Swelling of the legs during pregnancy causes treatment. Edema during pregnancy, what to do? Non-traditional methods of treatment

About 80 percent of pregnant women experience edema sooner or later. Why does this happen, how to minimize the risk of edema, and is it worth panicking if they do occur?

Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid in body tissues. They can be explicit and internal (hidden), have a physiological or pathological nature.

Causes of edema in pregnant women

Pregnancy. Changes in hormonal levels and a growing uterus are factors contributing to the appearance of edema. With multiple pregnancies, the risk of having edema increases significantly.
Emerging or aggravated health problems.
Bad habits.
Overweight.
Wrong nutrition.
Prolonged standing or sitting position.
Age 35 and over.

Edema during pregnancy, stages

At the first stage, the legs swell during pregnancy: shins, feet.
At the second stage, swelling of the hips and abdomen joins the above.
In the third stage, swelling extends to the hands, wrists. The face becomes puffy.
The fourth stage is general edema.

The nature of the occurrence of edema during pregnancy

The physiological nature of edema

Man is 80 percent water. During pregnancy, a woman normally gains 10-12 kg, half of which is water. In the tissues and blood of the expectant mother, the content of sodium, which retains fluid, increases. With the growth of the fetus, the pressure of the uterus on the small vena cava and ureters increases, which contributes to the deterioration of fluid discharge. Therefore, swelling during pregnancy in the later stages is such a common occurrence.

Slight swelling of the legs, feet, which manifests itself closer to the second half of the day and passes after a night's sleep, is not a reason for panic. Toward the end of pregnancy, women may swell the labia. This is also a variant of the norm.

Physiological edema also includes swelling of the tissues of the nose, followed by difficulty in breathing.

Pathological nature of edema

Renal edema during pregnancy

The kidneys of pregnant women have a colossal load. Renal edema may develop due to the onset or exacerbation of kidney disease during pregnancy. Such edema is localized, mainly on the face: it becomes puffy, the eyelids swell. The wrists and hands may also swell.
A protein that appears in the urine of a pregnant woman also indicates a violation of the kidneys.

Heart edema during pregnancy

In a pregnant woman, the volume of blood increases by 40-50 percent. Consequently, the load on the "pump" that makes it circulate - the heart - increases significantly.
Cardiac edema is characterized by a downward trend. If a woman is in a standing position, then her legs will swell during pregnancy. In the supine position, swelling will be prone to the stomach or back.
With edema of this kind, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, persistent palpitations are also observed.

Internal swelling during pregnancy

Internal edema is not visible to the naked eye, but is a danger to the development of the baby. The fact is that with a latent form of edema, the uterus, placenta and abdominal wall most often swell. Edematous placenta can compress the vessels of the umbilical cord, which will lead to placental insufficiency.

Puffiness as a manifestation of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy, which is the main cause of maternal mortality and increases the risk of fetal / child death in the first week after birth by 5-7 times.
Severe edema during pregnancy, both external and internal, along with proteinuria and high blood pressure, are classic symptoms of late toxicosis.

Edema during pregnancy, diagnosis

Daily diuresis

When carrying out diuresis, the volume of absorbed, taking into account liquid dishes and fruits, and the volume of liquids excreted, are calculated, minus the first morning urine, which refers to the previous day. About 75 percent of the absorbed fluid must be excreted from the body with urine. A significantly lower rate indicates that the fluid has been retained in the tissues.
For greater information content, it is recommended to conduct a study 3 days in a row.

McClure-Aldrich test

In everyday life it is called a blister test. To conduct a study, a woman is injected intradermally into the inner side of the forearm with 0.2 ml of a sterile solution of sodium chloride at a concentration of 0.8%. As a result, a tubercle forms on the skin, the texture resembling a lemon peel. Normally, this tubercle resolves in an hour. With latent edema, the resorption time decreases in direct proportion to the degree of edema.

The test is carried out on an empty stomach, the patient should be in a sitting or lying position.
Currently, blister testing is rarely performed due to the duration of the study.

Examination of limbs

The swelling may cause numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes.
With swelling, the circumference of the ankle increases by a centimeter or more.
When pressing on the swollen limb, the resulting “dent” does not immediately straighten out.
Swollen feet give out deep rubber marks after wearing socks or golf.
Swollen hands are indicated by difficulty putting on or taking off rings. Women who have swollen fingers during pregnancy are not recommended to wear rings.

Tracking weight gain

According to WHO standards, weekly weight gain in the second half of pregnancy for women with a normal body mass index should be about 230 grams. Sudden changes in body weight or a set of more than 350 grams may indicate the presence of edema.

Physiological swelling during pregnancy prevention and treatment

Physiological edema does not require medical treatment. In order to minimize the risk of such edema, it is enough to follow simple recommendations.

healthy eating

Nutrition plays a very important role in the fight against edema. During pregnancy, it is necessary to exclude all kinds of pickles, smoked meats, spicy foods, carbonated drinks and limit the use of sweets.
The volume of liquid, contrary to popular belief, should not be greatly reduced. For the normal functioning of the body of a pregnant woman, you need to consume about one and a half liters of fluid per day, taking into account first courses and watery fruits. A strong reduction in the volume of fluid entering inside can have the exact opposite effect - the body will begin to “store” water, and swelling will only intensify. For the same reason, salt should not be completely excluded from the diet.
It is useful to arrange unloading vegetable and milk days.

