Helping swollen feet during pregnancy

Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy

It's normal to get some swelling in pregnancy, particularly in your legs, ankles, feet and fingers.

It's often worse at the end of the day and further into your pregnancy.

Swelling that comes on gradually is not usually harmful to you or your baby, but it can be uncomfortable.

A sudden increase in swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a condition that needs to be monitored as soon as possible.

Non-urgent advice: Call your midwife, GP or labour ward immediately if you have:

a sudden increase in swelling in your face, hands or feet
a very bad headache
problems with your vision, such as blurring or flashing lights in your eyes
severe pain just below your ribs
vomiting with any of these symptoms

These could be symptoms of pre-eclampsia, which can lead to serious complications if it's not monitored and treated.

Normal pregnancy swelling

Swelling is caused by your body holding more water than usual when you're pregnant.

Throughout the day the extra water tends to gather in the lowest parts of the body, especially if the weather is hot or you have been standing a lot.

The pressure of your growing womb can also affect the blood flow in your legs. This can cause fluid to build up in your legs, ankles and feet.

What can help to reduce swelling

Try to:

avoid standing for long periods
wear comfortable shoes and socks – avoid tight straps or anything that might pinch if your feet swell
try to rest with your feet up as much as you can
drink plenty of water – this helps your body get rid of excess water
exercise – try to take regular walks during the day or doing foot exercises

Foot exercises

You can do foot exercises sitting or standing. They improve blood circulation, reduce swelling in the ankles, and prevent cramp in the calf muscles:

bend and stretch your foot up and down 30 times
rotate each foot in a circle 8 times one way and 8 times the other way

Get more tips on exercising in pregnancy.

Page last reviewed: 10 March 2021
Next review due: 10 March 2024

5 ways to manage swollen legs and feet during pregnancy | Your Pregnancy Matters

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Your Pregnancy Matters

September 14, 2021

Your Pregnancy Matters

Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, M. D. Obstetrics and Gynecology

The additional weight and hormones you experience during pregnancy can cause swelling and structural changes in your feet.

Of all the body parts you expect to get bigger during pregnancy, feet might not be at the top of your list. But most pregnant women experience swelling in their lower legs and feet.

If your ankles appear puffy and your shoes don’t feel quite right, you’re not imagining things. The additional fluid and blood your body creates to support healthy fetal growth also slows down blood circulation. That can cause blood to accumulate in your lower extremities, causing swelling.

During pregnancy, you also produce more relaxin, a hormone that helps your tendons, ligaments, joints, and muscles – you guessed it – relax. While relaxin helps your pelvis open to give birth, it also loosens the tendons and ligaments in your feet.

The combination of extra weight and hormones during pregnancy can cause your feet not only to widen but also flatten and lengthen. Leg or ankle swelling likely will decrease a week or two after your baby is born, but your feet may never be the same again.

Studies have shown that pregnancy can cause a permanent decrease in your arch and increase in foot length – typically only after a woman’s first pregnancy.

While more research is needed to determine whether these structural changes can be prevented, there are a few things you can do throughout your pregnancy to reduce swelling and feel more comfortable.

Coping with swollen legs and feet during pregnancy

1. Wear compression socks

Wearing 15-20mmHG compression socks that end at your knee can help alleviate achiness. The socks gradually increase pressure in your legs and move some of the excess fluid back into your blood vessels and the rest of your body.

Avoid socks with a tight band at the top. The tightness might worsen swelling by blocking blood return. That can increase your risk of developing a blood clot – which is already five times higher during pregnancy. You don’t need to purchase medical-grade socks, but you can find a good pair of compression socks for $10-$20.

Compression socks also can prevent the formation of new varicose veins, which occur in 15% of pregnant women for the same reason that causes swelling. The risk doubles after your first pregnancy and is four times higher in women over 35. These veins start out as little bumps under your skin; the socks squeeze them just enough to prevent backward blood flow and bulging. Existing varicose veins aren’t likely to shrink, but compression socks can reduce the pain and discomfort they cause.

