Swelling During Pregnancy: Causes & Remedies

Swelling (oedema) is triggered by increased pressure in the veins of your legs, and by pressure from your growing baby on the big veins in your groin. Water retention also adds to the problem.

Swelling is quite common as about half of all pregnant women experience swelling around their ankles, particularly in the last few months of pregnancy. You may find your fingers, face and lower back become swollen too.

The swelling in your legs usually gets worse as the day progresses, especially if you are on your feet a lot. Gravity makes the fluid build at the lowest point. Hot weather and being tired can also make swelling worse. You’ll probably have oedema in your feet and ankles, and in both legs.

Call your doctor or midwife if the swelling:

• Moves up your calf and leaves an indentation when pressed or is sudden or severe in your face, hands or feet. If this happens in your third trimester, it could mean that you have pre-eclampsia.
• Occurs only in one leg, particularly if your calf is red, tender and lumpy. These can be symptoms of a blood clot in your vein (thrombosis).

If your wrists and hands are swollen, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, which is when the swelling compresses the channel of nerves running up your arm.

Your swelling is likely to become temporarily worse in the first three or four days after your baby’s birth. As your body recovers after birth, all the extra tissue, blood vessels and fluid needed during pregnancy now need to be dissolved and expelled. This makes you wee a lot more, though your kidneys won’t yet be able to cope with the extra fluid. Some of the fluid will build up in the tissues around your body until it can be passed out of your body.

How can I prevent swelling?

It may not be possible to prevent some swelling from developing, but you can prevent it from becoming severe. Severe swelling can make your legs painful and your skin tender. Try to eat a balanced diet so that you put on a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy. Your diet should include a small amount of lean protein such as meat, poultry, eggs, beans and pulses, with each meal.

Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Aim to reduce how much salt, sugar and fat you have and drink plenty of water to help your kidneys to filter the excess fluid. Some foods may help to maintain good kidney function and make you wee more (natural diuretics). These include  apples and citrus fruits. Onions and garlic may help to improve your circulation.  Try to avoid eating pre-packaged, highly processed foods that contain both salt and other additives, as these can make fluid retention worse. Opt for foods which are naturally rich in vitamins C and E.

Good sources of vitamin C include:

• citrus fruits
• green and red peppers
• melons
• potatoes
• tomatoes
• strawberries
• cabbage
• broccoli

Foods rich in vitamin E include:

• vegetable oils (especially corn, soy and wheatgerm oil)
• sunflower seeds
• wheatgerm
• sweetcorn
• cashews and almonds
• corn oil margarine

Smoking may contribute to your swelling, which is another good reason to quit during pregnancy.

What tips can I try to ease swelling?

Rest as much as possible, putting your feet up above your hips by resting them on a stool. Try not to cross your legs, as this restricts your blood flow. Sit down when you can, and if your work involves standing for long periods of time, move about from one foot to the other to increase blood flow.

Ask your partner to massage your feet and legs gently, using both hands and working upwards from feet to knees, using a base oil. However, if your legs are excessively swollen and the skin is very tight, this may be too painful for you.

Avoid using aromatherapy essential oils for massage, but you can add them to a bowl of water and soak your feet in the mixture. Cypress oil is particularly good for circulation and varicose veins. Lavender and camomile oil may ease your discomfort and make you feel more relaxed.

You could try placing green or white cabbage leaves on the swollen area to draw out excess fluid and relieve your discomfort. The leaves should be wiped clean but not washed, and may be cooled in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer.

Wrap the leaves around the most swollen parts of your legs and feet to make a compress. Leave them until they become wet, then repeat with fresh leaves until the pain is reduced. Repeat this as often as necessary until you feel more comfortable.

Dandelion tea, a herbal remedy, may help to prevent fluid retention, but don’t take this if you have a gall bladder condition. Always drink herbal teas in moderation during pregnancy.

Source: BabyCenter