Mobile lifestyle, gymnastics

The only reason why you should exclude physical activity during pregnancy is the threat of interruption. In other cases, light physical activity will only benefit.

To prevent or combat edema, special fitness or water aerobics for expectant mothers, swimming, and not too long walks are well suited. Even a banal daily exercise will bear fruit.
Pregnant women who have a sedentary, sedentary job are advised, as far as possible, to raise and place their legs on a chair during the working day for a better outflow of fluid.
Due to the repeated repetition of the same actions, hands swell during pregnancy. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the time spent at the computer, modeling, knitting, etc. Or, in extreme cases, do not forget to take breaks and do hand exercises.
A popular exercise to combat edema, in which a woman lies on the floor and, raising her legs high, rests them against the wall. In the second half of pregnancy, it must be modernized by placing a solid roller under the woman's buttocks. Otherwise, due to the pressure of the grown uterus on the small vena cava, the outflow of venous blood will be difficult.
To prevent or combat swelling and relieve the back, you can do the exercise "cat".

Not bad reduces the load on the kidneys and a static stay in the knee-elbow position. To achieve a tangible effect, you need to perform several approaches every day for 10-15 minutes.
Resting during long periods of pregnancy is most useful on the left side.

Wearing a bandage, compression stockings

A properly selected bandage supports the growing pregnant belly in the correct position, which reduces the risk of edema.
Wearing compression stockings, stockings or tights will be useful if you are prone to varicose veins, which are often accompanied by swelling. A phlebologist will help determine the required degree of compression.
The bandage and compression underwear should be put on correctly in the prone position.

Proper footwear

The risk of swelling is greater when wearing inappropriate shoes. Correct footwear: in size, has a stable heel with a height of 3 to 5 centimeters, stable. There are no tight straps on the leg.

Getting rid of bad habits

Bad habits during pregnancy can not only harm the health of the baby, but also provoke the appearance of edema.
Nicotine harms all organs and systems of the human body. The closest relationship between smoking and varicose veins, which, in turn, contributes to the development of swelling.

One of the causes of edema, oddly enough, is dehydration. The latter is a frequent companion of alcohol abuse.

Body care

In the care of swollen or suffering from varicose legs, it will not be superfluous to use specialized cosmetics.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is well relieved by foot baths with sea salt. To conduct them, so much salt water is poured into the container, with a temperature not higher than 37-38 degrees, as needed to completely immerse the swollen area of \u200b\u200bthe legs. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes. With skin diseases or diabetes, salt baths are prohibited.

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy, what to do? Massage! This is a pleasant and effective way to improve blood circulation. It is necessary to massage the legs in the direction from the feet to the hips. For the procedure, you can use both special massagers, a washcloth, or just hands.

Pathological edema during pregnancy, what to do

Do not panic and get a medical examination. Based on the results of the tests, the doctor will determine the need and tactics of drug treatment of edema.

Medical treatment of edema

The attitude towards puffiness among doctors in the CIS countries differs from the point of view adopted in Europe and America. Foreign doctors prefer to observe, intervening only in situations that really threaten the health of a woman and her unborn child. Domestic doctors often prefer to play it safe and, depending on the results of the examination, prescribe diuretics, vasoconstrictors, antispasmodics and sedatives.

To normalize the work of the kidneys, complex herbal remedies are usually prescribed, such as Canephron or Cyston in tablet form, Fitolizin paste. They should be used with caution: the annotations contain rather long lists of side effects. But these drugs relieve renal edema during pregnancy well, reviews of future and successful mothers confirm this.

To strengthen blood vessels, doctors prescribe magnesium preparations, vitamin E, lipoic acid, and against vasospasm - No-Shpu.
Treatment of edema with preeclampsia is carried out in a hospital. The standard measure is a drop of magnesia, which relieves swelling, normalizes blood pressure, relaxes blood vessels and muscle muscles. Improve blood microcirculation with droppers of drugs based on pentoxifylline.
It is strictly forbidden to use diuretics if gestosis is suspected!
Swelling of the nose during pregnancy cannot be treated with the usual vasoconstrictor drops and sprays. But it is also impossible to remain inactive: due to the deterioration of nasal breathing, the fetus may receive less oxygen. Doctors recommend dealing with the “runny nose of pregnant women” by washing the nasal cavity with saline or a solution of sea salt.

How to get rid of edema during pregnancy, folk remedies

Traditional medicine is replete with remedies against edema. But you can use them only as directed by a doctor, and even then not all. The fact is that some components of popular kidney fees can cause uterine tone and even provoke an abortion.

Of the safest folk remedies, a decoction of lingonberry leaf can be distinguished, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immunostimulating, choleretic, astringent and mild diuretic effects.

Conclusion

Most swelling in pregnant women is harmless and does not require treatment. But, at times, puffiness can signal the development or exacerbation of diseases and conditions dangerous to the mother and fetus.