2. Rest efficiently

You can easily improve blood circulation during downtime and sleep:

Elevate your legs above heart level while reading, watching TV, or doing other seated activities. The simple change in body position decreases pressure on your veins, which no longer have to work against gravity to send blood to your heart. Use cushions for comfort and elevate in 15- to 20-minute intervals a few times a day.
Sleep on your left side. While you can safely sleep on either side during pregnancy, the left side is often recommended to avoid putting pressure on the inferior vena cava, a large vein that carries blood from your lower extremities to your heart.

3. Get your feet wet

Immersing your feet and ankles in cool water for 20 minutes a few times a week can minimize swelling, whether you use a pool, bathtub, or even a large bowl. Bonus: It’s also a great way to deal with the Texas heat if you’re pregnant during the summer.

Be sure the water temperature is moderate and not ice cold. Cooler temperatures cause the smaller blood vessels close to your skin to constrict, which reduces blood flow to and swelling within the affected area. Water that is too cold can have the opposite effect. Whether you stand and sway or sit and dangle your feet, water therapy is a great way to relieve stress and pain.

Related reading: Water immersion during labor

4. Invest in supportive shoes that fit.

Unsupportive and uncomfortable shoes can cause even more leg and foot pain, plus backaches. Even if your feet return to their pre-pregnancy size, you’ll feel more comfortable in shoes that fit your feet and support your additional body weight. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends wearing shoes that:

Have a low heel but are not flat
Provide good arch support, such as athletic shoes

Many patients prefer shoes that have mesh, which allow their feet to breathe, and can easily slip on and off to limit bending over while pregnant. More shoe brands are merging comfort and style, so even the most fashionable patients will have no problem finding footwear they feel good about wearing.

5. Visit a podiatrist or pedicurist.

Another reason to wear shoes that fit: Stress from tight shoes can cause ingrown toenails, and so can infrequent nail trimming. In the first two trimesters you probably won’t have any difficulty trimming your toenails. But once you reach the third trimester, it might get more challenging.

Try propping up your feet on a stool or ask your partner to help trim your toenails. Nail salon gift cards are a great item to add to your baby shower (or sprinkle!) registry, too.

Seeing a podiatrist is another option to prevent or treat painful foot conditions, such as ingrown toenail, bunions, or plantar warts.

When swelling becomes serious

While gradual swelling in your lower and upper extremities is normal, sudden or severe swelling in your face, hands, or feet might be a symptom of preeclampsia. This pregnancy complication involves very high blood pressure.

If you have preeclampsia, you may need to stay in the hospital until you give birth. Delivery is the only way to “treat” preeclampsia. Left untreated, the condition can cause seizures, kidney or liver damage, and in rare cases, death.

Related reading: Postpartum hypertension: When a new mom's blood pressure is too high

Talk with your doctor about foot and leg swelling, as well as any other pregnancy symptoms. The more we know about your current condition, the more we can help reduce your risk of future complications.

While we can’t fully prevent foot and leg swelling, we can recommend ways to reduce your risk, such as:

Regular exercise
Good-quality sleep
A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Discomfort during pregnancy is to be expected, but our goal is to partner with you to minimize it – as well as the risk of more serious conditions.

To discuss your pregnancy concerns or symptoms with an expert, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.

Edema (dropsy) during pregnancy

Edema during pregnancy

It is normal for swelling to occur during pregnancy, especially in the legs, ankles, feet and fingers. It often gets worse at the end of the day. Swelling that comes on gradually is usually not dangerous for you or your baby, but it can be uncomfortable.

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If you notice swelling in your hands, ankles and feet, try not to worry. Swelling of the hands, ankles, and feet is very common during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Swelling is caused by your body holding on to more fluid than usual. You can get rid of swollen hands, feet and swollen ankles by staying active and drinking plenty of water. Sometimes swollen hands and feet can be a sign of something more serious.

For example, if swelling bothers you in the last trimester of pregnancy and persists on an ongoing basis. During this period of pregnancy, many expectant mothers experience impaired lymph and blood flow. This contributes to fluid retention in the tissues and the formation of edema. As a result, the development of dropsy of pregnancy .

