In addition to causeless mood changes, the body begins to retain large quantities of water.
The body becomes open to infection. Swelling is often a natural reaction to some viral diseases.
Often this turns out to be an allergic reaction to food or household chemicals; Bad quality.
Improper lifestyle, overwork. During a condition such as pregnancy, even a completely healthy body begins to suffer from changes, including deterioration of the skin, and the usual state of fatigue causes poor skin condition and swelling.
It is not always possible to independently understand why edema occurs during pregnancy. Prompt laboratory tests and constant monitoring by a doctor are necessary, and then it will be possible to reduce the harm of such a phenomenon to a minimum.
Swelling of the hands and fingers is a standard condition during pregnancy.
Symptoms of hand swelling are as follows:
Numbness of the hands.
Unpleasant sensations in the wrists.
Constant feeling of something tingling in the fingers.
Usually, swelling of the hands occurs under certain conditions - for example, in women who are engaged in knitting or modeling. In addition, the symptom manifests itself in those who work at a computer, when the same actions are constantly performed. So, these include working with knitting needles and pressing the keyboard. In addition to the listed manifestations, many begin to suffer from the so-called “tunnel syndrome”. This is constant pain in the wrists.
These troubles can be easily avoided if you do gymnastics and warm-up exercises for your arms. There are cases when the sacrum, abdomen, and back join the swelling in the arms. Then it is recommended to urgently contact a specialist.
Facial swelling during pregnancy is a phenomenon that is caused by certain reasons:
Blood cells retain less salts and protein than other tissues, and the blood becomes dehydrated as water leaves it.
When the last weeks of pregnancy begin, the uterus literally squeezes the veins and the system of lymphatic vessels coming from the legs.
To understand why edema appeared, you need to learn to understand the stages of a phenomenon such as pregnancy.
There are only 4 of them:
On the first, the areas of the feet and legs swell.
In the second case, the swelling affects the lower extremities, the part of the abdomen closest to them and the lumbosacral region.
With the third, the hands swell and there is a feeling of puffiness in the face.
The fourth is the stage of general edema.
A swollen face can be easily distinguished by external signs: it begins to appear rounded, and when you press with your fingers, a dimple remains at the point of pressure. When these symptoms are established, you need to consult a doctor, and then take measures aimed at preventing serious complications. Most often, a diet and medication are recommended.
Facial swelling during pregnancy is associated with certain mechanisms. First of all, there is a connection with changes in water-salt metabolism. Due to a disruption in the outflow of lymph and blood through the veins, the arms, face and legs swell. This should not be ignored.
Facial swelling is easy to distinguish visually. He develops unpleasant roundness. In addition, we have already mentioned a method called pressure. There is no need to press hard - even if it’s just your fingers, pressing may leave bruises and the condition will worsen.
A woman, convinced of the presence of such symptoms, seeks to visit a doctor as soon as possible. He can more accurately determine why this condition occurred. Accordingly, what follows is the establishment of treatment.
This condition is quite common, and because of this, a number of signs have even appeared. So, there is a belief that you should not touch your face - but if you do this often, the child will be born with birthmarks on his face. We can say that the connection with reality here is quite tenuous. If you touch your face with your hands, the pores of the skin become dirty, and given the changes in the body, the pollution can reach the fetus and cause similar consequences. Such cases are rare, and, as a rule, frequent touching is harmful to the mother.
Each appointment is accompanied by an examination of the pregnant woman. This is especially true for the face and legs, as this allows you to reveal pastiness. Procedures such as weighings must be carried out regularly. This is the best way to detect excess weight gain. Edema during pregnancy is a certain phenomenon associated with an increase in human weight. On the legs they may be weakly expressed. If they are not expressed at all, then this signals hidden, internal swelling.
Before each examination by a gynecologist, a urine test is required. Using its results, kidney function is determined and “normal” edema is differentiated. They should not be confused with a phenomenon such as gestosis or kidney problems.
The causes of edema can be quite difficult to determine. The gynecologist will need the result of an additional examination (ultrasound of the kidneys, blood test). The patient needs to calculate diuresis (for this, the volume of fluid consumed and the weight of urine excreted are determined). If the urine mass is not enough, then it makes sense to start therapy.