Self-treatment of pathological edema can be extremely dangerous; only a doctor should decide how to relieve swelling during pregnancy, based on the results of the examination.

Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space of any part of the body. During pregnancy, the amount of fluid circulating in a woman's body almost doubles, as it is contained in the amniotic fluid, the placenta, and is also needed by the growing baby and its circulatory system. At the same time, the water-salt metabolism changes (sodium accumulates in the vessels, which delays the excretion of fluid), and the growing uterus puts pressure on the vessels and organs, which slows down blood circulation and contributes to fluid retention. In addition to all this, the change in hormonal levels during this period causes a feeling of thirst, which also leads to swelling.

Edema as a syndrome accompanies many diseases of various organs and systems of the body: endocrine, cardiovascular, renal and other inflammatory processes.

Edema (especially large ones) is not just a symptom that looks unaesthetic and causes discomfort. They can be quite dangerous. Due to the strong swelling of the mother, the child may experience hypoxia (oxygen starvation), and the expectant mother herself may suffer from swelling of the internal organs and, as a result, disruption of their work. Edema can also be one of the symptoms of preeclampsia - a condition that, if severe, may even raise the question of early birth. Therefore, the appearance (and even their possible appearance) is important to track at the earliest stage.

However, sometimes even severe swelling does not bother a pregnant woman, and her health remains satisfactory. Even in such a situation, it is better to consult a doctor, since in more than 90% of such cases the condition worsens (protein appears in the urine, pressure rises) and passes into preeclampsia.

As a rule, edema begins to bother the expectant mother from about the 30th week (and with preeclampsia - from the 20th week) of pregnancy.

Severe edema may accompany pregnant women, expecting twins, or simply bearing a large fetus.

Hidden swelling during pregnancy - what is it?

It seems that puffiness is always an obvious problem. However, this is not entirely true. In addition to obvious edema, there are so-called hidden edema (swelling of internal organs and tissues). An obstetrician-gynecologist observing you can help to detect them by conducting several examinations:

Regular weighing. Very often, latent edema is indicated by too much weight gain - more than 300 g per week.
Regular measurement of leg circumference. Complicated latent edema is indicated by an increase in the size of the circumference of the leg by 1 cm or more (measurements are taken once a week).
The study of indicators of daily diuresis. Diuresis is the volume of urine produced in a given period of time. It compares the amount of liquid that was drunk with the amount of urine excreted. Normally, 3⁄4 of all the liquid you drink is released per day (this includes water, other drinks, fruits, and soups).

As a rule, the doctor can find out whether a woman is prone to edema already in the first weeks of pregnancy. He receives data about this from examining the patient, studying her constitution, heredity, medical history, as well as from a blood test for biochemistry. The sooner you know if you may have edema, the sooner you can take steps to prevent it.

Physiology and pathology of edema during pregnancy

Edema can be physiological and pathological. Physiological edema usually does not cause complications and gives the pregnant woman only a feeling of dissatisfaction with her appearance. Their origin is due to the fact that the growing uterus compresses the vessels - this prevents the normal outflow of blood. The uterus also presses on the ureters, which causes fluid retention during pregnancy and, as a result, swelling. Edema of the physiological type can also be associated with the constitution of the pregnant woman herself - in women of short stature and with increased body weight, they occur more often.

Pathological edema, as a rule, accompanies preeclampsia (late toxicosis) - a complication of pregnancy that can occur in the third trimester. Its symptoms are high blood pressure, urinary excretion of protein (normally absent), nausea, vomiting, headaches, convulsions (eclampsia), fever, drowsiness, or, conversely, severe arousal, plus severe swelling. However, preeclampsia may not be accompanied by edema, and such a “dry” preeclampsia is considered a more severe case. Also, preeclampsia is not necessarily accompanied by all of the above symptoms. The most dangerous thing is the presence of seizures. In any case, preeclampsia almost always requires the help of a doctor and the presence of a pregnant woman in a hospital. The sooner you start treating him, the less likely he is to go into a severe form.

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is the most common type of edema. They especially bother those who spend a lot of time on their feet, or just after a long walk. Edema is usually noticeable on the feet and legs. At the same time, favorite shoes become small or press heavily. It is important to choose one that will not cause discomfort, made of well-stretched materials, so that it is comfortable to wear in the afternoon. It is also worth abandoning high heels, preferring low and stable ones. If you are concerned about swelling of the legs during pregnancy, try to avoid long walks, do not stand on your feet for a long time, take a supine position at home and raise your legs up, and regularly massage your feet.

Swelling of the hands during pregnancy

Swelling of the hands during pregnancy, as a rule, appears in those women who work at a computer, do needlework and any other monotonous work - fluid stagnation is formed due to monotonous movements. In this case, you need to regularly do gymnastics for the fingers. Also, starting from the second half of pregnancy, doctors advise not to wear rings on your hands. If you do not remove them in time, you can wait for such a degree of swelling, in which it will be very difficult or impossible to remove them.

Facial swelling during pregnancy

Swelling of the face during pregnancy is easy to notice - the face becomes round and puffy. Swelling of the eyelids causes particular discomfort, bags appear under the eyes. This is due to the specific anatomical features of the eyelids - in this area there is loose fiber, which strongly absorbs liquid. You can reduce swelling on the face by following the general rules for the prevention of swelling of the body.