Dropsy during pregnancy

This is a form of toxicosis, in which edema does not disappear from the woman's body, but only increases in size (weight is growing rapidly), in the absence of protein in the urine and normal blood pressure. Violation of water-salt metabolism in the body can pose a serious danger to the health of the expectant mother and baby. In the absence of proper treatment, dropsy can develop into preeclampsia (a severe form of toxicosis). Therefore, at the first signs of this disease, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Dropsy is considered an early manifestation of gestosis, characterized by fluid retention in the body and the appearance of edema.

The following stages are distinguished in dropsy:

1 Stage of dropsy - swelling of the legs (stop and lower legs)
Stage of dropsy - swelling of the legs and anterior abdominal wall of the abdomen
9000 3 stage , abdomen, hands and face
Stage 4 dropsy - generalized edema

Below we provide additional tips for reducing pregnancy swelling and explain when you should still be concerned about swelling during pregnancy.

Causes of swelling (dropsy) during pregnancy

As your baby grows, the expanding uterus presses on the blood vessels in the pelvic area.

Particularly affected are the large veins on the right side (inferior vena cava), which receive blood from the lower extremities. The pressure from your baby and uterus slows down blood flow in this area and causes water to pool from your blood vessels into the tissues of your legs and feet. This can cause swelling of the ankles and legs.

Your hands may also swell towards the end of your pregnancy. If you wear rings, they can put pressure on your fingers and you may have to give them up for a while. Hot weather and standing for long periods of time can also increase swelling.

Up to 80 percent of healthy pregnant women experience edema in late pregnancy.

Diagnosis of dropsy in pregnancy

When should I be concerned about swelling during pregnancy?

Swelling during pregnancy is normal and although annoying, it is usually not a big deal. However, very rarely it can still be a sign of a serious illness.

Edema can develop into a form of toxicosis such as dropsy. This can be determined by a sharp increase in weight. Of course, all pregnant women gain weight throughout pregnancy and swelling can also appear periodically and this is absolutely normal, but it is necessary to ensure that the indicators on the scales do not exceed 200-300 grams per week. Also common signs that dropsy is developing can be called:

infrequent urination;
constant feeling of thirst;
leather gloss;
puffiness;
increased fatigue.

If you experience sudden or severe swelling of your hands, face, or feet, call your doctor or midwife right away. This may be a sign of preeclampsia, which is a serious condition that can harm you and your baby and also affect your blood pressure.

Call your healthcare provider if you notice excessive and/or sudden swelling in your feet or ankles, especially if it is accompanied by any of the following signs of preeclampsia:

Changes in vision, blurred or bright spots
Pain in the upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Swelling of hands or face more than moderate
Nausea or vomiting after 20 weeks of pregnancy

Danger of edema in pregnancy

If only one leg is swollen and hot, seek medical attention immediately. There is a small chance it could be due to a blood clot. This is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and you will need medical attention.

Symptoms of DVT include:

pain, swelling, or tenderness in one of the legs, usually the lower leg
severe pain and warm skin in the area
red or discolored skin, especially on the calves

Both preeclampsia and DVT can be dangerous for you and your baby, but they can be managed. The sooner you get tested, the better.

Risk of dropsy in pregnancy

What can be done to reduce swelling?

Staying active can help reduce swelling because it stimulates circulation. Try incorporating a couple of walks into your daily routine, or making a few changes to your regular habits, such as getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

You may have heard that diuretics help your kidneys pass water and sodium so you can get rid of excess fluid in your body. However, they are not recommended for normal pregnancy edema, as by washing out important elements, diuretic tablets can harm the fetus.

How to reduce swelling during pregnancy

Your doctor may only suggest that you take them if you have other complications such as heart disease or kidney problems.

Instead of using diuretics, try the following methods for edema:

Drink plenty of water as this will help your body eliminate excess water.
Try wearing compression garments, stockings or knee socks. This will especially help relieve your swollen feet and swollen ankles.
Get a professional foot massage or ask your partner for a relaxing hand or foot massage.

Tips for swelling during pregnancy

Raise your legs whenever possible as this will improve blood circulation . At work, keep a footstool or box under your desk. At home and in bed, try to lie on your side, as this reduces pressure on the inferior vena cava and is safer for your baby. Place a pillow under your ankles to elevate your legs at night.
Try not to stand on your feet for too long. Take regular breaks from work. Your employer is required to conduct a risk assessment of your position and do everything possible to reduce the health risks to you and your child.

