How can pregnant women avoid swelling in the summer? 5 doctor's tips

The nature of edema during pregnancy

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

Excessive water retention can be caused by an inflammatory process, a consequence of insect bites, or various types of injuries. In addition, various types of drinks can retain excess liquid, for example, mineral water, carbonated water.

Edema often accompanies various diseases. Thus, those suffering from kidney disease, heart patients, and diabetics encounter them more often than people unfamiliar with such problems.

At what time do they appear?

Swelling of the extremities appears at different times throughout pregnancy, this is due to the characteristics of the expectant mother’s body. In some girls they are noticeable from the 5th month, in others edema forms starting from the first trimester.

First trimester

Swelling in the early stages of pregnancy is a rare occurrence. As a rule, this happens with multiple pregnancies or with severe weight gain in the first months after conception. Poor elimination of fluid from the body is caused by diseases of the kidneys and cardiovascular system.

Also, one of the factors that provokes swelling is the use of nasal sprays in the treatment of colds. Any medicine should be used only after consultation with a supervising physician.

Second

In most cases, swelling of the limbs becomes noticeable in the last month of the second trimester. This is due to an enlarged uterus. In some cases, fluid retention in the body requires corrective treatment.

Consultation with a specialist is necessary if:

• weight gain of more than 300 grams per week;
• the volume of the lower leg increases by more than 1 cm per week;
• When pressed, pits appear that do not level out for a long time.

Third trimester

If swelling in late pregnancy is noticeable only on the legs, this is a normal option. When swelling affects the anterior wall of the abdomen and the thigh area, a doctor’s consultation is necessary, as these signs may indicate the development of gestosis in the body.

Toxicosis in the last weeks of pregnancy is divided into 4 stages:

• Stage 1, the so-called dropsy of pregnancy, is characterized by severe swelling of the limbs, weakness and fatigue;
• Grade 2 is called nephropathy. In addition to swelling, there is protein in the urine and surges in blood pressure in the body;
• Stage 3 - preeclampsia. The symptoms of nephropathy include fundus disorders and decreased blood circulation in the brain;
• Stage 4 is the most dangerous, called eclampsia. In this case, in addition to edema, convulsions, premature aging of the placenta and oxygen starvation of the fetus are observed.

Causes of edema during pregnancy

Pregnancy is not a disease, however, a woman’s body, being in this state, is transformed and significantly different from its previous appearance. Retention of more fluid in the body of the expectant mother is normal, natural, and this process begins almost from the first weeks of pregnancy.

Starting from about the eighth week, fluid accumulates, the total volume of which over the entire period reaches an average of 6-8 liters. Part of this strategic supply of water is required for the baby, placenta, and 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 much larger volumes than the real need arises. It is then that edema occurs during pregnancy, in later stages which can harm the health of both mother and baby.

Survey plan

To determine the presence of a problem in time, you need to regularly weigh yourself and measure the volume of your lower leg with a centimeter tape. If there is an increase of more than 1 cm within a week, then there is swelling. You can check whether excess water has accumulated in the body by measuring the daily volume of urine. Normally, this should be at least 75% of the liquid drunk.

To determine the cause, the doctor will first order a urine test; the presence of protein confirms swelling. In addition, a cardiogram is performed to assess the condition of the cardiovascular system. If there is a suspicion of an allergic nature of the edema, a test is performed to identify the allergen.

Types of edema during pregnancy

Water-salt metabolism in pregnant women undergoes physiological changes, resulting in possible pathologies in the form of edema. There are four types based on severity:

1. The first is characterized by swelling in the legs.
2. Second – stop, lower abdomen.
3. The third – swelling of the hands and face.
4. The fourth – generalized edema, otherwise called “dropsy”.

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy

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

Methods for determining edema

Swelling may be barely noticeable. In the morning there may be no problems, but in the evening, comfortable shoes begin to press, and a feeling of discomfort appears in the feet.

The first sign of swelling is uneven weight gain, as well as a weekly weight gain of over 300 grams on the scale.

To find out if there is swelling, you should lightly press the skin with your finger. If, after removing your finger, the skin does not immediately become smooth, this is the first alarm bell.

Swelling from week 20 is not normal. Its presence is a signal to draw the doctor’s attention to it.

Causes of swelling

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

There are several main causes of swelling:

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

Causes of swelling during pregnancy

Edema is the accumulation of fluid in the body in the intercellular space of any organ or part thereof. During gestation, such a phenomenon can occur due to physiological factors, or can be caused by various pathologies.

Physiological reasons

80% of any person is water. During the period of bearing offspring, a woman gains about 10 kg, half of this weight comes from liquid. Physiological edema is the accumulation of water in the tissues of a pregnant woman, provoked by an increased sodium content, which retains fluid in the body. In the last weeks of pregnancy, sodium levels can rise significantly, which causes swelling in the limbs and body as a whole.

Thus, there is no reason to panic if a pregnant woman, especially in the third trimester, begins to slightly swell her calves and feet in the afternoon or towards night. Also considered normal is swelling of the genitals and swelling of the nasal mucosa, which provokes difficulty in nasal breathing in the last month of gestation.