The best solution is to drink clean water. It is allowed to add lemon. And you will have to give up such a drink as coffee.
Prevention measures are based on the exclusion of all provoking factors:
It is better to start with sauerkraut to reduce the consumption of salty foods as much as possible - it is eliminated first. Next, pickled cucumbers, herring, black bread, salted nuts, and olives are eliminated. Then they reduce food with spices, carbonated drinks, fried, smoked foods.
At least once a week, a fasting day is indicated, when only apples and juices are consumed.
Hiking in the heat is prohibited.
Staying in one position for a long time is contraindicated.
It is recommended to engage in physical exercise.
All these measures are allowed if there are no contraindications. You need to devote time to proper walks and relaxation in the fresh air. When it’s time to sleep, it’s better to put your feet on some elevation.
Swelling in the legs will help relieve:
decoction of dried apricots.
In the latter case, you will need to pour boiling water over the dried apricots and leave overnight, and in the morning drink the compote 30-40 minutes before meals. We can give examples of many other so-called traditional medicine recipes against swelling. It is dangerous to start treating such formations on your own with medications such as diuretic tablets. Such decisions should be discussed with your doctor.
Above we listed physiological edema. In such cases, a diet for pregnant women, as well as monitoring fluid intake, is sufficient. In the first situation, they refuse junk food - not only salty, but also fatty, fried, smoked. But it is salt that is the reason why liquid cannot leave the body. All food needs a little less salt. Statistics say: the norm of salt during pregnancy is 8 g, and in the normal state - 14 g.
When there is severe physiological edema, you can adhere to a salt-free diet for some time. There are cases when diuretics are prescribed, but this measure is taken only after consultation with a specialist.
There are types of edema that cannot be treated with diet. Then they resort to drug treatment under strict medical supervision. Emphasis remains on eliminating the root cause.
The problem of gestosis is very complex. Despite the swelling, expectant mothers almost universally suffer from dehydration. That is, excluding water from the menu is out of the question. In this case, resort to diet. She's quite strict. But it is not an absolute solution to the problem, but a little relief is guaranteed. The doctor also gives recommendations that must be followed and conscientiously undergo the course of medication treatment.
Edema during pregnancy can be treated quite successfully at home. As a rule, hospitalization is resorted to in extreme cases. When carrying out long-term therapy, the result is guaranteed in most cases, but if it is unnoticeable, a period of hospitalization begins. In severe cases, this is necessary in order to carry out additional conditions and identify the causes of obvious pathology.
We want to pay attention to those tips that will minimize the risk of harming yourself and your fetus.
To do this, follow a few simple recommendations:
You need to drink 1-1.2 liters of liquid per day (this amount includes soups, juices, fruits, etc.).
Stop eating salty foods and foods that make you thirsty.
Avoid carbonated drinks.
Do gymnastics and exercises for pregnant women regularly.
Consume stewed, boiled, steamed foods, cereals, vegetables and fruits as often as possible.
If swelling is severe, diuretics are often used (only in consultation with the supervising doctor).
The lifestyle should be quite mobile and active.
Long stays in stuffiness and heat are not recommended.
If necessary, cool foot baths are performed.
Avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes, shoes, boots with flat soles or excessively high heels.
Wear special anti-edematous underwear - tights or stockings.
Rest your legs and avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time.
Treatment of pathological edema is usually based on eliminating the manifestations of the disease that provoked its appearance. Despite the fact that in this state women sometimes take rash actions, they should resort to any measures only after contacting specialists.
Diet for pregnant women against edema is one of the most common measures. It must be admitted that opinions differ here. Sometimes there are directly opposite statements. Many years ago some recommendations were adopted, but now it turned out that they were not entirely correct, and they were modified.
You should not drink more than 1-1.2 liters of liquid per day. Don't forget that this includes soups and fruits, not just water. If you drink more liquid, the swelling will increase.
Diet advice is much more effective. It gives results most often because it is a true measure. A diet is not a refusal of foods needed by the body, but certain recommendations. We also talked about them above. Let us remind you that not only salt, but also protein contributes to fluid retention. Most often, it is recommended to switch to dairy-vegetable foods.
Author of the article: Yulia Valerievna Vafaeva, nephrologist