Swelling of the legs in expectant mothers is quite common, especially in the second half of the term. Let's figure out why legs swell during pregnancy and how to deal with it?
The reason for swelling of the legs in a woman expecting a baby is physiological in nature - the growing uterus compresses the veins in the pelvic area, while the blood volume increases by 1.5 liters, and slow blood circulation contributes to fluid retention in the legs. And if the expectant mother wears shoes with heels and at the same time she has to sit or stand a lot, then it is completely natural for her legs to swell during pregnancy.
If your legs swell significantly during pregnancy, the cause may be a disruption in the flow of urine from the body due to pressure from the uterus on the ureter. Swelling can spread throughout the body if necessary measures are not taken.
If a pregnant woman swells not only her legs, but also her arms, fingers, and face, and her body weight increases sharply, these symptoms may indicate gestosis, which requires medical intervention. During the period of bearing a baby, an exacerbation of chronic kidney or cardiovascular diseases is also possible.
Try to move more and not lead a sedentary and lying lifestyle. Special gymnastics for women in delicate positions and walking in comfortable shoes will help reduce swelling of the lower extremities. Buy compression tights.
Go to bed, and just relax during the day, placing a pillow under your feet. A foot massage and a cool foot bath with sea salt are also effective in combating fluid stagnation.
Keep your salt intake to a minimum. You can only have 1-1.5 g of product per day, but if the swelling is very severe, it’s time to go on a salt-free diet. It is also recommended to exclude foods containing sodium, such as olives, olives and nuts. Rid your menu of smoked, spicy dishes. Limit your consumption of spices - they cause thirst and slow down the release of fluid from the body.
Include natural diuretics in your diet - apples, celery, parsley, cranberries and citrus fruits. Onions and garlic will increase blood circulation and help combat fluid stagnation. Consume cabbage, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, sunflower seeds and vegetable oil. You can also draw out excess liquid by placing green cabbage leaves on your feet. Carbonated drinks and sweets are strictly prohibited. If the swelling does not decrease, be sure to consult a specialist who will prescribe diuretics.
In pregnant women with heart disease or heart disease, swelling may occur due to heart failure. And hot weather only aggravates the stagnation of water in the body.
If there is swelling of only one leg, redness, the appearance of tubercles, or pain, immediately go to see a doctor, because these may be signs of thrombosis.
Smoking, which is strictly prohibited during pregnancy, is also a cause of swelling of the limbs.
At 37-38 weeks of pregnancy, the legs of almost all women swell. Avoid heels and make sure that varicose veins do not develop due to fluid stagnation.
Report the problem to your doctor. Knowing the characteristics of your body, weight gain and the course of pregnancy, he will prescribe special treatment. And remember that diuretics and traditional medicine are used only on the recommendation of an obstetrician-gynecologist.
I have chronic kidney inflammation. My legs were swollen almost throughout my pregnancy. The gynecologist prescribed a rosehip decoction. I drank it regularly: both a diuretic and vitamins for the body!
Swelling appeared at 16 weeks. I came to the doctor, and I had gained 2.5 kg in a week, in general my legs were like barrels and my blood pressure was jumping. It turned out that you can’t drink mineral water. Swelling appeared on it, and then pressure. So they immediately put me on a salt-free diet and limited the amount of water per day to 1.5 liters. and the drug Hofitol (homeopathy). Well, I put my feet on the pillow, or rather, I moved the pillow from under my head to my feet. So I stayed on the diet until the end; there were periods of swelling. After giving birth, my legs became very swollen, I took a diuretic and it went away. But she gave birth to a healthy daughter, although there was a threat throughout the pregnancy.
I started to experience swelling around the 20th week, and it was so strong that not only my shoes, but even my jeans in my calves became too small. The doctor prescribed the drug Cyston or an infusion of lingonberry leaves. She told me to choose one, but I drank both at my own peril and risk. It helped! The daughter was born healthy and without complications.
Please help other moms! Leave your review:
Swelling in late stages (36, 37, 38, 39 weeks) of pregnancy, what to do if they appear? Are they dangerous for the mother and/or child? How are they treated?