Nasal swelling during pregnancy

The nose may swell as a result of general swelling of the face, as well as due to possible allergic reactions, which are greatly aggravated during the period of expectation of the child. It is advisable to prevent nasal congestion and swelling, because breathing problems make it difficult for oxygen to reach the child. You can eliminate swelling with the help of drops, but do not forget that pregnant women are forbidden to use a number of the usual drugs, so it is better if the medicine is prescribed to you by a doctor who knows exactly what drugs are allowed.

Prevention and treatment of edema during pregnancy

Pregnant women with edema are given increased attention at the stage of management in the antenatal clinic. The expectant mother is regularly weighed, her blood pressure is measured, and her kidney function is monitored with urine tests. Everything is aimed at the prevention (prevention) of complications. Advice given by doctors:

Set up nutrition. Exclude fried and smoked foods (food cooked in such ways has a bad effect on blood vessels), boil meat and vegetables, steam, bake. Food should contain a sufficient amount of protein (to avoid its lack, which can occur with preeclampsia). It is also better not to eat fatty, spicy, pickled, sweet foods, muffins. But low-fat broths, cereals, fruits and vegetables should be eaten regularly. For the prevention of puffiness, it is useful to spend fasting days, but without getting carried away, no more than once a week and always after agreement with the doctor.
Limit your salt intake (ideally to 1-1.5 grams per day). It contains sodium, thanks to which it retains fluid in the body. It is important not only to under-salt (or not to salt at all) food during cooking, but also to remove pickles, sauerkraut, herring, chips, crackers, sausages and canned food from the diet.
Drink more. A sufficient amount of fluid will speed up the water-salt metabolism in your body. If you drink little, you can bring the body to dehydration, which is no less dangerous. It is worth drinking up to 1.5 liters of water a day (not counting soups, compotes), and drink most of the liquid before dinner, leaving less for the evening. It is better to drink not in large glasses, but in small sips, often, but little by little. However, you should not abuse the liquid either - this is fraught with the appearance of even more puffiness. You can drink not only water, but also juices (preferably unsweetened and freshly squeezed), fruit drinks, tea with milk. At the same time, it is better not to get carried away with black tea and coffee, they can affect blood vessels and pressure. Green tea is also not as healthy as many people think: it contains a large amount of caffeine and can also affect the state of blood vessels. You can drink no more than two cups per day. Forget about soda, especially sweet ones. In addition to fluid retention, it also provokes heartburn. If you are going to start drinking the so-called diuretic teas, be sure to consult your doctor - not all such drinks can be beneficial, and you need to take them very carefully.
Move and do gymnastics according to your strength. With active movements, the risk of edema is reduced by half. Do special gymnastics for pregnant women, yoga, visit the pool. The main thing is not to overdo it and do it to the best of your ability. The load must be uniform and dosed.
Let's rest our feet. Try not to stand still or walk for too long. If you are sitting, place your feet on a footrest or stool. At the same time, it is absolutely impossible to sit with one leg thrown over the other. When sitting for a long time, do foot exercises about once an hour - twist them in different directions. Get up alternately on your heels and toes. Don't sit in one position for a long time. Lying down, put a roller under your feet. Do cool foot baths and massages.
Try not to stay in hot or stuffy rooms for a long time.
Wear special compression underwear as recommended by your doctor. Swelling of the legs may be accompanied by varicose veins. The phlebologist should deal with the treatment of this problem, he will also prescribe you underwear of the required degree of compression. The main thing is to choose it in size, it should not press.

Edema is a symptom that accompanies almost every pregnancy. Small swellings are almost inevitable, but there is nothing dangerous in them. Therefore, there is no need to worry. The main thing is to show responsibility in time and not to forget about the rules for their prevention, so as not to bring them to a severe degree. At the same time, after childbirth, edema disappears quickly enough, because the woman's body leaves about 8 liters of excess fluid. And you will quickly forget about this problem.

Signs of edema: when to see a doctor

The easiest way to determine if you have swelling or not is to press your finger on the skin. If there is no edema, there will be no trace left on the skin, if there is, you will see a hole that will level out rather slowly, and the skin itself becomes pale and tense with edema.

A slight puffiness will not harm the pregnant woman, however, there are signs, noticing which it is better not to hesitate to consult a doctor:

Sharp weight gain. If you gain more than 300 g per week, this indicates severe swelling and a large amount of excess fluid in the body.
The manifestation of edema in the morning. As a rule, puffiness is temporary and intensifies in the evening, and in the morning there are no traces of it. If she has been bothering you since the morning, then she can go to a dangerous degree.
Burning, tingling of toes and hands, their numbness. This is due to nerve compression. With severe swelling, difficulties may also appear in bending the fingers, and it becomes painful to step on the legs.
The shoes are tight and tight, the rings are difficult to remove from the fingers or not removed at all.
Great rounding of the face, swelling of the nose and lips.
Palpitations, shortness of breath, increased pressure.