Pathological

Swelling in pregnant women can also occur as a result of various pathological conditions. Let us consider in more detail each type of such diseases.

Kidney problems

During gestation, a woman’s kidneys are placed under enormous stress, as a result of which kidney diseases can worsen and even develop, causing swelling. Most often, the accumulation of fluid in this case is observed in the face area, it looks puffy, the eyelids especially swell, bruises appear due to gases and the number of trips to the toilet “in small ways” decreases. Swelling of the arms, particularly the wrists and hands, often develops. The main diagnostic method in this case is a urine test; if edema is caused by kidney problems, the analysis will show the presence of protein in the urine.

Cardiac edema

During gestation, the volume of blood flowing in a woman’s body increases by almost half, which becomes an additional load for the “pump” that pumps it, that is, for the heart.

We advise you to read: Swelling and tingling of the legs during pregnancy

If a woman has heart problems, this may be indicated by swelling in the body, the formation of which will occur in the direction of gravity:

• if the patient constantly stands, swelling develops in the legs;
• If a pregnant woman is constantly in a lying position, her stomach and back will swell.

In addition to swelling, such patients have shortness of breath, mucous membranes turn blue, and persistent palpitations are noted.

Internal swelling

These are so-called hidden edema, which are not visible from the outside, but pose a huge danger to the development of the fetus.

Hidden swelling most often develops on the uterus, on the abdominal walls and in the placenta, which can cause compression of the umbilical cord vessels, and this can lead to the development of fetoplacental insufficiency.

Intestinal disorders

Swelling of the legs during pregnancy can be caused by problems in the digestive tract, for example, the limbs can swell due to intestinal dysfunction and frequent diarrhea.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy, which is the main cause of death in women at the end of pregnancy and several times increases the likelihood of death of the fetus or child in the first weeks after birth. Characteristic symptoms of the development of gestosis are severe hidden and visible edema, proteinuria, and high blood pressure. The more severe the manifestations of gestosis, the more points the condition is given on the Savelyeva scale:

• 0 points – no swelling;
• 1 point – swelling in a pregnant woman may appear on the legs (legs) or the woman’s weight generally increases; most often such swelling accompanies the 3rd trimester (36-40 weeks) and the birth itself;
• 2 points – the legs and anterior abdominal wall swell, most often at 30-35 weeks;
• 3 points are assigned to generalized edema that occurs in the early stages of pregnancy or accompanies the 2nd trimester.

Table — assessment of the severity of gestosis in points.

Thrombophlebitis

If a pregnant woman has swelling of her legs accompanied by pain in the thigh and lower leg, or one limb swells more than the other, you should immediately seek medical help, as these may be signs of thrombophlebitis.

Additionally, there may be an increase in temperature and redness of the skin on the legs.

Varicose veins

Pregnant women who suffer from varicose veins often have swollen legs, since the fetus, which is constantly increasing in size, aggravates the course of the disease and additionally loads the venous vessels already affected by the pathology.

Thyroid problems

If there are problems in the functioning of the endocrine organs and in particular the thyroid gland, not only the lower limbs, but also the tongue may swell. Additionally, the woman feels severe fatigue, fatigue, and a constant desire to sleep. Digestive problems may occur, and constipation usually develops.

Diseases of viral etymology

Recent viral illnesses can cause swelling in a pregnant woman. An infection wandering in the body causes complications on the kidneys; they function worse, as a result of which fluid is retained in the body, which causes swelling of the lower extremities.

What is gestosis during pregnancy

Swollen feet may be a sign of significant pathology. Along with swelling, there is too rapid weight gain. Swelling 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, you feel heaviness when walking, pressure increases, protein comes out along 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 by the presence of edema, often hidden.

Not all edema is already gestosis, and edema during pregnancy is not always 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 those that, at first glance, seem insignificant and harmless.

There can be no amateur activity in the treatment of such edema during pregnancy. If the disease is present, expectant mothers are hospitalized, since such edema during pregnancy is extremely dangerous.

Use gravity

To reduce swelling in the legs, it can be very useful to do gymnastics for pregnant women and, as often as possible, raise your legs slightly above body level.

During pregnancy, if there is increased swelling, it is better to give up heels and switch to more comfortable shoes. It should not rub, squeeze the leg, deform the foot, and ideally the feet should not sweat in it. If your feet have significant swelling, you may even need to buy shoes a couple sizes larger - don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with that. If everything is in order with your kidneys and heart, then almost immediately after childbirth the swelling will subside, and you will return to your usual shoes.

Swelling of the hands during pregnancy

Excess fluid may accumulate in the wrists and fingers. The volume of fluid gradually increases, resulting in swollen hands during pregnancy.

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

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

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

Reduce your sodium intake

Most of the sodium enters our body with table salt. Therefore, if you notice increased swelling in the summer, it is better to reduce to a minimum the amount of salty foods in your diet (sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, salty snacks, herring) and try to add as little salt to food as possible. This will reduce the amount of sodium in your body and, as a result, reduce swelling.