Obstetricians and gynecologists pay attention to swelling and weight gain. And this is not without reason. After all, rapid weight gain, which most often occurs precisely because of fluid retention in the body, and not because of overeating, is one of the signs of gestosis, late toxicosis of pregnant women. It is also called "dropsy". But to be precise, this is the mildest stage of gestosis. In severe stages, there is a high probability of death of mother and child. When no remedies for edema in the later stages help, other symptoms appear, the condition worsens - they may recommend inducing (cause) labor or a cesarean section.
However, it is impossible to diagnose “preeclampsia” only because swelling appeared in the last weeks of pregnancy. We need 2 more symptoms. This is a blood pressure level above 140 over 90 and the presence of protein in the urine. Next, depending on the level of pressure and protein, and other accompanying symptoms, the stage of gestosis and treatment tactics are determined.
If these two symptoms are absent, the causes of edema in late pregnancy are physiological. The growing uterus, which in some women is very impressive in size in the third trimester, compresses the veins and lymphatic vessels of the small pelvis, blood circulation deteriorates, and swelling appears. Women with greater weight are more prone to swelling. It's not for nothing that doctors monitor women's weight! Normally, you need to gain up to 12 kilograms during pregnancy. This weight gain is the prevention of edema in the last weeks before childbirth. Therefore, you need to try not to overeat. Eat in moderation.
The diet of the expectant mother should be richer in calories than that of a non-pregnant woman, but not significantly. But it is absolutely certain that pregnancy is not a reason to fast.
But unfortunately, even women with normal weight suffer from edema. The thing is that due to an excess of female hormones, body tissues accumulate more fluid. Everything returns to normal after childbirth. Why are edema dangerous at 36, 37, 38, 39 weeks of pregnancy, if they are physiological? Nothing. This is only a small cosmetic defect.
It is very useful for expectant mothers to wear anti-varicose stockings, knee socks or tights. This not only prevents thrombosis and varicose veins, but also improves a woman’s well-being. And if you put them on in the morning, as you should, then this will be the best way to get rid of edema during late pregnancy without medications. But in order to feel comfortable, you need to choose the right size and degree of compression. And wear it most of the day. Especially when you have to be in an upright position a lot (including sitting). By the way, if you change your body position every half hour and do light exercises for your legs, you can relieve swelling in many cases.
There is an opinion that when 36, 37, 38 weeks of pregnancy, swelling of the legs occurs from an excess of fluid entering the body. The expectant mother is advised to limit the amount of liquid consumed to 800 grams. But this, as a rule, only leads to even greater swelling. You need to drink as much as you want, and at any stage of pregnancy.
Here's a little you need to know about such a common problem for expectant mothers as swelling. This is a condition that you need to complain about to your doctor. But in the absence of other pathological symptoms, it is physiological and does not harm either the mother or the child.
Swelling at 37 weeks is a common occurrence. The main thing is to monitor at what time and under what conditions they occur. It’s a bad sign if the swelling doesn’t subside even in the morning, your hands and face swell. In any case, you need to consult a supervising doctor.
You can drink Brusniver, bearberry, brewed, one glass 3 times a day. Sometimes Hofitol is prescribed. You can arrange fasting days on cottage cheese and apples.
You need to drink water in moderation, although you really want to. And of course, moderate exercise—walking is beneficial.
the author of the question chose this answer as the best
Unfortunately, swelling during pregnancy is not uncommon. And not only at 37 weeks. To avoid swelling or reduce it to a minimum, you need to limit the amount of not only salty, but also smoked food. Eat a minimum of tomatoes, this also applies to ketchup, excessive amounts of tomatoes , as well as ketchup and mayonnaise will lead to the fact that there will be a large amount of protein in the urine and this is also swelling as you know. Not fatty meat, fruits and vegetables in season, fish, cottage cheese. A sufficient amount of liquid. No need to pour water into yourself and juices are like a camel. If previously 2 liters of water was the norm for you, not counting tea and juices, now 2 liters of liquid is a lot for your body, the kidneys are already working in an enhanced mode. Excess fluid will lead to swelling. Lie with your legs up more often, this promotes better lymph drainage. And of course, no high heels, only comfortable shoes, that is, those that run in high heels before giving birth. And I don’t recommend getting carried away with kidney teas without a doctor’s prescription, otherwise, instead of getting rid of swelling, you’ll get complete dehydration, which is not very good for you and the baby
More often, lie on the bed or sit on the sofa with your legs in a horizontal position. Drink up to 1.5 liters of fluid per day. It is advisable to drink one cup of green tea a day; it removes excess salts from the body. Your diet should not include fried foods or smoked foods, and use less salt. And stretch your legs in any free time. Stand on your tiptoes carefully, then lower yourself and do this 10 times. Rotate your feet left and right, and so on.
