Swollen lips pregnant

Dry, Swollen, Chapped, and Other Lip Changes

Pregnancy Lips: Dry, Swollen, Chapped, and Other Lip Changes

Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M.D. — By The Healthline Editorial Team on November 20, 2019

It famously happened to Khloé Kardashian. Beyoncé. Serena Williams. British soap star Jacqueline Jossa.

These power women all shared — often when prompted by questioning fans — that pregnancy gave them plumper pouts.

But are “pregnancy lips” really a thing — or are they just something celebrities claim to keep cosmetic procedures (like Botox lip injections) on the DL? Let’s take a look.

Related: Is it safe to receive Botox while breastfeeding?

Well, aside from the fact that many doctors advise against using Botox during pregnancy due to its unknown effects — and we refuse to believe that these celebrity women care about the health of their babies any less than the rest of us — there are other reasons to believe that lip changes during pregnancy may be more than a myth.

That’s right: While not one of the better known body changes during pregnancy, fuller lips might come with your fuller hips. And it might be for the same reason that your lips have their reddish color and you may have that famous “pregnancy glow.”

Just below the surface of your lips are tiny blood vessels known as capillaries. In fact, they’re what make your lips red.

Capillary density increases during pregnancy. (“Capillary density” is just a fancy way of saying number of capillaries in a certain area.) In addition — and especially during the third trimester — you’ll have increased blood flow as your body supports your growing baby. This causes blood vessels, including capillaries, to dilate (enlarge).

This is the theory behind the rosy cheeks of a “pregnancy glow” — blood vessels near the surface dilating. And all this adds up to the possibility of increased blood flow in your lips as well, which in theory could cause a plumper, fuller, or even redder pout.

Speaking of a redder pout, you may wonder if lips could darken during pregnancy for the same reason nipples do — increased melanin production due to having more of everyone’s favorite hormone, estrogen. But lips don’t have melanocytes, which are the cells that make melanin. So no, melanin won’t make your lips darker during pregnancy.

You may, however, experience dryer, more chapped lips while pregnant. This is because your body needs extra hydration during this time, making it more likely that you’re not getting enough if you’re continuing your prepregnancy status quo. And your body can retain what it does get, drawing moisture away from the surface. Dehydration can also be a side effect of hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe morning sickness.

So hit the water bottle hard and moisturize your skin and smile — your body and your growing baby will thank you.

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention changes to your, well, other lips. Vulvar varicosities, or varicose veins of the vulva, are more common during pregnancy. They’re also related to increased blood flow and can cause the labia to swell.

There’s no need to treat fuller lips unless they’re causing pain or discomfort. In fact, Serena Williams eagerly anticipated and then celebrated hers.

For dry or chapped lips, keep chapstick on hand — and drink plenty of water.

If you have other concerns about changes to your lips — above or below — talk to your OB about it. They’ll be able to tell you if these are normal, expected symptoms of pregnancy.

Last medically reviewed on November 20, 2019

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How we reviewed this article:

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Hasan KM, et al. (2002). Skin capillary density changes in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12473869
Lamppa JA. (2018). What causes vulvar varicosities during pregnancy, and how can I relieve the related discomfort?
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/vulvar-varicosities-during-pregnancy/faq-20419426
Severe vomiting in pregnancy. (2019).
nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/severe-vomiting-in-pregnancy-hyperemesis-gravidarum/

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Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M.D. — By The Healthline Editorial Team on November 20, 2019

Why do your lips swell when you're pregnant?

When she was pregnant with her twins, Beyonce had to deny that she'd had lip fillers while pregnant after sharing a photo on Instagram of herself complete with baby bump and oh-so-fulsome lips.

At the time, her rep explained that the pop icon had not had any kind of lip enhancement - but that her new, fuller lips were one of the symptoms of her pregnancy.

Here at MFM HQ, we went on to hear mentions of pregnancy lips from other expectant stars, too.

So, are pregnancy lips something that really can happen? Here's what you need to know...

Celebs share their 'pregnancy pouts'

Jacqueline Jossa, who is expecting her 2nd baby, seemed surprised when her lips started to plump up.

She wrote beside a picture of her fuller lips: "The pout on that!! Jeeez!! Sometimes through this pregnancy I think my lips must be swollen they seem bigger than usual!

