What causes swelling in pregnant women? Traditional methods of treating leg swelling

Edema during pregnancy later- a common phenomenon. The last months of gestation are considered the most difficult for a woman: body weight increases, the growing baby requires space in the abdomen, so there may be compression of some nerves and blood vessels, as well as the intestines.

The pastiness of the limbs itself does not pose a threat, but then why are doctors so afraid of its appearance and closely monitor the condition of the pregnant woman? The fact is that edema can be one of the signs of late-term toxicosis, which poses a threat to the life of both mother and child.

Swelling on the face

The less time remains before the baby is born, the more often women experience facial swelling, especially in the morning. Initially, swelling of the eyelids appears; in more severe cases, the contour of the face changes.

Often, expectant mothers complain for no apparent reason. This occurs due to the fact that fluid is retained in the tissues, the vessels of the nasal concha dilate, which makes it difficult for air to pass through.

For the mother, this condition is practically harmless, but it is better to seek treatment from a doctor, as this can cause disruption in the supply of oxygen to the child, which negatively affects its development.

Swelling of the legs

Swelling of the legs occurs first during pregnancy. Particularly pronounced pastiness occurs in the evening, as liquid accumulates in the body and, under the influence of gravity, sinks into the body. lower limbs.

When in a horizontal position, the water is again evenly distributed throughout the body, so in the morning the woman wakes up without strong signs of pastiness. If this happens, then there is no reason to worry - this is a normal state for an expectant mother.

When swelling of the legs is constantly present during late pregnancy, this may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the whole organism. In this case, a mandatory consultation with a therapist is required.

With an intense increase in swelling, if the legs, arms, back, abdomen and face swell during late pregnancy, the woman needs urgent hospitalization, as this is one of the first symptoms of gestosis.

Swelling of the fingers

Women are especially often concerned about swelling of the hands and fingers during late pregnancy. . A slight tingling and numbness occurs, it becomes difficult to squeeze the palm tightly, and the rings cannot be removed - they dig into the fingers.

If only the hands are swollen, but the pastiness is not detected anywhere else, then this may be an individual feature or a mark of the profession. When working monotonously at the computer, while embroidering or knitting, the hands are in a sedentary state, which causes their swelling.

If the legs swell first, then the arms, and the woman notices that the swelling rises higher and higher during pregnancy in the later stages, the gynecologist must be immediately informed about this.

Hidden swelling

While carrying a child, the doctor constantly monitors weight gain not only to track how many extra pounds the pregnant woman has gained. A sharp jump in body weight may indicate accumulation of water in the internal organs.

The greatest danger comes from hidden edema during pregnancy, which appears in the later stages: a woman may not even be aware that she is accumulating excess fluid.

You can identify hidden swelling yourself. To do this, it is necessary to compare the amount of fluid consumed and excreted. If less than 75% of the water you drink is excreted, this indicates that it is accumulating in the tissues.

When should you see a doctor?

If swelling appears on your legs, you should inform your gynecologist about this during a routine examination. If you notice that the swelling is getting worse and worse, you should immediately visit a doctor. During pregnancy, excessive vigilance only benefits both mother and baby.

Which doctor should I contact?

If fluid accumulates in the tissues of pregnant women, examination by a therapist is required. If he cannot independently identify the cause of this condition, then the doctor prescribes consultations with specialized specialists (phlebologist, endocrinologist, urologist).

Survey

External swelling of the extremities in late pregnancy is quite easy to determine, and they are also less dangerous than hidden ones. The pastiness of soft tissues is determined by pressing on the skin - if a dent remains, which persists for some time, this indicates an accumulation of fluid.

If hidden edema is suspected, an analysis of the protein content in the urine is required, as well as blood pressure monitoring, and daily diuresis is monitored.

Treatment

Before you try to relieve swelling on your own in late pregnancy, you need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of this condition.

Medication

Drug therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor according to indications.

To reduce swelling of the extremities, the following drugs are usually recommended:

Canephron. Medicine, consisting of phytocomponents - rosemary and lovage extract. It has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antiseptic effects.
Eufillin. Has a diuretic effect. It is not permissible to use for heart disease and low blood pressure.
Phytolysin. A herbal medicine that allows you to cope with mild swelling.
Lipoic acid and vitamin E. This complex improves the condition of a pregnant woman, restores disturbances in placental blood flow, and prevents the occurrence of hidden edema.

ethnoscience

To eliminate swelling that occurs during late pregnancy, you can not only adhere to a salt-free diet, but also take relaxing foot baths, after which you should position yourself so that your feet are elevated. A foot massage using ice cubes will help relieve the condition. Diuretic decoctions (bearberry, horsetail, kidney tea), cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks are effective.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of edema occurring during late pregnancy, you need to follow simple rules:

lead active image life;
eat right and limit salt intake;
drink enough water;
alternate periods of activity and rest;
avoid overheating.