add to favorites link thank
If edema does occur at such a late stage, then you should go to the Pregnancy Pathology, where you will be under the supervision of doctors, you will be given a special diet.
During my second pregnancy, I had to go to the pathology department not only because of edema, but also because of a planned cesarean section. In the hospital, I kept a diary of the fluid and urine taken during the day, which allowed the doctors to find out whether excess fluid was retained in my body.
I also ate cottage cheese, it helped reduce swelling and if you lay on your back and put your legs on the wall, the swelling will slowly go away :)
Swelling during pregnancy is a very common phenomenon that almost all expectant mothers experience to one degree or another. What are the causes of edema? Can they be dangerous and in what cases? It's worth looking into this in more detail.
Pregnancy is a special period that entails serious changes in a woman’s body. Everything changes: the composition and volume of blood, skin, body and organs of the expectant mother. And these changes can sometimes be unique and surprising, but almost all of them (with the exception of pathologies) are due to the fact that nature has made sure that a woman can bear and give birth to a healthy baby.
When pregnancy is 37 weeks old, many women experience swelling. And this phenomenon is also a certain mechanism that helps the expectant mother bear the fetus. Thus, the body retains fluid in order to provide it to the unborn baby in case of a lack of water consumed by the pregnant woman.
It was found that this happens because the amount of sodium in the expectant mother’s body increases, which attracts and retains water (hence the craving for salty foods for some). Such amazing things happen in nature.
When you reach the 37th week of pregnancy, many people's legs and arms swell. But in what cases is this not dangerous, and in what cases can it pose a threat to the health of mother and baby? In general, you can identify excess fluid in the body yourself and at home. So, if you press your finger on the skin and watch for further changes, you can learn a lot.
If the swelling is very strong and obvious, then those around you will certainly notice it in appearance. In some particularly severe cases, it may be difficult for a pregnant woman to bend her fingers and move (shortness of breath occurs). All this adversely affects the health of mother and baby.
Can leg swelling be dangerous? Pregnancy of 37 weeks is a big load for the body, so excess fluid is an additional burden, which together can lead to serious consequences. It is worth listing the main possible dangers.
Excess fluid is an additional burden for the cardiovascular system, so it can also suffer.
There is also a threat to the fetus. So, there is a risk of hypoxia and nutritional deficiency.
When you are 37 weeks pregnant, swelling of the arms and legs can be dangerous, so they can and should be eliminated. But how? Firstly, you need to follow a certain diet. In particular, it is best to eat steamed dishes. It is better to avoid spicy, salty and fried foods. The total volume of fluid consumed should not exceed 1 liter (the exact amount must be determined by the doctor). In addition, at this stage, a woman’s body needs protein foods: meat, fish.
In conclusion, we can add that if the first signs of edema occur, you should inform your doctor so that he can assess the condition of the expectant mother and take all necessary measures to prevent serious problems that can result from excess fluid.
Unfortunately, many women experience swelling of the legs during pregnancy. Why does edema occur during pregnancy, what does this condition entail, and what to do about edema during pregnancy? Experts name various reasons and also give a lot of recommendations for correcting this condition - from changing diet to taking medication for edema during pregnancy.
Some pregnant women doubt whether they have edema. Of course, obvious swelling is difficult to miss. But there are still several signs that unmistakably indicate tissue swelling:
These signs indicate that excess fluid is accumulating in the body. It is not necessary that your legs will swell greatly, although this is the most common option. Sometimes, tissue pastiness occurs - this is what experts call hidden swelling.
