One swollen ankle pregnancy

Swelling during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

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Most women get swollen ankles and feet while pregnant. It’s natural to have concerns about swelling since it can be uncomfortable, make your shoes tighter and possibly make you feel embarrassed. Knowing what to look for and how best to manage it can help you stay as comfortable as possible.

Why do women experience swelling during pregnancy?

There are 3 main reasons women experience swelling while pregnant.

• Throughout pregnancy, you produce more blood than usual to help your baby grow.
• As the baby grows, your uterus presses on and slightly blocks the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart.
• Your hormones make the walls of your veins softer, which makes it harder for them to work properly.

For these reasons, your blood tends to pool in your legs. There, a small amount of blood leaks through tiny blood vessels into the tissues and produces the swelling you can see and feel.

Where and when will I get swelling?

The swelling should be only in your feet and ankles. Your fingers might get a little larger — enough to make any rings feel tight — but they shouldn't be obviously swollen.

Your feet and ankles are likely to swell later in the day. This is mainly due to gravity — any extra fluid in your body will sink to your feet and ankles, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet.

Swelling is also more likely to happen later in your pregnancy.

Gradual swelling isn't harmful to you or your baby, but it can feel uncomfortable.

How can I reduce swelling?

Some simple things can help you feel more comfortable and can also aid in preventing swelling.

Try to:

• avoid standing for long periods without moving
• wear comfortable shoes (avoid tight straps or anything that might pinch if your feet swell)
• put your feet up as much as you can
• limit salty foods and excessive salt in your diet
• sleep on your left side, which will help blood return to the heart
• exercise regularly by walking or swimming — this helps keep your circulation going

If you need to stand for long periods, try to move around and change position regularly.

Compression stockings can help the blood flow back to the heart and limit how much swelling you get. Massage and reflexology might also help reduce swelling and associated symptoms.

Even if your swelling is bothering you, remember to still drink plenty of water. Keeping your fluids up is important to avoid dehydration and stay healthy.

Normal or abnormal swelling?

Most pregnant women have swollen feet and ankles at some point, and this is perfectly normal. However, there are times when swelling could indicate something more serious.

Contact your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately if:

• swelling is there at the start of the day or doesn't go down when you rest
• your face or hands are swollen
• the swelling is more than you have had before

These are warning signs for pre-eclampsia, which is high blood pressure caused by pregnancy. This is a very serious condition both for you and your baby, so call your doctor or midwife as soon as possible. Don't wait for your next regular appointment.

If one leg is more swollen than the other, this could suggest a more serious problem with one of your veins, such as deep vein thrombosis. Again, contact your doctor or midwife as soon as possible.

Most swelling is a normal part of pregnancy and will usually go away after you've given birth. However, if you're concerned about anything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, talk to your doctor or midwife.

You can also call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to talk to a maternal child health nurse.

Sources:

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Last reviewed: February 2020

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Related pages

• Common discomforts during pregnancy
• Varicose veins
• Leg cramps during pregnancy

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When to Worry (and What’s Perfectly OK)

In the early pregnancy, you may beam from the inside out with bright, rosy skin and hair that brilliantly glistens for days. Then, one day, something takes the wind out of your prego-beauty sails — you look down and don’t even recognize the two extremely puffy cankles beneath you.

Unfortunately, swelling falls into that perfectly normal category of pregnancy side effects. In fact, most expecting mamas experience it. But why?

Let’s look at what causes swelling during pregnancy and offer some tips to beat the bloat with comfort and confidence.

And, a note of caution: There are a few instances in which swelling during pregnancy is concerning. We’ll also explain when it could be a sign of a more serious health condition.

During pregnancy, your body does some pretty herculean things, and there’s a lot that, well, increases. One of them is the sheer amount of fluid in your body. While pregnant, your total body water volume can increase by up to 8 liters— that’s over 33 cups!

Meanwhile, your plasma volume leaps 30 to 50 percent, which means your total blood volume increases as well.

So, where does all that fluid go? Good question.

Some of the water stays within your cells to help them function. The rest accumulates outside of your cells to enhance oxygen delivery, clear waste, and control electrolyte flow.

The increase in plasma is in response to the growing needs of the placenta and your maternal organs, as your blood volume increases to deliver all that your baby needs to develop.

As your little one inches closer to birth in the third trimester, your blood volume reaches its peak. Hint: That’s why your swelling (among other slight unpleasantries) can peak around this time.