Swelling of the arms and legs during pregnancy causes considerable discomfort. If edema occurs during pregnancy in the later stages, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor, since their timely treatment will prevent the development of gestosis.

Useful video about edema during pregnancy

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Swelling occurs in most pregnant women, but is this normal? The article provides more details about the problem and ways to solve it.

Almost every woman experiences edema of varying severity during pregnancy. Some accumulation of water in her body is considered physiological and is not a reason for concern.
But there are cases when the feet and legs of expectant mothers swell so much that it is impossible to wear shoes, and soon the swelling spreads to the stomach, arms and face
This is already a sign of pathology. In order not to worry about herself and the baby, to identify and solve the problem in time, a woman needs to know why swelling appears, how to prevent it and quickly remove it

Swelling of the legs and feet during pregnancy, what to do?

Swelling of the legs indicates that an excessive amount of fluid is accumulated and retained in the body. According to medical data, 80% of expectant mothers face this problem.

There are 4 stages of excessive accumulation of fluid in the body

- legs swell
- hands swell
- stomach and face swell
- general dropsy

IMPORTANT: It is very easy to determine that the limbs are swollen. It is enough to lightly press your finger on the increased area. If there remains a depression on the skin that will “tighten” slowly, it means that there is swelling.

Swelling of the legs in a pregnant woman, no matter how strange it may sound, can be a normal variant. To new life formed, in order to provide it with all the necessary substances, the mother’s body needs more fluids - water, as a structural element of cells, as well as blood and lymph.

By the end of pregnancy, a woman's fluid volume increases by 5-8 liters. The human body is smart, it needs all this in order to:

a woman’s blood has become less viscous and more “fluid” in order to better provide the child with oxygen and nutrients
to recover faster from blood loss during childbirth

A dent after pressing with a finger is a sign of swelling.

Swelling of the legs, as a rule, appears after the 20th week of pregnancy, if it does not indicate pathology, is not pronounced and does not increase intensively, closer to the second half of the day.

The feet and legs “swim”, the shoes begin to put pressure. To relieve the discomfort caused by it, a woman needs only:

review your menu for the ratio of water and salt
walk less
periodically rest with your legs elevated
drink a mild diuretic herbal drink

IMPORTANT: According to the observations of doctors, edema not associated with pathology is most often observed in women of short stature and overweight

There are also cases when the legs of pregnant women begin to swell rapidly. First the feet increase in volume, then the ankles and legs, then the swelling spreads to the stomach, arms and face.

This speaks of pathology. It can be associated both with the pregnancy itself and with some unrelated disease.

Edema in the 2-3 trimesters can occur due to impaired blood circulation due to compression of the blood vessels located in the pelvis by the growing uterus and fetus
The legs swell due to the fact that the growing uterus and fetus compress the ureters, the process of urine excretion is disrupted
A woman may have kidney problems, related or not related to the “interesting situation”. Before she became pregnant, there might not have been a symptom in the form of edema, but due to hormonal changes in the body, an increase in fluid volume and increased load on the kidneys, it appeared. Such pathology can be easily identified based on the results of blood and urine tests.
The cause of swelling of a woman's legs while expecting a baby can also be diseases of the cardiovascular system. In this case, in addition to an increase in the volume of her legs, she may be bothered by pain in the heart and shortness of breath
Very dangerous cause Accumulation of pregnant fluid in the body is called gestosis, in which the blood vessels spasm, blood clotting and fluidity are impaired, its circulation throughout the body is disrupted, as a result of which all organs suffer. Preeclampsia has a so-called symptomatic triad - swelling, proteinuria, hypertension

IMPORTANT: Excessive weight gain, more than 300 g per week, indicates excessive accumulation of fluid in the body of a pregnant woman.

A pregnant woman should be examined for edema at every appointment at the LCD.

A pregnant woman should not ignore the problem of leg swelling. At each appointment at the antenatal clinic, the doctor must not only weigh the expectant mother to determine how much she has gained, but also examine her limbs.

If this was not done, but the woman herself noticed swelling, for example, in the evening, she must tell the doctor about it. To decide what to do with swelling of the legs, you need to find out the reason why they formed.

VIDEO: Swelling of the legs in pregnant women

Swelling of the face and nose during pregnancy, causes

They say that while expecting a baby, a woman becomes most beautiful. Those expectant mothers who experienced swelling of the face and nose during this period will only laugh at this statement.