"Also feeling more tired this week!! Taking it out of me! 4d scan tomorrow which is always exciting!! (Someone tell me face)"

Meanwhile, tennis ace Serena Williams, now mum to baby Alexis Olympia, told her Instagram fans in a story that she'd actually been WAITING for her lips to swell while she was pregnant.

She posted excitedly: "Pregnancy lips are finally here! I'm SOOOOO excited! LOL haha".

Celeb mum Amy Childs also confessed to noticing a fullness in her lips while she was pregnant with her daughter, Polly.

So, it would seem then that they definitely are a thing - but what do they experts say?

Can lips

really swell or appear fuller during pregnancy?

Gail Johnson, Education Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, told MFM exclusively:

“During pregnancy the action of hormones means that blood vessels dilate more which can mean that the body retains more fluid in the tissues during pregnancy.

"This is often most common in the lower limbs, but can also happen elsewhere for example the fingers, the face and sometimes the lips.

"The lips have good surface blood vessels network which give the lips their colour and also are sensitive due to many nerve endings.

"The pregnancy hormones both increase the volume of blood circulating and relax blood vessels so they are fuller. In addition oestrogen keeps the fullness of lips and of course this hormone is gradually increased all through the pregnancy."

Are fuller lips in pregnancy something to worry about?

Right, so, pregnancy lips are totally a thing... but should you panic? Definitely not, says Gail.

“If this happens women should not be worried, as it will generally settle down by itself," she tells us.

So, swelling in the lips is generally nothing to worry about, but Gail does gives us a good reminder to watch out for swelling in other areas.

"If women do have swelling in their limbs they can take some simple actions to reduce the swelling such as keep cool, avoiding standing for long periods and put their feet up as much as possible," she says.

“While women should not worry about swelling in pregnancy, it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia although it is important to note that most women with swelling don't have pre-eclampsia.

"If the swelling occurs suddenly and is not relieved by rest or is accompanied by symptoms such as severe headache, problems with vision, severe pain below the ribs or vomiting, then it could be pre-eclampsia and women should contact their midwife or doctor immediately. "

There you have it. Pregnancy lips, it seems, are just another one of those strange symptoms you can get when you're expecting.

A bit how your like your hair can change or that funny metallic taste so many of us get in our mouths - they are, simply put, just one more of the odd things our body does when it's growing a little human inside it ?

Images: Stock shot/Serena Williams on Snapchat

Read more:

6 more weird things pregnancy can do to your body
8 spooky clues you might be pregnant
The worst things partners have said to their pregnant other halves

Swollen lips during pregnancy | mother today

Swollen lips during pregnancy Does not indicate anything serious. but yes, in many cases you can show that the woman is reaching the last stage of her pregnancy or that she is reporting severe fluid retention. Its manifestation may report any of the symptoms detailed below.

This is not the first time a pregnant woman has achieved her pregnancy may coincide with some symptoms which are exposed with significant facial changes. While signs such as puffy lips do appear, a round face or more patchy skin may mean the obvious is already happening.

Index

1 Is swollen lips during pregnancy a problem?
2 Causes of swollen lips during pregnancy
3 Other changes in the face of a pregnant woman

Is swollen lips during pregnancy a problem?

Swollen lips during pregnancy this may manifest itself , not all women suffer from this symptom. As stated, it may report very little irritation but nothing to indicate anything is wrong.

You must think that This may be due to fluid retention. and therefore its fact may be temporary. If improved circulation is achieved during pregnancy may relieve this symptom . As the best advice, is recommended to eat a healthy and balanced diet, including foods rich in potassium. D moderate exercise , adapting it to the state of pregnancy.

Causes of swollen lips during pregnancy

Swollen lips can be a symptom of several things. The best hypothesis that has been identified is due to fluid retention caused by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.

You need to understand that a pregnant mother has more blood in her body so that the child can eat the substances necessary for its development. If the cause is caused by due to severe local edema or generalized it is necessary to prevent fluid retention during pregnancy with a set of guidelines.

Weight gain is also a symptom of the accumulation of large amounts of fat in the body. The morphology of the body and, as a result, the face changes, mainly due to an increase in the volume of the lips.

It may also be due to an allergic reaction , or due to inappropriate food or drink intake, medication, use of cosmetics, or due to contact with any airborne particle or due to contact with any material which causes a reaction.

