Many pregnant women are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as edema. During pregnancy, the arms, fingers, upper body, and face may swell, but most often the excess fluid is concentrated in the lower torso and legs. The appearance of edema in pregnant women is caused by several factors. Most often they develop for physiological reasons, but they may also indicate the occurrence of gestosis - an extremely dangerous complication of the last months of pregnancy. Despite the fact that edema is a fairly common occurrence among pregnant women, it should never be ignored, especially when it comes to severe forms of edema. Why? We will understand it within the framework of this article.
Is your wedding ring difficult to remove, and does it leave a deep dent on your finger? Are your favorite shoes unbearably tight? Do the elastic bands of your socks leave a long mark on your feet? This means that we are most likely talking about edema, which is a very common accompaniment of late pregnancy. Every woman can determine swelling at home. To do this, she just needs to press her finger on a suspicious area of the body. If a hole remains after the mechanical impact, then swelling is still present, and now the woman, together with the doctor, needs to determine its stage, identify the cause and develop an effective treatment regimen.
Experts identify four main stages of edema during pregnancy. The first stage is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the ankle area. The second stage is characterized by swelling of the entire lower body. At the third stage, swelling of the face, hands and fingers occurs, and at the fourth stage, general swelling appears, which is not a normal variant and most often indicates a severe form of gestosis.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body needs water more than ever, which it needs for the formation of amniotic fluid, additional reserves of blood and intercellular fluid. After all, it is the liquid biological medium that supplies the baby with all the necessary elements for its formation and life. The hormonal background of a pregnant woman changes. The synthesis of certain hormones increases, creating favorable conditions for pregnancy. So they “force” a woman to drink more water. The same hormones contribute to its reservation in the intercellular space.
In most cases, swelling begins in the third trimester and continues to bother you until childbirth. Moderate swelling in the last months of pregnancy is absolutely normal. As the child grows, the mother needs fluid more and more, and the uterus begins to compress the vena cava, which prevents the complete outflow of blood, lymph, and, consequently, fluid from the legs. During normal pregnancy, swelling in the legs is usually localized in the area of the feet and ankles; they appear in the late afternoon, and subside during the night, after a good, long rest.
The appearance of pathological edema (dropsy) is associated with a violation of the water-salt balance, thickening of the blood, as well as abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys and cardiovascular system. These pathologies are inherent in gestosis - toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy. With gestosis, as a rule, edema is accompanied by other health-threatening symptoms (high blood pressure, shortness of breath, severe back pain, the presence of protein in the urine, etc.).
Surely many have noticed that the face of a pregnant woman becomes pasty and more rounded, and the eyelids, filling with excess fluid, visually reduce the shape of the eyes. This swelling is especially noticeable in the early morning, and after the expectant mother remains in an upright position for a long time, the excess fluid goes down, and as a result, the facial features become slightly haggard, but by the morning the problem returns. A pregnant woman may also experience swollen lips and nose. In the case of swelling of the eyelids and face as a whole, it is extremely important for a woman to exclude kidney diseases, since they, worsening during pregnancy, can become a dominant factor in the development of pathological swelling in the head area.
Swelling of the fingers and, in fact, the hands themselves during pregnancy can be complicated by poor circulation in this area, which is often accompanied by tingling, as well as numbness of the hands and wrists. The risk group includes pregnant women leading an inactive or sedentary lifestyle, working with a computer for a long time or doing painstaking, monotonous manual work (knitting, drawing, modeling, etc.). In this case, daily massaging movements of the hands, performed strictly along the course of the lymph, that is, from the bottom up from the fingertips to the shoulder joints, will help to cope with swelling. In addition, this massage is very useful for normalizing blood circulation. If swelling of the arms is combined with swelling of the legs and back, the treatment concept should be developed by the attending physician.
Swelling of the legs is perhaps the most common problem in the second half of pregnancy. According to statistics, 70% of women in a “piquant position” complain of swelling in this particular area. Why is this happening? The thing is that a woman spends most of the day in an upright position, and it is quite natural that all the liquid accumulated in the body flows into the legs - the force of gravity is triggered. So, we found out that during the normal course of pregnancy, swelling of the legs appears mainly in the evening, disappears by the morning and is not accompanied by any dangerous symptoms. However, there is also a flip side to the coin: when too much fluid accumulates in the legs (this interferes with blood circulation), and the pregnant woman’s weight rapidly increases, edema may indicate the development of preeclampsia, which is a serious pathology.