Leg exercises can help reduce ankle swelling. Bend the leg up and down 30 times, then twist it eight times in one direction and eight times in the other. Repeat with the other leg. You can apply this technique to your swollen hands as well.
Swimming in pool for at least 20 minutes may also help.
Wear comfortable shoes and socks . You can buy socks with specially designed ankle cuffs that won't compress if your feet get a little swollen. Wearing larger, wider, or slip-on shoes can help you feel more comfortable.

Dropsy and preeclampsia during pregnancy

When will swelling disappear?

Try to remember that swelling will not last forever. Like many other discomforts during pregnancy, normal swelling should go away a few weeks after delivery.

If, like some women, you find that you have more swelling after having a baby than during pregnancy, following the same tips and exercises can help you reduce it. It should be gone by the time your baby is six to eight weeks old. Do not forget to be examined in time and visit a gynecologist-endocrinologist during and after pregnancy.

Make an appointment with a gynecologist ►

general medicineVIVI.clinic July 6, 2022 Gynecology, gynecologist, pregnancy management, gynec12 Comments

Treatment of edema during pregnancy. Articles

Edema during pregnancy can be physiological (caused by natural causes) and pathological. About 80% of women in the position face their first variety, and often the mild forms of this condition disappear even without the use of medicines. But sometimes swelling can significantly worsen the well-being of a pregnant woman and be the first signs of preeclampsia. Therefore, when they appear, you can not delay the visit to the observing obstetrician-gynecologist. The doctor will examine the patient, explain the possible causes of edema and, if necessary, prescribe treatment, and recommend additional studies. If you are interested at pregnancy management in Poznyaki , we advise you to contact the "MD clinic" - highly qualified doctors with many years of experience are welcome here, and the clinic has all the conditions for a comfortable visit.

Swelling of the legs and pregnancy: how to help yourself without medication?

Physiological edema appears due to the increased need of the pregnant woman's body for fluid and sodium retention in the tissues, which prevents the removal of water. Puffiness can occur in almost any part of the body, but most often it appears on the legs, arms and face. Edema can also occur after a long walk, at the end of the day in the late afternoon and after eating salty, pickled foods.

To improve well-being, first of all, you need to follow a rational drinking regimen and limit the amount of salt consumed. It is necessary to drink daily the amount of water recommended by the observing doctor. Both a lack and an excess of fluid can lead to edema, so it is important to follow an individual norm, and not drink water through force or intentionally limit yourself to it. The allowable daily amount of fluid is calculated based on the characteristics of the physique, gestational age, the presence of concomitant extragenital pathologies, etc.

It is advisable to minimize the amount of salt in the diet, and in case of severe edema, it is better to completely eliminate it. It provokes fluid retention and can cause severe edema, which leads to weight gain and high blood pressure. Salt can be replaced with other seasonings: fresh or dried herbs, aromatic spices, lemon juice. Cranberry juice, a natural and healthy drink with a slight diuretic effect, can help reduce swelling and saturate the body with vitamins.

It is better to sleep and lie on your side with a roll under your feet or using a special curved pillow for pregnant women. If there are no contraindications, the severity of edema can be reduced by performing light physical exercises. Moderate physical activity is beneficial for pregnant women, as it reduces the risk of congestion in the pelvic area and improves blood circulation.

Medical treatment of edema during pregnancy

There are danger signs in which a pregnant woman with edema should urgently see a doctor for examination and treatment recommendations. These include the following situations:

in addition to edema, a woman is concerned about high blood pressure;
edema occurs not only in the evening, but also immediately after waking up in the morning;
rapid weight gain;
not only the legs or arms swell, but also the face, lumbar region and abdomen.

Pregnant women should not take any medication without a doctor's prescription. Self-medication is dangerous for all people in principle, and while waiting for a child, it is strictly contraindicated. After the examination, the gynecologist may recommend taking medications from such groups as natural diuretics, herbal medicines, vitamins, and antispasmodics. For each patient, an individual scheme for taking medications is selected, in addition, the treatment is carried out under the control of analyzes.

It is important to recognize the signs of possible gestosis in time, which include severe swelling of the fingers and toes, high blood pressure, protein in the urine.