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Swelling or edema in pregnancy is a common occurrence, but when should swelling during pregnancy be a concern? Pregnancy swelling usually occurs in the feet, legs, and fingers.
During the second trimester, the body experiences some changes, including foot swelling due to pregnancy.
This is usually a benign symptom of pregnancy that occurs as your body provides your baby with nutrients. Some first-time pregnant women may find it difficult to differentiate between a normal swelling and a serious one. But whether it is normal or serious, swelling during pregnancy can be uncomfortable and may affect a pregnant woman’s regular activities at home or work.
What Causes Swollen Feet?
Swelling in the feet can occur during pregnancy due to excess fluid in the body and pressure on the developing uterus. Other factors that may cause swelling in pregnancy are diet, standing or walking for long periods, and inadequate water intake. This swelling may increase as a woman’s due date approaches, or in some cases, during a very hot season.
You should seek immediate medical assistance and try some simple ways to ease and lessen edema.
What Causes Swollen Hands?
Extra fluid may also build up in your hands due to hormone changes, causing them to become larger so that you can no longer rock your day-to-day jewelry. During pregnancy, your adrenal glands produce more aldosterone and cortisol which help the body retain fluids.
This is typically no cause for alarm because high fluid retention in your hand is common, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. However, if the swelling becomes worse in the hands or moves to the face, it is advisable to get an evaluation with your doctor.
In some cases, swelling can also happen in the wrists. This swelling may be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, a serious nerve condition that is very common during pregnancy. Another cause of swollen hands during pregnancy is high blood pressure, which is a major problem if there are other symptoms like blurred vision and headaches.
Home Remedies for Swollen Feet During Pregnancy
Swelling of the feet in pregnancy may or may not be painful, although it can be uncomfortable. Luckily, you can try these home remedies; they’re our top tips on how to reduce swelling in feet during pregnancy.
1. Reduce Your Sodium Intake
Salt primarily contains sodium, which helps your body hold enough water for proper cell functioning. However, you should avoid canned or processed foods because they contain a high amount of sodium. You may also want to avoid adding extra table salt to your meals.
A study shows that pregnant women who eat more than 3,700 milligrams of sodium in a day have a 54% greater risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. It may be best to use healthy and natural salty herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and oregano to add flavor to your meals.
2. Increase Your Potassium Intake
A lack of potassium could worsen the swelling in your body during pregnancy. One of the roles of potassium is to balance out the amount of fluid your body retains.
You should add good food sources of potassium, which include potatoes, spinach, bananas, yogurt, beans, salmon, and lentils, to your diet. Some prenatal vitamins and supplements can provide your body with extra potassium.
3. Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
A little caffeine may not harm your pregnancy; however, in excess, it is not healthy for you and your baby. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it increases the production of urine, making your body feel like it needs to hold more fluid. In most cases, it could worsen your feet swelling in pregnancy.
You may want to drink decaf coffee with milk instead or try an herbal tea for your much needed energy boost.
4. Wear Waist-High Compression Stockings
If you cannot avoid standing for long periods during pregnancy, try wearing waist-high compression stockings. They are as good as they sound, and they are available in multiple colors, so they won’t look out of place with your outfits. These stockings gently squeeze your feet and legs to ensure the flow of fluid around your body.
Waist-high compression stockings are preferred to knee-high compression stockings because the latter may be too tight in the middle of your leg, worsening the swelling.
5. Stay Hydrated
This may sound counterintuitive, but drinking plenty of water helps to reduce swelling in the feet during pregnancy. If your body shows any signs of dehydration, it will hold on to more fluid to replace what it has lost.
For this reason, you need to drink at least 10 cups of water each day to keep your body well hydrated. To make it easier to drink, you can add flavors like mint, lemon, or berries to your water.
6. Lift Your Feet When You Rest
You may have a lot of things to do in preparation for the arrival of your baby, but it is advisable to sit and lift your feet when you can. Of course, sitting all day reduces your body’s circulation, but standing all the time is also bad for you and your unborn child. Lifting your feet after a long day can help drain fluid that has accumulated in your legs over the day.
7. Try Loose and Comfortable Clothes
Whether you are pregnant or not, wearing tight clothes on your ankles and wrists can cause swelling. The tight elastic bands in the cloth may stop the free flow of blood around your body. Wear maternity maxi dresses and free cardigans with joggers, as both outfits are not only comfortable but also cute.