Pregnancy completely changes the outlook and habitual way of life of every woman. Sometimes, the happiness of anticipation of becoming a mother is overshadowed by complications, such as, for example, swelling during pregnancy.

Edema is characterized by excessive fluid retention in the body: in a separate part of it or in general.

Excessive water retention can be caused by an inflammatory process, a consequence of insect bites, and various kinds of injuries. In addition, various kinds of drinks are able to retain excess liquid, for example, mineral water, sparkling water.

Edema often accompanies various diseases. So, those suffering from kidney disease, heart disease, diabetics meet them more often than people who are unfamiliar with such problems.

Causes of edema during pregnancy

Pregnancy is not a disease, however, the body of a woman, being in this state, is transformed and differs significantly from its former appearance. The retention of more fluid in the body of the expectant mother is normal, of course, and this process begins almost from the first weeks of pregnancy.

Starting from about the eighth week, fluid accumulates, the total volume of which for the entire period reaches an average of 6-8 liters. Part of this strategic supply of water is required for the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid. The second half is needed to increase the mother's blood volume, for the growth of the mammary glands and uterus.

However, it often happens that the body makes reserves of a much larger volume than there is a real need for. It is then that edema occurs during pregnancy, in the later lines which can harm the health of both mother and baby.

Varieties of edema during pregnancy

Water-salt metabolism in pregnant women undergoes physiological changes, as a result of which pathologies in the form of edema are likely. There are four types of severity:

The first is characterized by swelling on the legs.
The second - stop, lower abdomen.
The third is swelling of the hands and face.
The fourth - generalized edema, otherwise referred to as "dropsy".

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy

When the legs swell during pregnancy, while there are no other symptoms, this is the first bell indicating a lack of fluid. Excessive thirst confirms this.

Methods for determining edema

The swelling may be barely noticeable. In the morning, there may not be any problems, and by the evening, comfortable shoes begin to press, there is a feeling of discomfort in the legs.

The first sign of puffiness is uneven weight gain, as well as a weekly plus on the scales over 300 grams.

To find out if there is swelling, you should press the skin a little with your finger. If, after removing your finger, the skin does not immediately level out, this is the first wake-up call.

Puffiness from 20 weeks is not normal. Its presence is a signal to draw the attention of a doctor to this.

Causes of puffiness

A little swelling is not always dangerous. Another thing is that the condition is aggravated due to the abuse of salty, fried, fatty. In summer, the heat is unbearable. Additional irritants are capable of creating a pathology requiring treatment from a natural process for the physiology of a pregnant woman. That is why the diet and lifestyle of the expectant mother should be treated responsibly.

There are several main causes of swelling:

Violation of water-salt metabolism.
Deficiency in protein intake.
The burden on the kidneys, constantly increasing with the growth of the fetus.
Compression of the renal vessels.

What is gestosis during pregnancy

Swollen legs can be a sign of significant pathology. Too fast weight gain is observed next to edema. Puffiness spreads to other parts of the body and becomes the first source of concern for a woman, not leaving her alone for a minute. With gestosis, heaviness is felt when walking, pressure rises, protein comes out with urine, blood circulation slows down, and the first organs that suffer from this are the kidneys, liver, and brain.

At an early stage, gestosis reveals itself as the presence of edema, often hidden.

Not all edema is already preeclampsia, not always edema during pregnancy is dangerous. The task of doctors is to determine the severity of edema, the task of pregnant women is to draw the attention of attending physicians to changes in their body, even, at first glance, seemingly insignificant and harmless.

There can be no self-activity in the treatment of such edema during pregnancy. In the presence of the disease, expectant mothers are hospitalized, since such edema during pregnancy is extremely dangerous.

Swelling of the hands during pregnancy

Excess fluid can accumulate in the wrists and fingers. The volume of fluid gradually increases, as a result of which the hands swell during pregnancy.

The expectant mother is subject to modifications at the hormonal level. This is associated with excessive sensitivity, irritability, illogical mood swings. The hormone progesterone affects not only mood, it can cause fluid stagnation.

Numbness of the hands, discomfort in the fingers and wrists are all the first signs of swelling of the hands.

Mechanical work, such as knitting, computer work, can also aggravate severe swelling during pregnancy. Therefore, doing monotonous work, you should do exercises for your hands, warm up your fingers.

Puffiness of the face during pregnancy

Blood cells the farther away, the less they contain salts and protein compared to other tissues. Water actively leaves the blood, which leads to its dehydration. In addition, edema during late pregnancy occurs due to squeezing by the rapidly growing uterus of the lymphatic vessels and veins.

In appearance, the face becomes unnaturally rounded. What to do when edema during pregnancy in the last stages manifest itself with renewed vigor - to focus the attention of a specialist on this.

Treatment and prevention of swelling during pregnancy

Light exercise, exercise, being in the fresh air, an active life together with a full diet is the best prevention against the appearance of deviations, including swelling.

Comfortable shoes and comfortable underwear made from natural fabrics, evening foot massages and baths, a special cream will come to the aid of expectant mothers and make their condition as pleasant and painless as possible.