In the morning, swelling is less noticeable, but by the end of the day it can already be pronounced. Most often, the legs swell, but swelling of the arms, abdomen and even the face also occurs quite often. On the legs, swelling is visible in the ankles, on the legs, and on the back of the feet. If you press with your finger in these places, a slowly leveling hole appears. Puffiness can also be determined by the appearance of the skin - it is tense, pale and smooth.
In addition to self-diagnosis, there are several options to identify swelling in the body. And in the future, find out how to reduce swelling during pregnancy. So, you can weigh yourself dynamically. If weight gain is uneven or a pregnant woman gains more than 300 grams per week, it is worth taking action. Particularly when you are 36 weeks pregnant, swelling can be dangerous.
Another research method is to measure the liquid consumed per day with urine excreted. If three quarters of the liquid drunk is released (tea, coffee and first courses are taken into account), then we can talk about the normal state of the body, but if much less, then the liquid is retained in the body.
Alternatively, you can periodically measure the circumference of your leg in one place or take a photo, tracking the dynamics. This dynamic measurement will allow you to track the increase in swelling of the legs.
In general, doctors prescribe a special examination for swelling. Especially in the later stages. Thus, the 37th week of pregnancy, accompanied by severe swelling, can be fraught with a significant deterioration in the woman’s health.
There are different opinions regarding swelling in pregnancy. Thus, foreign doctors believe that changes in the health status of pregnant women and, in particular, edema are a physiological phenomenon. And if there is no high blood pressure, as well as protein in the urine, then treatment for edema is not required. But Russian specialists always prescribe treatment for pregnant women. There is an opinion that swelling is the first stage of the development of gestosis. That is, after edema, high blood pressure and protein appear in the urine. And these three signs can put a pregnant woman at risk of life. Therefore, you need to know how to relieve swelling during pregnancy.
Doctors also note that not only pregnant tissue swells, but also fetal tissue, which can affect the development of the child.
(no rating yet, rate first)Loading.
Hip dysplasia is quite common.
It's probably hard to find a person who doesn't have...
Pregnancy is a special time for a woman. Not only.
The main thing with any disease is to diagnose it in time.
Legs are the most important parts of the human body.
Pregnancy is a condition that brings a lot of positive emotions for any woman. But during the period of bearing a child, a pregnant woman faces many problems. They require a mandatory solution, since if you do not pay attention to them, this will, to one degree or another, affect the health of the unborn child. When you are 38 weeks pregnant, your legs swell quite often.
However, a completely reasonable explanation can be found for the swelling that arose during this period. As pregnancy progresses, the uterus gradually increases in size. And with its large weight it puts excessive pressure on organs and blood vessels. This leads to the accumulation of excess fluid in certain areas of the body. However, despite the fact that swelling has a simple physiology, it still deserves attention. If you do not take measures to eliminate edema, their subsequent development will lead to serious consequences.
When you are 37 weeks pregnant, your legs swell, what to do - this is a completely natural question for every expectant mother. The resulting swelling is not only discomfort for the woman, but also a threat to the health of the baby. The fact is that often during pregnancy the weaker sex has to deal not with mild swelling, but with serious swelling, which quite often spreads to several parts of the body.
In such cases, swelling of the placenta occurs, which poses a threat to the life of the fetus, since swelling creates problems with the supply of oxygen to the fetus. Doctors call this condition gestosis. Its development occurs in a fairly short time. This is precisely where its main danger lies. In most cases, this condition ends in convulsions, and they can lead to the death of not only the mother, but also the child.
But even if gestosis does not appear, there is a high probability of hypertension. In some cases, swelling can result in thrombophlebitis. These are also not the best options. Therefore, if during pregnancy you notice swelling in yourself, you should definitely tell your doctor about it. He will examine you, and, if necessary, prescribe additional tests and, based on their results, give a referral for treatment.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy, swelling of the legs is also a common phenomenon. The occurrence of swelling has the same reasons as in other periods.
If an expectant mother at 35 weeks has edema due to excess weight, then she should pay close attention to her health. Indeed, in the presence of edema at such a period, the list of diseases is added to the list of diseases such as difficulty in the process of labor. Therefore, if such a problem arises, you need to immediately address it. Contact your doctor, and he will outline a treatment plan that will help cope with the ailment that has arisen.