8. Get a Foot Massage
Massages always feel great at the end of a long day and will even do a good job of reducing swelling in your feet during pregnancy. The massage helps with fluid and blood flow, as they may build up to cause swelling. You could ask your partner to give you gentle foot massages while bonding together.
9. Stay Cool
As a pregnant woman, it’s quite risky to stay indoors all day during the hot weather. You could try some of the outdoor exercises that will keep you feeling cool and relaxed. This is also a great way to reduce foot swelling during pregnancy. Feel free to put on cool clothing and cold compresses on your feet.
Home Remedies for Swollen Hands During Pregnancy
Here are a few natural remedies to help you reduce swelling in your hands during pregnancy.
1. Sleep on Your Left Side
As a pregnant woman, your doctor may have given you the advice to sleep on your left side. Others may ask, “Why?”
This sleep position relieves the pressure on the inferior vena cava, a large vein that transports deoxygenated blood from the lower part of your body to the right atrium of your heart. It also moves nutrients in your blood from your heart to the placenta for your baby’s healthy growth.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you may be in danger if you occasionally sleep on your right side. Just try to sleep on the left when you can.
2. Hydrate Regularly
One more time, drinking plenty of water is a great way to reduce your body’s hold on fluid by cleaning it out.You can also take a swim or relax with your feet in the water. The water will both relax you and keep you cool, helping you stay hydrated.
3. Use Compression Gloves and Sleeves
You can use compression gloves or sleeves to avoid hand swelling during pregnancy. It even works better when you put them on in the morning before the swelling starts. However, do not wear anything that stops fluid or blood at the ankle or wrist.
4. Consider Taking Herbal Tea
In addition to the diverse flavor profile that herbal tea offers, it also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce inflammation or swelling.
You could try various types of tea, including ginger, chamomile, and rose petal tea. Chamomile, in particular, is a soothing herb, free of caffeine, that leaves a calming effect on tissues.
5. Speak to a Doctor
If you notice symptoms that are not mild, including pain and a high fever, reach out to a doctor for help. They can provide the best medical advice and home remedies on how to reduce swelling during pregnancy.
When Should Swelling During Pregnancy Be a Concern?
This is a great question! Swelling may be seen as a common condition in pregnant women, but if it is sudden and severe, it may be a sign of preeclampsia. It is no longer something to take lightly.
If you have preeclampsia, you will see swellings in the hands, feet, or face, which will also come with a negative change in your blood pressure. Other symptoms you may notice are vomiting, body pain, nausea, weight gain, blurry vision, anxiety, and hyperreflexia.
When there is a build-up of fluid in a nerve in your hand, it could cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This nerve is responsible for what you feel in your middle, index fingers, and thumb.
Visit the doctor if you feel pain, numbness, or tingling alongside the swelling in your hands. Whatever the case may be, let your doctor know how your hands feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have preeclampsia, you will have severe or large swelling in your face, around your eyes, or in your hands. Other common signs you may not see include the presence of protein in the urine, bad liver function, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure.
A typical pregnancy swelling may last up to a week and will gradually go away when your body gets rid of the fluid stored during pregnancy.
Not necessarily. However, swelling during pregnancy worsens when a woman’s labor date is close.
Hey, i just read about the waist-high compression stockings for swollen feet. Does anyone know where i can find ones that are comfortable but not too pricey? thanks in advance.
Really appreciate the section on reducing caffeine intake. As an athlete, I understand the importance of hydration, and it’s great to see it applied in this context. Great job, Vitamins For Woman.
Love the natural approach to managing swelling during pregnancy. Herbal tea for swollen hands seems like a fantastic idea. Has anyone tried particular blends that worked well?
I’ve used ginger and lemon tea for inflammation and it works wonders. Not just for pregnancy, but in general.
Any tips for super swollen feet? I’m trying everything but nothing’s working. Maybe I’m missing something here?
The advice on staying cool to manage swelling is spot-on. I’ve noticed a huge difference just by avoiding the heat. Thanks for the tips, Vitamins For Woman. Anyone have other summer pregnancy tricks?
lol, guess i gotta turn the ac up for my wife then. gaming in the cold it is
In the discussion regarding the reduction of sodium intake to alleviate swollen feet, it’s crucial to consider the body’s overall electrolyte balance. Hypothetically, if one were to drastically reduce sodium without adjusting other electrolytes, could this not potentially lead to other health issues? It’s a topic that warrants further investigation, perhaps.