But that’s not all.

The massive increase in body fluids during pregnancy is coupled with increasing sodium levels. And most of us have seen the effects of what a little too much takeout pizza can do.

Sodium affects how your body absorbs and processes water. Even the slightest rise in sodium may cause you to feel the power of the “puff.”

It’s completely normal to shed a little tear the day your rings and favorite heels don’t fit anymore (sigh). A little gradual swelling in your fingers, legs, ankles, and feet throughout pregnancy is part of the journey.

You may find that your swelling tends to worsen toward the end of the day. This is because the extra fluid in your body can gather in the parts of your body farthest from your heart. A hotter, humid day or a lot of standing can contribute to some normal swelling, too.

Moving into the second and third trimesters, more pressure from your little one’s growing size — in addition to more blood volume — may further affect blood flow in your legs, ankles, and feet, causing you to experience even more swelling.

Tips to relieve normal pregnancy swelling

Sometimes, swelling may be as inevitable as that supersonic sense of smell and burning indigestion that you take in stride with the pure joys of pregnancy. However, here are a few things that you can do to help prevent or ease it.

• Elevate your feet at a level above your heart throughout the day, as this helps the fluid circulate back to your heart.
• Drink more water to flush extra fluid and sodium out of your body.
• Wear compression stockings to improve circulation, especially if you’re taking a long flight.
• Avoid being outdoors in very hot and humid weather.
• Take frequent breaks to elevate your feet when standing for long periods.
• Avoid heels and wear comfortable, breathable, and supportive shoes.
• Eat more foods with potassium, such as bananas and avocados, to flush out sodium and increase urine production (yes, even more).
• Limit high salt foods, such as prepackaged meals, fast food, and chips.

We know every mama bear wants to know when to panic. The answer? Never. Panicking only boosts your emotional and physical stress. Instead, feel empowered by learning when to call your OB-GYN or midwife about swelling.

The two most concerning conditions during pregnancy that can cause swelling are preeclampsia and a blood clot.

First thing to remember: These conditions aren’t common, but the risk is real during pregnancy. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of them.

Secondly, swelling associated with these conditions is different than the normal, gradual swelling you may experience over the course of your pregnancy.

Here’s how the swelling is different.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia only affects about 5 percent of pregnant women, usually only after the 20th week. The following are three main symptoms of this disorder:

• high blood pressure
• protein in the urine
• edema (a fancy word for swelling caused by excess fluid in the body)

Labs may also show abnormalities in liver enzymes and lower than normal platelet levels.

This relatively rare condition can have devastating consequences for mom and baby if not treated immediately, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms — and swelling is one of the major ones.

Significant swelling in your hands, face, or around your eyes that comes on suddenly or gradually becomes worse should alert you to call your OB-GYN. If your swelling appears “pitted” — meaning when you push on your skin, an indentation remains — this is also concerning.

In preeclampsia, swelling might be accompanied by a persistent headache, vision changes, abdominal pain, and sudden weight gain. If you have any of these symptoms, call your OB or midwife immediately. They may advise you to go to your nearest emergency room.

Blood clots

Pregnancy is a risk factor for blood clots in the leg, thigh, or pelvis called deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A 2017 review states that pregnancy alone increases a woman’s risk of DVT fivefold. The risk is consistent throughout every trimester and even up to 12 weeks after delivery.

DVT is a serious condition during pregnancy and warrants immediate treatment, as it may cause a pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal.

To protect mom and baby, it’s important to catch a DVT by knowing the symptoms. Swelling affecting only one leg is a big one.

Swelling related to DVT often occurs with other symptoms affecting the same area, such as:

• significant pain
• tenderness
• redness
• warmth to the touch

If you have any of these symptoms, call your OB or midwife immediately and follow their direction.

Reducing normal pregnancy swelling is nice but not always possible — and that’s OK.

It’s more important to do what you can to prevent serious complications like preeclampsia and blood clots. Again, though, prevention isn’t always possible and early recognition is key. That said, here are some tips that might decrease your risk.

How to lower your risk of preeclampsia

A limited number of studies have demonstrated proven ways to prevent preeclampsia.

While supplementation with vitamins C and E has been researched as a possible preventive measure, a study in 2007 concluded that antioxidant supplementation with these vitamins shouldn’t be recommended for preeclampsia prevention during pregnancy.