In the last trimester of pregnancy, the uterus reaches a large size, as a result of which the risk of edema increases significantly.
If, having discovered swelling, nothing is done to eliminate it, then the consequences of such frivolity will be very sad. A vascular network will appear on the legs. In addition, hypertension and thrombophlebitis may develop. In addition, swelling interferes with the normal development of the fetus. Therefore, in order to avoid the consequences that appear as a result of the resulting edema, the treatment of this disease must be dealt with in the most serious manner.
A special diet allows you to eliminate severe swelling that occurs during pregnancy. Light physical activity can also help eliminate them. Swimming is also very effective in this matter. By reducing the amount of salty foods in your diet, you will cope with swelling faster, but it is better to completely eliminate such dishes from your diet.
Pregnant woman's feet are swollen
Usually the area of the feet and calf joints is affected; severe swelling is characterized by damage to the upper parts of the lower extremities ( legs , thighs ). In this case, when you press on the skin, a dent appears that does not disappear within a few seconds. Most often, swelling of the lower extremities in pregnant women occurs in the heat, especially if the second half of the gestation period occurs in the summer. Often this condition intensifies at the end of the day, with general fatigue and after heavy physical exertion.
Particular deterioration of the condition can be observed in the third trimester of pregnancy. You should not be negligent about this phenomenon - the root cause of edema is high blood pressure has a detrimental effect on the fetus . Thus, the unborn child does not receive enough nutrients through the blood vessels of the placenta, since blood flow in this case is obstructed. Constant hypertensive manifestations and, as a result, compression of the lumens of the veins, can lead to oxygen starvation or even fetal death. Every pregnant woman needs to know the dangers of swelling in order to take appropriate measures in time.
Domestic and foreign gynecologists and urologists agree that the main causes of this pathological condition are:
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy can also occur for secondary reasons, including:
A pregnant woman who regularly observes swelling in her lower extremities can try to reduce the pathology on her own before contacting a gynecologist. You can find out how to remove swelling without harm to your own health and the condition of the fetus by visiting any Internet resource dedicated to pregnancy and childbirth. Emergency care in this case may include:
- a diet that limits the consumption of salt, as well as smoked meats, spices and fried foods. Gastronomic restrictions of this kind help to establish the body’s salt balance, speed up metabolism, and reduce weight, which can significantly reduce blood pressure. It won’t be too late to adjust your diet even at 36-37 weeks of pregnancy.
- drinking enough fluid . Oddly enough, the body of a woman suffering from edema of the lower extremities is often dehydrated. Even in late stages of pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to consume 1-1.5 liters of water daily;
- light physical exercise . Physical education helps to get rid of congestion in the lower extremities, and also stimulates the motor activity of the fetus, as a result of which, changing the position of the baby can reduce the pressure on the pelvic vessels. A woman should attend gymnastics classes for pregnant women, as this will help obtain information on how to reduce swelling in the body tissues.
— effective rest . It consists in the need to adopt a horizontal body position as soon as the opportunity arises. A woman needs to rest with her legs raised above the bed using a bolster or pillow. Crossing your legs over your legs, especially when you are more than 36 weeks pregnant, is not recommended - this will impede blood circulation more rapidly, which contributes to the occurrence of varicose veins and thrombosis. The fetus is already quite large and during this period the load on the vessels increases many times over. - special massage . You can knead swollen legs with a cool stream of water from the shower and with your palms, rubbing special compounds into the skin. In both cases, the massage therapist will need to move from the feet to the thighs to restore restricted blood flow. All these measures taken together are good in the early stages of pregnancy as a preventive measure against swelling.
A pregnant woman's buttocks are swollen
If it is not possible to eliminate the pathological condition on your own, the woman will have to be treated with conservative methods. As a rule, the obstetrician-gynecologist is faced with the task of moderating the effect or even completely stopping the causes of edema, so the doctor, together with the therapist, takes comprehensive measures to reduce the overall level of blood pressure in the patient’s body.