Diet and drinking regimen for edema

Salty is removed from the diet, including salty mineral water, which it is desirable to exclude completely, as well as various sodas, the detrimental effect of which does not at all justify the desire to quench your thirst. Ordinary water, teas, juices, compotes are able to cope with the restoration of water balance and do no harm.

It is important to drink 1-1.2 liters of fluid daily. In addition to water, this volume includes food containing water (fruits, borscht, broths, soups, etc.). With edema, it is advised to drink water with a slice of lemon, tea with lemon (preferably without sugar), lingonberry compote.

Kidney and other herbal preparations should never be drunk without a doctor's recommendation. Diuretic pills are strictly prohibited for pregnant women.

How to relieve swelling of the legs during pregnancy

With swelling of the legs during pregnancy, the question is “what to do?” asked millions of times to doctors. Often there is no need to be treated with medication - small edema can be easily avoided by following simple rules.

When the legs swell slightly during pregnancy, expectant mothers should lie on their side more often.

Several times a day, experts advise lying or sitting with legs raised to the top for 10-15 minutes. For large swelling, this procedure should be repeated every two to three hours. The best effect will be if you first lower the legs in a bowl of cool water for 20 minutes.

With slight swelling, you can lie down with a low roller under your feet. You can sleep in this position.

Foot massage is useful for preventing swelling - you can rub it with your hands or use a washcloth. After the procedure, anoint the legs with a special gel for swelling - the doctor will help you choose the most effective one.

What to do when hands and face swell

The legs usually swell first. But already these swellings are a signal to remove jewelry from your hands, especially rings, including a wedding ring.

A glass of hot milk before going to bed helps to remove puffiness and the face will be lighter in the morning.

Drinks from vegetables, fruits and berries, which have a natural diuretic effect, relieve swelling well.

Folk remedies for removing edema

For centuries, mothers have been collecting folk recipes on how to relieve swelling during pregnancy. When deciding to try one of them, be sure to tell your doctor about it.

Folk recipes:

Dried apricots are a reliable assistant in the fight against edema. Recipe: at night, a handful of dried apricots is poured with boiling water. In the morning, before eating, you should drink liquid, after which it is advisable to refrain from eating for half an hour.
Carrot juice with pulp. Freshly prepared half a glass of juice to drink in the morning on an empty stomach.
Pumpkin also has diuretic properties and does not harm pregnant women. Half a glass of juice 1 time per day will be a delicious salvation from puffiness.
Birch sap - drink ½ cup twice a day.
Kalina with honey. Recipe: grind fresh viburnum berries. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture with 250 ml of boiling water and heat in a water bath, without boiling, for 20 minutes. After cooling to room temperature, squeeze the filtered liquid 2-3 times a day for a third of a glass. Before taking the broth, add a little honey (on the tip of a spoon).
Cranberries with honey. Recipe: grind the berries with honey (can be with sugar). Eat 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day after meals.
Oat grains. Recipe: Pour 1 tablespoon of seed oats with 1 liter of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 ½ hours over low heat, stirring regularly. Rub the cooled mass through a sieve. Eat the resulting porridge 3 times a day for 1/3 cup.

Do not use multiple products on the same day. You can alternate every other day or every week. After trying different options, you can choose the most suitable for yourself.

It is impossible to exclude the individuality of each individual organism. Some products can cause different reactions, with sensitivity to a particular product. For example, viburnum in some contributes to indigestion.

When it is not possible to remove swelling with folk remedies, doctors prescribe medications, mainly on a plant basis. Among them, the most frequently prescribed are:

Kanefron. Having lovage root, centaury herb, rosemary leaves in its composition, it does not harm the baby and is approved for use in any trimester. The only thing is that it is better to choose tablets than drops, since the latter contain alcohol.
Phytolysin is an effective remedy based on extracts of parsley roots, pyreus, herbs "Highlander bird", "Horsetail", as well as pine, sage, mint and orange oils. Its disadvantage is that it is dangerous in case of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, therefore it is prescribed only after a thorough examination.
Eufilin, with a high content of aminophylline, also has a powerful diuretic effect. Contraindicated in heart disease, pregnant women with low blood pressure, as well as breastfeeding. Therefore, it should be discontinued before childbirth. In addition, you can not use the drug on an empty stomach, as this is more likely to lead to side effects: dizziness, headaches, intestinal disorders.

It is dangerous for expectant mothers to resort to self-medication without consulting a doctor, and even more so, with severe swelling.

Swelling in the last months of pregnancy

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is experienced by most women, especially in the later stages towards the end of the third trimester. In most cases, leg swelling is normal and nothing to worry about. In other cases, when edema is associated with any disease, be sure to consult your doctor without delay.

Why do legs swell during pregnancy

Edema during pregnancy affects almost all pregnant women, starting around 22 or 27 weeks. Severe swelling of the legs, as well as the hands and face, may appear by the 35th week of pregnancy.

Swelling of the legs can vary depending on the time of day and season. As a rule, a stronger swelling occurs in the evening and in the summer. Swelling also depends on weather conditions: on hotter days it is more, on cool days it is less pronounced.

For most women, the swelling goes away after giving birth within the first two weeks.

