Swelling of the feet and legs during pregnancy is very common. 80% of women suffer from it especially from week 30. If it is moderate it is considered normal and usually disappears with night rest. But, if you notice that your hands and face also swell, then you should inform the specialist who is treating you because it can be a symptom of other ailments.
The feet, ankles and legs are very common to swell in the late afternoon and, more if your third term coincides with the summer. This swelling is caused by an accumulation of fluids in the tissues, almost always, but we will tell you about other possible causes.
Why do pregnant feet swell up?
Swelling, also called edema, occurs in pregnant women As a cause of fluid retention, it is the natural consequence of the increase in your belly. This is in common terms, then we will tell you about other possible causes.
There comes a time, around week 30, or earlier if you have a multiple pregnancy, in which the abdomen is so large that it compresses the roots of the legs, which hinders the venous return and, with it, the lymphatic. The direct consequence is swollen feet and ankles, and also the legs from the knee down.
Swelling related to poor lymphatic drainage is accompanied by tiredness and heaviness in the legs. This feeling gets worse if you pass standing for a long time without walking or if you are overweight. Walking is highly recommended in both cases, do it with comfortable shoes, or better yet, barefoot.
Other causes of swelling
We have identified fluid retention and circulation problems as the general cause of bloating, but it can also be due to excess amniotic fluid. If you also have a multiple pregnancy, any of these causes can occur earlier. Age also influences when your legs swell more or less, because poor circulation in the legs is a natural process of aging of the veins.
If you see that the swelling is transferred to other areas of the body such as arms, hands or face; your feet have swollen in a very exaggerated and unusual way, with cramps and you have a difference in swelling between one leg and another, talk to the doctor, don't let it pass It will be the specialist who will make you a exploration of the area, since it could be preeclampsia, that is characterized by high blood pressure and liver and kidney damage. To avoid you must have a low salt diet and drink plenty of water.
Certain heart, kidney, or liver problems also cause swelling in the body, especially in the legs, feet, and ankles. A direct cause of the swelling is standing or sitting for a long time, If you can't help it, get up often, or use a footrest.
Recommended and not recommended methods to improve swelling
In theory any measure that improves venous return and lymphatic drainage will relieve swelling in your feet, but in the case of pregnant women there are effective methods that are contraindicated. This is the case of treatments with essential oils or some topical medications, which can be ineffective. We want to say little, obviously they relieve, but there are more effective ones.
If you see that your feet are very swollen, there are two treatments, lymphatic drainage and pressotherapy, They can be made tailored to the circumstances of a pregnant woman. It is very important that you do not take any medication to reduce swelling without consulting your doctor, and that you consult your doctor before undergoing massages.
Lymphatic drainage is a massage that is performed manually and seeks to push the fluid that accumulates due to poor venous return. Pressotherapy is based on the same principle but in a controlled way. Instead of a manual massage, a machine applies a pressure gradient. Pressotherapy should never compress the belly, not even the hips, so as not to harm the future baby. Pressotherapy also helps to relieve the discomfort and appearance of varicose veins in the legs.