For this, the pregnant woman is prescribed a strict diet that limits salt intake, an optimal drinking regimen, as well as pharmaceutical antihypertensive drugs suitable for the gestational age, taking into account individual tolerance. Medicines can be prescribed to the patient as early as 24 weeks of pregnancy. In severe cases, a pregnant woman may need hospitalization with further infusion of medications. If the patient’s blood pressure level does not tend to stabilize, and the pregnancy has reached 38 weeks, the gynecologist may decide on an emergency caesarean section or stimulation of labor.
The doctor may also recommend folk remedies, for example, using herbal decoctions or applying cold cabbage leaves to the affected areas. Acupuncture and manual therapy give good results. It is important for a woman to understand that both conservative treatment and alternative methods of treating swelling should be monitored by the attending physician. Self-medication or relying on reviews from patients with similar symptoms of the disease during pregnancy is unacceptable.
This article will discuss what needs to be done at 37 weeks of pregnancy if a woman is bothered by severe swelling.
When a woman is pregnant, during this entire period it is considered normal for her to gain weight from 10 to 12 kilograms, but, unfortunately, in practice, this is not always the case, since it happens that a woman gains 20 kilograms, and sometimes more. Half of the weight a woman gains during pregnancy consists of water. The fluid that a woman consumes accumulates in connective tissues, as well as in fatty tissue, so at 37 weeks of pregnancy, swelling becomes normal.
In order to get rid of edema, you should observe what foods they appear after consuming, since these products help delay the removal of excess fluid from a woman’s body. Quite often, women notice that the condition of their skin has changed, and it begins to lose its former elasticity and becomes loose. They also note that in the evening their feet often swell, so they have to wear larger shoes so that nothing presses on them.
When a woman is 37 weeks pregnant and her swelling does not go away overnight, this is a bad sign. If this occurs, you should immediately inform your doctor.
During each appointment, all doctors weigh pregnant women, and if the pregnancy is progressing normally, weight gain will be gradual. But if the weight is gained spasmodically, then this will indicate that there is a possibility that the woman will experience swelling.
In order to get rid of puffiness, you can use various means that our grandmothers used, as they are the most effective. Currently, you can use the following herbal decoctions: Brusniver. This drug helps remove excess fluid from the body and thereby prevent the appearance of edema. In addition, during pregnancy you do not need to drink a lot of liquid, and it is best to move more often and be in the fresh air. If it is very hot outside, you do not need to go outside, as the feeling of thirst will increase and you will definitely experience swelling. You also don’t need to overload yourself with physical activity, as this can also cause swelling. In order to relieve swelling after exercise, you need to lie down for 15-20 minutes on your left side and everything will go away. Swelling that is associated with exercise does not require additional treatment.
In conclusion, I would like to say that you need to be extremely attentive to your body and if swelling appears, you should consult a doctor.
Most pregnant women are susceptible to edema. But before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out what is the cause of constant swelling. Why pregnant women's legs swell and how to deal with this problem, we will tell you in this article.
Most often, swelling is associated with increased needs for water. The volume of amniotic fluid gradually increases, and more blood is needed. Changed hormonal levels often provoke severe thirst. As a result, a woman is racking her brains, deciding how to get rid of swelling in her legs during pregnancy. As a rule, the body itself retains water, storing it for future use. This is normal. But there are other reasons for which it is necessary to undergo examination:
The question of how to get rid of swelling in the legs during pregnancy should definitely be asked to your gynecologist. Only he will be able to determine whether swelling is normal or pathological. If a woman is not susceptible to chronic diseases, discomfort can be significantly reduced by using standard recommendations that are useful for any pregnant woman. So, what should you do during pregnancy so that your legs don’t swell so much:
Pregnancy is a very important and responsible period in a woman’s life. But the entire period of bearing a child proceeds differently for everyone. Many of them may experience leg swelling during pregnancy. Such manifestations in some cases may be the norm, while others may indicate the presence of some pathology in the body.