Many pregnant women ask themselves the question “Why do my legs swell during pregnancy?”. There is nothing criminal in this. Swelling occurs due to an increase in the amount of fluid. About 25 percent of the weight gained during pregnancy is the result of fluid retention. This, of course, causes anxiety and discomfort in women, but it is necessary. This accumulated fluid plays an important role during childbirth.

First, the fluid softens the body, allowing it to expand as the baby grows.

Secondly, it helps prepare the pelvic bones and tissues for childbirth.

Usually only the legs swell: shins and feet. In some cases, the face and hands may swell. Normal swelling during pregnancy should "gain" slowly, not abruptly. Sudden swelling, especially on the face and hands, can be a sign of preeclampsia, a dangerous disease when blood pressure rises sharply and blood supply is disrupted. Usually this condition can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy.

In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic veins, causing blood to stagnate in the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from the lower extremities back to the heart. The pressure of the growing uterus slows down this process, resulting in swelling in the legs and feet. The appearance of such swelling of the legs most often occurs in late pregnancy in the third trimester.

Other causes of swelling of the legs, ankles, feet may be a lack of potassium, the use of salty foods, canned and smoked foods, and a large intake of caffeine.

As mentioned above, high temperature and humidity can also cause leg swelling.

What are the dangers of swelling of the legs during pregnancy

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is not dangerous and is normal in most cases, especially in late pregnancy.

However, if the legs, arms, face become puffy, the swelling does not subside at night, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Severe swelling, as mentioned above, can be a symptom of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia affects kidney function as well as the central nervous system. Symptoms of preeclampsia are a sharp increase in pressure, swelling of the legs, arms, face, excessive weight gain (more than 450-500 grams per week), the presence of protein in the urine.

More severe cases of preeclampsia can cause blurred vision, headaches, irritability, and abdominal pain.

Swelling in only one leg or pain in any part of the leg may be a sign of a blood clot.

The presence of red streaks and spots on the legs can be a sign of an infection.

Swollen red feet can be a sign of poor circulation or diabetes.

Other symptoms may indicate heart or kidney failure. In any case, if sudden severe swelling occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to relieve swelling of the legs during pregnancy

It is impossible to completely remove swelling during pregnancy. As you already understood, this is a normal phenomenon for every pregnant woman. Of course, if the swelling is not associated with more serious diseases.

It is possible to alleviate the condition caused by swelling of the legs. Here are some tips to help improve swelling and relieve the discomfort caused by swelling.

If you have to spend a lot of time standing or sitting, take a five-minute break every hour to rest. Walk while sitting. When standing, sit down and preferably put your feet on some elevation to improve blood circulation.

Probably, almost every pregnant woman has experienced such an unpleasant phenomenon as edema. Due to the increase in the volume of circulating blood and amniotic fluid, the body's need for water increases significantly. At the same time, the dominant pregnancy hormone, progesterone, slows down sodium excretion. But it is he who is responsible for the retention of water in the body.

Causes of edema during pregnancy

Normal swelling. Usually they occur with errors in nutrition. This may be excessive consumption of too salty or sweet foods. Pregnant women need to monitor their diet more closely, and limit themselves to such products. You always need to remember that the body is now working in a different mode.

Often, such swelling can occur in the summer, as too hot weather also provokes their appearance.

Development of kidney failure. Pregnancy itself puts extra stress on the kidneys. As a natural result, the entire volume of fluid consumed cannot be fully excreted, which causes the appearance of edema. At risk are women who already have a history of kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis).

Phlebeurysm. Due to the fact that blood circulation is disturbed in the uterine cavity, the veins do not distill the blood properly. The blood stagnates, the vessels dilate, edema forms, fluid stagnates in the lower extremities. Additional negative factors are considered to be an increase in body weight and a decrease in physical activity.

The development of preeclampsia. This is a complication that occurs in the last stages of pregnancy. It is accompanied by a triad: edema, high blood pressure, the appearance of protein in the urine.

Wearing uncomfortable clothes and shoes. Wearing tight and squeezing clothing and shoes causes circulatory disorders.

Endocrine pathologies. They can cause swelling of the lower and upper extremities, face, and even the tongue.

Most often, during pregnancy, it is the legs that swell, since the process of fluid retention goes from bottom to top. As a rule, this happens already in the last trimester in the norm, and does not pose any threat to the health of the mother and fetus. But sometimes such swelling can be a sign of a dangerous complication - preeclampsia. Therefore, it is better to consult with your doctor to rule out this option.

You can determine the presence of swelling of the legs in pregnant women by pressing on the skin. In the event that it immediately levels out, it is logical to conclude that there are no edema. You can talk about them when a characteristic dent remains at the place of compression.

Apart from this simple experiment, of course, the presence of edema is definitely present if the patient has become tight in her usual shoes. Edema becomes more noticeable in the evening due to the fact that the fluid accumulated during the day goes down.

How to avoid swelling of the legs during pregnancy (video)

In this video, the doctor tells interesting facts about swelling of the legs during pregnancy, about the causes of their occurrence and preventive measures.

Swelling of the hands during pregnancy, why hands swell, fingers in pregnant women

It is often possible to observe swelling of the hands and fingers in pregnant women. At the same time, they may still complain of a feeling of numbness in the hands and.

