How to Treat Swelling During Pregnancy

Edema, also referred to as swelling in the feet, normally occurs in the latter part of pregnancy. Edema results from the extra blood accumulated during pregnancy. The enlarging uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvis and legs causing circulation to slow down and blood to pool in the lower extremities. The total water fluid in the body remains the same as before pregnancy, however it becomes displaced. When feet are swollen, they can become purplish in color. Sometimes extra water is retained during pregnancy, adding to the swelling. About 25 percent of the weight you gain during pregnancy is due to excess fluids.If there is swelling in the face or hands, a doctor should be contacted immediately.If you experience sudden swelling of your hands or face, contact your doctor. This may be a sign of preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.

• Step 1 

Drink lots of water. According to Parenttime.com, hydration is more important than ever during pregnancy, when extra fluids are needed to nourish your baby. By drinking more water than usual, you can avoid excess water retention, which adds to your swelling. BabyCenter.com recommends drinking 6 to 8 cups, or 46 to 64 fluid ounces, of water per day while you're pregnant.This keeps the kidneys functioning properly.

• Step 2 

Remove rings or wristwatches. These pieces of jewelry may be useful or meaningful to you, but if you're experiencing swollen fingers or wrists, they may increase your discomfort. Parenttime.com recommends leaving them off for the duration of your pregnancy if you suffer from swelling, and also avoiding clothes that might be tight around your wrists.

Keep your legs elevated whenever possible. And don't cross your legs! Any time you get off your feet, pressure is reduced on the inferior vena cava and the iliac veins, so the blood can get back up and not pool in the extremities. Renal blood flow is improved as well.

• Step 3 

Exercise. Parenttime.com reports that exercising will improve your circulation and help stabilize your weight, both of which can help with swelling. BabyCenter.com recommends activities such as walking or riding an exercise bike. Two especially useful forms of exercise are swimming or water aerobics. Soaking in water, particularly if the level is up to your shoulders, can temporarily relieve swelling.
Women who exercise have fewer symptoms of the common problems associated with pregnancy, including swelling. It seems to redistribute the retained fluids. Brisk walking is the best form of exercise for pregnancy.

• Step 4 

Hold cold compresses on the swollen areas to soothe them. The American Pregnancy Association reports that this can provide relief from the discomfort of swelling. If it's summertime, you should also avoid spending too much time outside.

• Step 5 

Eat to avoid swelling. Certain foods, such as salt, promote water retention, whether you are pregnant or not. Avoid foods high in sodium and instead seek out foods rich in potassium, which can help reduce swelling, according to Parenttime.com. Among these foods are bananas, dried fruits and nuts. You should also cut back on caffeine; most likely your doctor will advise this as a general pregnancy precaution. Caffeine also may cause dehydration, which can lead to fluid retention.

• Step 6

Wear support stockings. If swelling is a big problem for you support stockings, designed for pregnancy, can be helpful. Make sure you are fitted properly and wear them according to the directions.

See your care provider regularly. Make sure you check in every week until your baby is born. Swelling could precede other symptoms of preeclampsia.

Read more:

Your feet change during pregnancy

The risk of overweight gain during pregancy

How much weight should I gain in each trimester?

The majority of your weight should be gained in the second and third trimester. In your first trimester you may find that you do not gain weight and some actually lose weight. This is not ideal, but it is also not abnormal. You should attempt to eat small, frequent meals. This should help with adequate weight gain. You should expect to gain 3 to 5 pounds in your first trimester.

Your second and third trimesters, you should expect more rapid weight gain, typically 10 to 15 pounds in each trimester.

Gaining more than the recommended weight during pregnancy can put women at increased risk of becoming obese and developing related health problems, including high blood pressure, later in life. These are the latest findings from researchers at the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)/Children of the 90s at the University of Bristol.

Weight gain during pregnancy is necessary for the growth and development of the fetus but the study, which looked at the health of 3,877 women 16 years after they gave birth, found that those who gained more than the recommended weight during pregnancy (by 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines) were three times as likely to be overweight or obese or to develop central adiposity (become apple shaped). Correspondingly, women whose weight gain during pregnancy was low were at lower risk of becoming overweight or obese and developing associated health problems.

Women who were underweight or within the normal range before pregnancy had average weight gains of 12.7 and 12.9 kilos respectively, well within the respective recommended ranges of 12.5-18 and 11.5-16.0 kilos, but women who were overweight gained on average 11.9 kilos, and obese women gained 10.1 kilos, both well over the recommended 7-11.5 and 5-9 kilos, respectively.

The study compared the women's pre-pregnancy weight with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure 16 years' later and adjusted for age, sex of the child, social class, parity, smoking, physical activity and diet in pregnancy, method of delivery, and whether the mother breastfed.

Dr Abigail Fraser, the report's main author, said:
'Our findings suggest that regular monitoring of weight in pregnancy may need to be reconsidered because it provides a window of opportunity to prevent health problems later in life.'

The full results and accompanying editorial are published in the June 2011 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.


Read more:
How to keep right weight during pregnancy

Weight gain during pregancy