It should be noted that most women suffer from swelling of the legs during pregnancy. The reasons for their appearance may be hormonal changes that contribute to the accumulation of fluid in the body, poor nutrition, hot periods, and stressful conditions. Basically, this kind of swelling is small in volume, with a feeling of heaviness in the legs. But they go away on their own. Well, if this is associated with serious disorders and diseases, then you should definitely consult a doctor.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy appears not only on the legs, but also on the arms. With swelling of the legs, heaviness in the legs occurs, wearing the same shoes becomes simply uncomfortable, as they can put pressure, or it will become impossible to put them on at all. Jewelry on your hands and fingers will also cause discomfort. Swelling of the legs, if they are also hidden, is determined by comparing the volume of fluid that the pregnant woman consumed during the day and the daily volume of urine output. Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is also determined by the weight gained above normal. Basically, swelling is observed in the afternoon, when all the liquid flows down and eventually accumulates in the legs. When you press your finger on the swollen area, you can find a depressed hole under the skin, and the skin itself will become pale and tense.
To prevent swelling of the legs during pregnancy, it is recommended:
Monitor the amount of fluid you drink throughout the day. No more than two liters!
Don't overeat! Small snacks five or six times a day. The diet is varied, including many different vitamins.
During the entire period of pregnancy, a woman is “allowed” to gain no more than 12 kilograms. But this is a conditional figure and in reality, expectant mothers can gain more than 20 kilograms.
Most of the accumulated kilograms come from fluid retained in the woman’s body. It is not distributed quite evenly and most often at 37-38 weeks swelling of the legs forms. Of course, the problem may occur earlier.
Swelling at 37 and 38 weeks - do they pose a threat? What can you do? The first thing a pregnant woman does during a routine examination is weigh herself. Rapid weight gain may indicate the development of fluid retention, which in the later stages, in particular at week 37, is often a symptom of late toxicosis or gestosis.
But such a diagnosis is made not only on the basis of swelling of the legs. As a rule, gestosis is accompanied by high blood pressure and the obligatory presence of protein in the urine. And only after this the gynecologist determines the stage of the pathology and selects treatment adequate to the woman’s condition.
If there are no signs of gestosis, then the edema of the 37th week is caused by physiological reasons. For example, a significantly increased uterus can put pressure on the vessels of the circulatory and lymphatic systems of the pelvis. The result is a deterioration in blood circulation and lymph flow. The result is the development of edema of the lower extremities.
Significant weight gain and the resulting increasing load on the legs is another physiological reason for the formation of swelling. That is why doctors strongly recommend that a woman reconsider her diet with the onset of pregnancy.
The diet should be higher in calories, but this figure increases slightly. It is important to remember that you cannot follow any diets during pregnancy!
The cause of swelling at 37 weeks of pregnancy may be hormonal changes typical for the gestation period. Excessive levels of female hormones in the body contribute to fluid retention. All unnecessary water will be eliminated naturally by the kidneys after the baby is born.
To avoid the development of swelling at 37 weeks, it is recommended to slightly limit fluid intake. But not too much, since the body can give a completely opposite reaction. Restricting drinking will “force” him to stock up on fluids, which will result in even more swelling.
Drawing a conclusion, we can say that physiological edema at 37 weeks does not pose a danger to a woman.
The 38th week of pregnancy is a rather difficult period for a woman, since childbirth is already close. And a common complaint when visiting a gynecologist is swelling of the legs. There may be several reasons for this. Conventionally, doctors divide them into pathological and physiological.
Severe swelling in the legs at 38 gestational weeks can be a bad sign and cannot be called normal. It is likely that the doctor will prescribe a woman an ultrasound of her kidneys and a blood test.
Physiological edema at 38 weeks of pregnancy can be caused by the following:
Swelling of the lower extremities, formed for these reasons, is a conditional norm.
But not all the reasons for swelling of the legs at 38 weeks are so cloudless. Sometimes this is a symptom of the onset of gestosis (it is also called dropsy of pregnancy). But in the initial stage, dropsy does not pose a danger, since all excess fluid will disappear naturally after the birth of the child.
Severe gestosis poses a clear threat to both the baby and his mother. The basis for suspecting the development of pathology will be not only severe swelling, but also the presence of other indirect signs:
Despite the fact that physiological edema does not pose a danger to a woman, if it intensifies, it can provoke an increase in blood pressure. Severe swelling requires hospitalization. And already in a hospital setting, the woman will be prescribed medication.