Pathological swelling of the legs during pregnancy is dangerous because it can provoke a significant slowdown in blood flow, thereby increasing the risk of thrombus formation - blood clots that clog blood vessels. In addition, there is additional stress on the heart. Indeed, in such conditions, he needs double strength to push blood through the swollen tissues. As a result, the heart wears out faster, blood vessels become thinner, their walls become permeable and brittle, and hypertension develops. This condition, which is a typical component of the clinical picture of gestosis, is very dangerous both for the mother herself and for her unborn child. As a rule, it is fraught with the development of severe fetal hypoxia, leading to growth retardation, premature birth, and also causes premature placental abruption and intrauterine fetal death in late pregnancy.
Most obstetricians are of the opinion that any swelling needs correction, since it is often a harbinger of gestosis. Treatment of edema is carried out comprehensively by taking medications and following a salt-limiting diet. In some cases, pregnant women are limited to only one diet, which helps normalize the water-salt balance in the body. The principle of the diet is quite simple: during the day you are allowed to consume no more than a teaspoon of salt, distributing it across all meals. It is important to note that water consumption should remain at the same level, since fluid deficiency during pregnancy leads to increased fluid reserve and increased edema.
Drug treatment includes taking diuretics, herbal preparations and the use of local ointments to ensure the outflow of excess fluid. And if severe forms of gestosis develop, the pregnant woman is treated in a hospital setting, where the doctor decides to administer additional medications to prevent the negative effects of edema on the body.
To prevent edema during pregnancy, we would like to recommend that women lead a healthy and active lifestyle, regulate their sleep and wakefulness, protect themselves from stress and negative thoughts, walk more in the fresh air and, of course, limit the consumption of salty, fried, smoked foods. After all, they are the ones who become responsible for the accumulation of excess fluid in the body.
Probably, by this moment you have already managed to make friends with your baby, get used to your pregnant position, and also please all your relatives with the joyful news that an addition is expected in your family soon.
Week 19 is the end of the fifth obstetric month. This means that almost half of your pregnancy has already been successful.
At this time, the expectant mother will have to visit an antenatal clinic to undergo some important tests. You will also have to undergo an ultrasound again in order to exclude the possibility of development of defects in the child.
It is from this week that you can experience tangible movements of the baby in your tummy.
If you felt light tremors before, now they have become more noticeable; anyone who touches your stomach can feel them. Most of the movements of the fetus are not perceived by the expectant mother, but periodic tremors indicate that everything is fine with the fetus.
The baby develops quickly, his height is 13-15 cm, his body weight reaches 200 grams.
The limbs begin to acquire the proportions that the baby will have at the time of birth. Rapid development also affects the baby’s brain, it grows and improves. The neurons take their place, due to which the fetal movements become coordinated and purposeful.
The work of the sebaceous glands is activated, the baby’s body is covered with lubricant, the accumulation of which falls on the skin folds and head. This lubricant has a protective and antibacterial effect and helps reduce the impact of amniotic fluid on the fetal skin.
The child’s respiratory system begins to form, and the lungs and bronchi actively develop.
Also at this time, the fetus begins to develop a fatty layer under the skin. Now a layer of subcutaneous fat is located in the area of the chest, sternum and still very soft collarbones. And the child’s head is already beginning to be covered with almost transparent hairs.
So, by the 19th week of pregnancy, the following changes should have occurred in the developing body of the baby:
1 The most noticeable change is the appearance of conditioned and biologically “correct” movements of the child;
2 Thanks to brain growth, the baby gained even more skills and abilities. In particular, he now knows how to hold his head straight and also turn his neck to the sides;
3 The child’s arms and legs grow and acquire clearer outlines;
4 Sensitivity to food appears. Already at this stage of development, a tendency to food allergies may develop;
5 The respiratory system begins to prepare for active independent activity. The structure of the bronchi takes the form of a branched tree;
6 The formation of baby teeth is completed. Under their rudiments, the process of formation of real, molars is already starting;
7 The baby's hearing is developing. Mom can play classical or any other soothing music for him. But loud music can frighten a child, so try to avoid noisy events now.
Many women note the following points that appeared in their condition at this time:
1 Early toxicosis begins to recede, morning sickness practically does not appear anymore. If previously a woman had a feeling of disgust for certain foods, now her appetite gradually begins to return to normal;
2 False nasal congestion may occur due to changes in blood pressure. It is strongly not recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops to solve this problem, as they are very often addictive (so-called medical rhinitis). In such cases, products made from sea water are well suited;
3 Your tummy is growing quite quickly, which leads to uneven stretching of the skin and the appearance of stretch marks. At this time, the skin of the abdomen, as a rule, begins to itch very much. Use special creams for pregnant women that increase skin elasticity and deeply moisturize it;
4 Already at 19 weeks of pregnancy, a woman may experience swelling of the legs, hands and face. Swelling can be especially noticeable at the end of the day.