Moreover, while some studies have demonstrated a possible connection between prenatal physical activity and a reduced preeclampsia risk, more studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

It’s most important to know your risk factors so your obstetrician can monitor you more closely if necessary.

Some risk factors for preeclampsia include:

• chronic high blood pressure before pregnancy or during a previous pregnancy
• kidney disease before pregnancy
• personal or family history of preeclampsia
• having overweight or obesity
• having a multiple gestation pregnancy (more than one baby)
• being over age 40
• being pregnant with your first baby
• pregestational and gestational diabetes
• being of African American ethnicity

For women with a history of preeclampsia, low-dose aspirin has been cited as an effective secondary prevention strategy. Aspirin to prevent preeclampsia in women with a high risk but no personal history is still under debate.

How to lower your risk of blood clots

Like preeclampsia, preventing blood clots during pregnancy, childbirth, and the 3-month period afterward starts with knowing your risk factors, such as:

• personal or family history of blood clots
• personal family history of a blood clotting disorder
• history of a cesarean section, also known as a C-section
• immobility or long-term bed rest
• certain pregnancy or childbirth complications
• having diabetes, heart disease, or a lung condition

Your OB or midwife can work with you to help reduce your risk by developing a personalized prevention plan. Here are some easy everyday things you can do, too:

• drink plenty of water
• move your legs or get up at least every 1 to 2 hours if you’re sitting a lot
• exercise as recommended by your doctor
• use compression socks or stockings if recommended by your doctor
• take prescribed medications as directed

If growing feet coincide with your growing belly, you’re certainly in very good company. There’s a normal level of swelling that affects most expecting ladies.

Normal swelling can peak in the third trimester, affecting the legs mostly. Some simple elevation and R&R with a big glass of water may be all that you need to calm your cranky cankles.

In rarer cases, swelling is a sign of something more serious. If swelling affects only one leg and is accompanied by pain, redness, or warmth, a blood clot could be a concern, and you should call your doctor.

If you experience sudden or gradually worsening swelling in your face, around your eyes, or in your hands accompanied by high blood pressure, call your doctor immediately. This could be a symptom of preeclampsia, which requires immediate treatment to protect you and baby.

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.

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, gynec11 Comment

Ankle edema

Ankle edema is quite common. Puffiness affects mainly women and overweight people.

Edema is manifested by the fact that at the end of the day, especially in the heat, the ankles swell a little, and when pressing with a finger on the foot, a white spot remains. In the morning, fingers may swell and bend poorly, so it is better to refuse to wear rings. Depending on the severity of the swelling, many other problems may develop.

Ankles swell with a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle and overweight.

- This happens to passengers after long flights in an airplane, car or train trips. To prevent this from happening, try to take at least a few steps every 30-40 minutes on the road, and on a long flight, people over 40 do not hurt to bandage their feet and shins with an elastic bandage.

- Try to lose weight. A large belly leads to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and, as a result, compression of the iliac veins, through which blood flows from the lower extremities.

- Swelling of the ankles is a sign of the development of nephropathy in pregnant women and requires mandatory treatment.

- If the ankles are swollen on only one side, then the cause is most likely deep vein thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities and a consultation with a qualified vascular surgeon is required. It can be recommended to sit more often with legs raised higher, but this will not solve the problem.

- Ankle swelling may be temporary if you have chronic varicose veins in your legs. It is especially noticeable in the morning. During the day, after active walking, the swelling may disappear, and reappear in the evening. The condition can be improved by wearing tight tights, even better in the morning, without getting out of bed, bandage the legs with an elastic bandage.

- If the eyelids swell along with the ankles, then this is a sure sign of a malfunction in the kidneys. Their detailed research is required.

- If swelling of the ankles is accompanied by swelling of the abdomen, the appearance of spider veins on his skin, jaundice, then liver failure makes itself felt.

- If the ankles are swollen, shortness of breath appears, the skin turns pale at the slightest physical exertion, then the heart is to blame - this is how heart failure manifests itself. You need to be treated by a cardiologist.

- Ankles may swell after taking certain drugs, especially clonidine, adelfan, reserpine. To a lesser extent - from enalapril, captopril, prestarium. Edema can be triggered by the wrong combination of certain drugs, for example, the simultaneous use of enalapril and verashpiron, captopril and aldanton. It is better to combine enalapril, captopril, prestarium with furosemide (20 mg 1-2 times a week).

- A special case - swelling of the ankles with injuries.

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