Most often, to eliminate edema, a pregnant woman is recommended to follow a diet. It is advisable to avoid fried/smoked/salty foods and dishes. The use of salt should be kept to a minimum, since it is what contributes to fluid retention in the body.
The gynecologist may recommend that the expectant mother drink decoctions of diuretic herbs. Plants such as bear's ears, lingonberry and bearberry leaves, and horsetail give a good effect. The daily norm is a glass of infusion of any of the listed herbs, which should be drunk during the day in several doses.
The total duration of herbal treatment is no longer than a month. You must first consult with the gynecologist leading the pregnancy.
As a rule, diuretic tablets are not prescribed during pregnancy, but sometimes there are exceptions. The gynecologist may opt for drugs based on natural ingredients, for example, Cyston.
Such drugs give a good diuretic result, normalizing the excretory functions of the kidneys, but the drug cannot be used without a doctor’s prescription. They have many side effects and can be bad for the unborn baby.
Sometimes the causes of swelling of the legs are uteroplacental blood flow. To eliminate these, the gynecologist may prescribe magnesium, vitamin E and lipoic acid.
In addition, you need to adjust your daily routine. You should get at least nine hours of sleep. You need to set aside time for long walks in the fresh air and exercise.
To eliminate physiological edema caused by an enlarged uterus, a simple exercise will help. The pregnant woman should take the knee-elbow position and hold it for 10 minutes.
It could be less. At this moment, the uterus stops putting pressure on the ureter, and urine is able to pass from the renal pelvis into the bladder.
You need to get plenty of rest during the day. Doctors recommend lying on your side rather than your back. It is helpful to place a pillow under your feet to keep them elevated. This position also helps drain fluid that has accumulated in the ankle area.
In order not to provoke swelling, you need to give up coffee. It is best to consume pure water with lemon juice added. You can also drink cranberry or lingonberry juice. Drinks quench thirst well and at the same time have a diuretic effect.
Do not neglect the doctor’s requests to drink less fluid, believing that swelling is the norm. In severe cases, this phenomenon can threaten the health of the expectant mother and child. The consequences can be very serious and dire, it is better to listen to your doctor!
If everything immediately returned to its original shape, then most likely the swelling is not severe. If a dent remains, this indicates excess fluid. A sudden increase in weight should alert you. Sometimes swelling is not noticeable externally, but this makes it no less dangerous (and even more so). If the internal organs swell, then their work deteriorates, which leads to insufficient supply of everything necessary to the fetus (and this is not good). This can be found out through simple calculations and calculations.
In particular, the doctor will advise you to count the volume of liquid you drink per day (including juices, soups and compotes) and the volume of urine excreted (this is done using a container with a measuring scale applied to it). The quantities are then compared and a conclusion is made about the presence or absence of edema.
There are several causes of edema: excess salt, sedentary lifestyle, as well as malfunctions of the kidneys and cardiovascular system.
The kidneys may not be able to cope with the excess fluid, resulting in their functioning being disrupted, which can lead to many problems.
Swelling can cause pressure surges, which is dangerous and not at all desirable during pregnancy (especially in the last stages).
There is a threat of gestosis, which is dangerous due to preeclampsia and eclampsia - conditions that can lead to the death of the pregnant woman and the fetus.
You should also avoid sweet or carbonated drinks. If you have swelling, it is undesirable to stay in one position for a long time. You need to change your position and try to move more; in the morning, without getting out of bed, you can raise your legs up. If the swelling is severe, the doctor may prescribe a diuretic. There are many herbal preparations: kidney tea, Brusniver, Orthosiphon. All this is sold in pharmacies and comes in the convenient form of tea bags.
To avoid gestosis (the 37th week of pregnancy is not the best time for this) and other complications, it is better to prevent swelling in advance. To do this, you should eat right (less salty, fried and spicy) and follow a drinking regime (no more than a liter per day). Also, you should not lie on the sofa or spend the whole day in a sitting position. Movement is life and an important point in preventing fluid retention. If these rules are followed, swelling will not be a problem at 37 weeks.
If a woman has gained 10 kilograms while carrying a baby, then about 5 of them are edema. Fluid is retained in almost all tissues except bone. During pregnancy, the total volume of fluid in the body increases by about 40%.