5 The increasing size of the uterus puts pressure on the internal organs, which often causes stomach and intestinal disorders. Expectant mothers often experience heartburn and also suffer from constipation. True, it is impossible to get rid of these phenomena - you will just have to endure this time.
The female body begins to gradually change, the hip joints relax and move apart to make it easier for the baby to come out during childbirth. The 19th week of pregnancy brings mommy painful sensations in the lumbar and back areas.
The ability to breathe correctly will relieve you of shortness of breath, and will also help you get rid of fatigue and the feeling of lack of air.
The 19th week of pregnancy is the ideal time to sign up for maternity courses, where you can meet other pregnant women, make new friends, and share your feelings.
The 19th week of pregnancy is the best time to find out the sex of the baby.
You can sign up for an ultrasound at your clinic, or visit a paid clinic where you will be offered to take pictures of the child or record a video.
An ultrasound scan at this stage is mandatory; the gynecologist must make sure that the child is developing correctly and does not have any obvious or hidden pathologies.
The tests will necessarily include checking the level of hemoglobin and blood sugar, and you should also check the protein in the urine.
If necessary, an additional progesterone test may be prescribed.
Unfortunately, the danger of abortion at this stage has not yet completely receded.
Even at this kind of “equator” of pregnancy, there is a certain threat of frozen pregnancy.
This phenomenon is usually accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, brownish spotting, elevated body temperature and severe weakness.
If you notice a combination of these symptoms, be sure to seek help from a gynecologist.
Due to the significantly increased size of the uterus, there is a risk of developing kidney disease.
The most common disease affecting pregnant women is pyelonephritis. This disorder is also characterized by fever and severe lower back pain.
Pyelonephritis is quite dangerous, and therefore requires immediate treatment measures.
It can occur due to the fact that the outflow of urine from the ureters is disrupted, and fluid stagnation occurs.
That is why experts advise drinking as much fluid as possible during this period. A good prevention is a simple exercise: a woman should periodically, as a warm-up, take a knee-elbow position. Thus, the outflow of fluid from the ureters improves.
The absence of abdominal cramps at the prescribed time is not always a cause for concern. Distinct tremors may appear a little earlier or later, and any of these options will be considered normal.
The main factors determining the onset of perceptible movements of the child are the individual physiological characteristics of the woman and the degree of development of the fetus.
During the first pregnancy, tremors begin to appear a little later, by the 20th week. The type of figure of the expectant mother also matters: plump women will feel the baby’s movements a little later than thin women.
Another reason why a woman may not feel the baby’s movements is the position of the fetus in the uterus.
Sometimes the baby takes a position in which it practically does not touch the walls of the uterus. This means that it will be difficult for the mother to feel the kicks, especially if the child is not very active.
If movements have not been felt for several days, it would be best to conduct an ultrasound examination. This will allow you to find out the true reason for the absence or too few tremors.
The feeling of drowsiness is gradually replaced by insomnia. The 19th week of pregnancy forces the expectant mother to get used to the new rhythm of life. The woman becomes restless due to worries about the child, and her mood often changes.
Many things irritate a woman, and this negatively affects the behavior of the baby in the tummy. It then calms down, then begins to become very active, which leads to painful sensations in the woman, so stressful situations should be avoided.
Listen to your favorite music, watch movies with happy endings, spend time among people you like. Try to experience more positive emotions.
If the mother already knows the sex of the child, then the 19th week of pregnancy is a turning point for her, during which she begins to buy things for the unborn baby, look for a stroller and toys. The search for toys and clothes evokes positive emotions in a woman.
A woman should take care of her health, she needs to take vitamins and eat right.
Consult your doctor to determine your optimal diet. A personal specialist should also prescribe you a complex of essential vitamins and minerals (usually folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamins A, B, C).
It is worth remembering that taking medications to maintain immunity and prevent vitamin deficiency must be strictly in accordance with the doctor’s instructions.
An excess of vitamins, as well as a deficiency, can seriously harm a child’s health.
But prolonged exposure to the sun for a pregnant woman is contraindicated, as is visiting a solarium. You should stock up on stretch mark cream and start taking care of your hair and nails, as a lack of calcium can cause your nails to become brittle. If you have problems with your teeth, then you should visit the dentist now.
Pregnant women should stop wearing heels to prevent complications that could lead to miscarriage. Women should give up the habit of sleeping on their back and stomach, and also minimize long periods of standing or sitting.
It is from this time that the expectant mother begins to gain significant weight.
Try to eat less flour products to avoid gaining excess weight.
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