A problem arises when this allergic reaction coincides with pregnancy, as it can cause confusion. When the pregnancy ends, swollen lips should return to their natural state, but if this does not happen, the cause will have to be analyzed.

Other changes in the face of a pregnant woman

There are other changes that may appear in the face of a pregnant woman. Melamine increases during pregnancy and this manifests itself in greater skin tone, especially with more freckles or so-called chloasma.

chloasma These are spots that appear due to this hormonal influence and appear more intense when the face is exposed to the sun. For this it is convenient to use sunscreen so that these permanent stains do not remain.

At the last stage of pregnancy, increased fluid retention in the body may appear, being the person where this will be most noticeable. The lips thicken and become much more fleshy, therefore, this is one of the signs indicating the proximity of childbirth.

rhinitis is also present, manifested by a continuous flow of mucus in the nose, giving in some cases the appearance of nasal congestion and even affecting the tonality of the voice.

spider veins They may also be present, appearing mainly on the cheeks. These changes in the face can become very annoying and uncomfortable, but you must think that they are only for a moment. Once the baby is born, the effects will disappear and many of these effects can be hidden with makeup.

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parts of the body (other than the abdomen) that increase during pregnancy

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Let's start with what we recall - edema itself (not accompanied by symptoms of preeclampsia) is a normal reaction of the body to pregnancy, because blood volume and other body fluids in expectant mothers increases by about 50 percent. So, here's what you can get swollen during pregnancy. And yes, it can all inflate at the same time, individually, or one at a time.

As your uterus grows, so does the pressure it puts on your organs, including your veins and lymphatic tissue. Against the background of an increase in the amount of blood in the body, the process of removing fluid from the limbs slows down. The situation can be improved by switching to shoes with flat soles, as well as compression stockings properly selected by the doctor, which are best worn in the morning. Rest with legs raised up also contributes to the reduction of edema.

The nose and lips usually swell as a pair - and the same increased volume of fluids in the body is to blame. Because of them, small vessels in the sinuses dilate, and a woman may feel like her nose is clogged. Moreover, in some pregnant women, a swollen nose may begin to bleed, especially if it is actively scratched and picked (for example, due to severe dryness, itching, or allergic reactions). Bleeding from the nose should not be frightening, but the gynecologist still needs to be told about them so that the doctor is aware of such a reaction of the body to pregnancy. As for the lips, for many, swelling is a positive thing in this whole series of edema. But if not, wipe them with an ice cube from time to time during the day, this will relieve swelling a little.

Pregnancy often causes or exacerbates bleeding gums. It's easy to notice - when brushing your teeth, you can taste the blood and see it on the brush and in the paste that you spit. During pregnancy, in any case, it is necessary to visit the dentist - at least once. If you have bleeding gums, talk to your doctor about it, and he will select a toothpaste and brush that suits your situation.

Normally, the face, and especially the sensitive area under the eyes, swells slightly in all pregnant women. As soon as the baby is born, all excess fluid will begin to leave (and then you will start to sweat wildly, do not be alarmed!), And the face will return to normal. In the meantime, save yourself with cold cucumbers (outwardly) and cool compresses. If swelling causes discomfort and concern, be sure to see a doctor.

These are all hormones - they prepare the breast for lactation, the signs of the existence of which in the form of secretion of colostral fluid, you can already notice in the second trimester. During pregnancy, the breasts can increase by three sizes, the nipples, areola and Montgomery's glands will also become larger and more noticeable. At the same time, the breasts will become even more sensitive than usual, so you will need to take care of buying comfortable soft underwear for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Particularly severe swelling of the upper extremities occurs in the third trimester. A feeling of heaviness in the hands and sometimes even numbness of the fingers is a common syndrome that accompanies the last third of pregnancy. At this stage, it is best to give up jewelry, reduce the amount of salt consumed and give yourself a brush massage. In severe cases, wearing a wrist stabilizer may help.

Yeah, the vulva and vagina are also swollen, imagine. Because there are also veins. And all the organs in which there are veins, one way or another, will experience the consequences of an increase in the volume of blood in the body of the expectant mother. The intimate parts of the body are in close proximity to the growing uterus, so they have to endure its pressure and react to it with swelling that is sometimes very noticeable to the eye.