A similar skin squeeze test is also used to check for swelling. The pronounced swelling of the fingers speaks of obvious edema. Often the patient notes that she cannot remove the ring.

Edema of the upper extremities is more typical for the category of women who, by the nature of their activities, work a lot at the computer or do something with their hands (knitting, sewing, modeling).

A common complication in this case is the development of carpal tunnel syndrome - accumulation of fluid in the wrist, pressing on the nerve.

Swelling of the face during pregnancy

Swelling of the face, as a rule, begins with the eyelids, and then spreads further.

Separately, you can talk about swelling of the nose. It will be accompanied by a runny nose, a feeling of dryness and itching. This phenomenon even received a medical name - rhinitis of pregnant women. This phenomenon is safe for the mother, but it can negatively affect the baby, as he begins to experience some oxygen deficiency. Usually this ailment goes away after childbirth on its own.

Edema during late pregnancy

At the end of pregnancy, almost every woman has swelling to one degree or another. Most often they are a variant of the norm.

But it must be borne in mind that in the later stages, edema tends to progress and can be a symptom of such a serious complication as preeclampsia. It poses a risk not only for the mother herself, but also for the unborn baby. The fact is that with gestosis, the placenta can swell. Because of this, there is a violation of the utero-placental exchange, the fetus receives less oxygen and essential nutrients.

Edema in the last weeks of pregnancy (video)

In this video, you can listen to useful information about why swelling occurs during late pregnancy.

What is dangerous swelling during pregnancy

The danger of edema directly depends on the cause of their occurrence. If these are physiological edema, which in principle are considered the norm, then they do not threaten the health of the mother and baby.

But other cases, when the cause of their occurrence lies in some internal diseases, require urgent treatment. The fact is that they can accompany serious disorders in the body. This can be a direct threat of miscarriage, premature birth, fetal hypoxia, a threat to the life of the mother and child.

Treatment, drugs for edema

Treatment of edema in pregnant women should be comprehensive. The attending physician determines the necessary course of therapy, based on the cause of this symptom.

To combat swelling, doctors usually prescribe the wearing of compression stockings. This item is especially relevant for the category of women who already have problems with blood vessels. Wearing special stockings or pantyhose helps to significantly reduce pressure on the vessels and eliminates swelling.

For external use, you can use special therapeutic ointments and gels. Among the most effective and popular are:

Heparin ointment. It is able to effectively neutralize inflammation and activate blood circulation processes. In addition, this ointment is a prophylactic agent that prevents thrombosis.
"Varicobooster". This remedy is well anesthetized and eliminates swelling.
Horse chestnut cream. Its action is aimed at reducing the degree of blood clotting, increasing vascular tone and their strength.
Troxevasin ointment. Its specificity lies in the excellent resolving effect. It is an essential remedy for capillary fragility and thrombosis.

If preeclampsia has developed, then you need to immediately connect medications. It would be advisable to prescribe diuretic drugs: Canephron, Fitolizin. They have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action.

"Canephron" is better to choose in tablet form, since the drops contain alcohol. This drug has practically no contraindications. If during its use you drink a large amount of pure water, then this will further enhance the effect of the components.

Sometimes doctors prescribe "Eufillin". It has a powerful diuretic effect due to the fact that it contains the substance aminophylline. However, there are many contraindications to it. For example, "Eufillin" is not recommended for use in patients with low blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.

In a hospital setting, diuretics (drugs with a diuretic effect) can be prescribed for a short time - Furosemide, Hypothiazide.

Taking multivitamins can also improve uteroplacental blood flow. Vitamin E and lipoic acid are excellent remedies for the prevention of preeclampsia and the occurrence of edema.

Special droppers will restore the deficiency of fluid and protein in the female body. At high figures of arterial pressure antihypertensive therapy is shown.

How to get rid of swelling during pregnancy

The very first thing you need to pay attention to when starting the treatment of edema is a special diet. It is necessary to remove fried, smoked and salty foods from your menu. You can even try to practice fasting days. For example, eat only apples once a week.

The use of salt should be minimized, because it is she who contributes to the active retention of fluid in the body.

You should also carefully consider the drinking regimen. Absolutely do not limit yourself in the use of water. On the contrary, you should try to drink one and a half or two liters of pure water per day. A sufficient amount of fluid entering inside will allow the kidneys to function normally. The only rule to follow is to drink little and often.

In general, nutrition should be reviewed, making it healthier and more balanced.

An important condition for treatment will be the observance of the correct daily regimen. This means getting enough sleep (8-10 hours) and lots of outdoor activities.

As for physical activity, you should not severely limit yourself in it if there are no health problems. This is the wrong tactic. Hiking, swimming pool, special gymnastics for pregnant women will be quite appropriate.

The knee-elbow position can rightly be considered the most useful exercise for pregnant women. This position does not allow the enlarged uterus to squeeze the internal organs and the abdominal aorta. Thus, normal blood supply to all organs and tissues is established. Experts recommend taking this position several times a day for fifteen minutes.

Another simple action that is desirable to perform at the end of each day is to lie flat on the bed and relax with your legs up. This position effectively prevents stagnation of lymph and blood.