But don’t get too carried away with a salt-free diet - the lack of sodium is not good for the fetus, and its acute deficiency in some cases can even aggravate swelling.

Facial swelling during pregnancy

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

The face becomes unnaturally round in appearance. What to do when edema during pregnancy in the last stages manifests itself with renewed vigor - bring this to the attention of a specialist.

Treatment and prevention of swelling during pregnancy

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

Comfortable shoes and comfortable underwear made from natural fabrics, evening foot massages and baths, and 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 foods are removed from the diet, including salted mineral water, which it is advisable to exclude completely, as well as various sodas, the harmful effects of which do not at all justify the desire to quench thirst. Plain water, teas, juices, compotes can cope with restoring water balance without causing 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.). For swelling, it is recommended to drink water with a slice of lemon, tea with lemon (preferably without sugar), and lingonberry compote.

Kidney and other herbal infusions should never be taken without the advice of a doctor. Diuretic tablets are strictly prohibited for pregnant women.

How to relieve leg swelling during pregnancy

If your legs are swollen during pregnancy, the question is “what to do?” is asked millions of times to doctors. There is often no need to be treated with medication - minor swelling 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 your legs raised up 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 immerse the legs in a bowl of cool water for 20 minutes.

If there is slight swelling, you can lie down with a low cushion 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 your feet with a special anti-swelling gel - the doctor will help you choose the most effective one.

What to do when your hands and face swell

The legs usually swell first. But this swelling is already a signal to remove jewelry from your hands, especially rings, including wedding rings.

A glass of hot milk before bed helps relieve swelling and your face will feel better in the morning.

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

Folk remedies for relieving swelling

For centuries, mothers have collected folk recipes on how to relieve swelling during pregnancy. When deciding to try one of them, you should definitely tell your doctor about it.

Traditional recipes:

1. Dried apricots are a reliable assistant in the fight against edema. Recipe: pour boiling water over a handful of dried apricots overnight. In the morning before meals you should drink liquid, after which it is advisable to abstain from food for half an hour.
2. Carrot juice with pulp. Drink freshly prepared half a glass of juice in the morning on an empty stomach.
3. Pumpkin also has diuretic properties and is not harmful to pregnant women. Half a glass of juice once a day will be a tasty salvation from puffiness.
4. Birch sap - drink ½ glass twice a day.
5. Viburnum with honey. Recipe: Grind fresh viburnum berries. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into 250 ml of boiling water and heat in a water bath, without boiling, for 20 minutes. After cooling to room temperature, crush the strained liquid 2-3 times a day, a third of a glass. Before taking, add a little honey to the decoction (at the tip of a spoon).
6. Cranberry with honey. Recipe: Grind the berries with honey (or sugar). Eat 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day after meals.
7. Oat grains. Recipe: pour 1 tablespoon of oat grains into 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, 1/3 cup.

You should not use several products in one day. You can alternate every other day or weeks. After trying different options, you can choose the most suitable one for yourself.

The individuality of each individual organism cannot be excluded. Some products can cause different reactions, with sensitivity to a particular product. For example, viburnum can cause indigestion in some people.

Drugs recommended by doctors to relieve swelling

When it is not possible to relieve swelling with folk remedies, doctors prescribe medications, mainly herbal. Among them, the most often prescribed are:

• Canephron. Containing lovage root, centaury herb, and rosemary leaves, 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 contains alcohol.
• Phytolysin is an effective remedy based on extracts of the roots of parsley, pyraeus, herbs “Knotweed”, “Horsetail”, as well as pine, sage, mint and orange oils. Its disadvantage is that it is dangerous in the case of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, so it is prescribed only after a thorough examination.
• Euphilin, with a high content of aminophylline, also has a powerful diuretic effect. Contraindicated for heart patients, pregnant women with low blood pressure, and breastfeeding. Therefore, its use should be stopped before delivery. In addition, you should not take the drug on an empty stomach, as this is more likely to lead to side effects: dizziness, headaches, and intestinal disorders.

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

What to drink for edema during pregnancy?

You can remove tissue swelling during pregnancy using folk remedies: decoctions, infusions, fruit drinks and juices.
When edema occurs, you need to drink plenty of water, contrary to popular belief that fluids should be limited. Less consumption will be perceived by the body as a signal to store “in reserve”, therefore, in addition to liquid from the main food, you should drink as much water as required. From diuretics based on medicinal herbs, you can prepare decoctions and drink for swelling:

• fruit drink based on lingonberries and cranberries;
• rosehip decoction;
• infusion of birch or bearberry leaves;
• Dill water;
• kidney tea.

In addition to having a diuretic effect and removing excess water, such products will help strengthen the immune system and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
The body is saturated with a large number of vitamins and microelements that are found in medicinal herbs and fruits. Severe swelling caused by pregnancy is treated in a hospital hospital. In the 3rd trimester, drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow (magnesia, Magne B6, Magnerot) can be prescribed. Medicines that help reduce capillary permeability (canephron), diuretics (phytolysin) and other drugs that can treat edema and improve the functioning of internal organs.