A pregnant woman's face may become swollen, rounded, puffy due to:

disturbances of water-salt balance
hormonal changes
disturbances in the outflow of lymph and blood
preeclampsia

IMPORTANT: The subcutaneous fat layer on the face is quite loose, so swelling on it is usually pronounced

During pregnancy, the nasal mucosa also swells, which causes a woman considerable discomfort. She may develop “pregnancy runny nose.” The cause of this phenomenon is considered to be hormonal changes. This condition is treated symptomatically.

Hands swell during pregnancy, what to do?

Hand swelling is the second stage of general swelling. Fluid accumulations are noted on the fingers and wrists
A woman can notice them only at the moment when the rings begin to put pressure, removing them becomes difficult or even impossible
Swollen hands become less sensitive and obedient, which can cause the expectant mother to suffer

IMPORTANT: It has been noticed that swelling of the hands more often appears in women for whom they serve as a “working tool” - those who sew, knit, work at the computer, write a lot, etc.

To get rid of swelling in the hands, in addition to general medications and folk remedies, a woman is recommended to do special gymnastics for her fingers and wrists.

VIDEO: Pain in the hands during pregnancy

Edema during late pregnancy

Edema during pregnancy, as a rule, appears in the later stages, when:

the size and weight of the fetus and uterus are already significant
accumulated in the woman's body a large number of liquids
chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems made themselves felt

IMPORTANT: It is from the 6th month of pregnancy that gestosis can appear, which is a dangerous condition for both the expectant mother and her baby

Treatment for edema during pregnancy with drugs and medications

Whenever swelling appears, from the very beginning of pregnancy or in later stages, it is necessary to find out its cause and, if necessary, treat it.

In addition to an external examination, the following diagnostic techniques help the doctor confirm swelling:

Urinary control. If the expectant mother is healthy, the volume of urine she produces should be 75% of the liquid she drinks. If diuresis is less, fluid retention in the body can be assumed
Ankle measurements. Swelling becomes more obvious in the evening. If the volume of the ankle in the evening is 1 cm or more greater than in the morning, this indicates swelling of the legs
Blister plug. A saline solution is injected under the skin on the woman's shoulder. If there is no excess fluid in the tissues, the solution should resolve within 60-90 minutes

Canephron is a drug that removes excess fluid from a pregnant woman’s body.

Symptomatically, edema is treated with pharmaceutical drugs from various groups:

Diuretics. They are used extremely rarely, since, together with urine, they wash away beneficial substances from the body, contribute to a significant decrease in blood pressure, increase cholesterol and blood sugar, negatively affect the heart and kidneys, in a word, they can lead to a condition that is dangerous for the expectant mother and her baby. If such drugs are prescribed, then these are Furosemide, Lazex or Hypothiazide. In case of gestosis, diuretics are completely contraindicated
Light drugs with a diuretic effect, including herbal ones. They are designed to remove excess fluid from a woman’s body. These are Canephron and Fitolysin
Antispasmodics. They are prescribed to optimize blood circulation. This is No-shpa, Magne V 6
Vascular strengthening drugs. They make the walls of blood vessels strong and elastic. This is Khofitol and Kurantil

Hofitol is a drug for strengthening blood vessels during edema.

How to get rid of edema using folk remedies? Lingonberries and cranberries for edema during pregnancy: recipes and applications

If a woman does not have allergies, with the permission of a doctor, she can start taking it for swelling folk remedies– herbal teas, decoctions or infusions. They have decongestant properties and are not prohibited during pregnancy:

green tea
dried apricots
cowberry
cranberry
pumpkin
centaury
bear ears
horsetail
bearberry

RECIPE: Dried apricot decoction for edema in pregnant women

Needed: 8-10 dried apricots, 0.5 liters of boiling water.
Dried apricots are poured with boiling water and left overnight. In the morning, the resulting decoction is divided into three doses and drunk half an hour before meals.

RECIPE: Lingonberry leaf decongestant

The herbal medicine can be bought ready-made at the pharmacy. It is brewed and drunk according to the instructions or recommendation of a doctor. Typically, this is 1 filter bag or 1 teaspoon of herb per 200 ml of boiling water. Take half a glass of lingonberry leaf tea before meals.

RECIPE: Cranberry for pregnant women against edema

You need: cranberries – 1 glass, water – 1 liter, sugar and honey to taste
Pour water over the berries, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Infuse the drink for 1 hour. Once cooled, it is sweetened or flavored with honey.

IMPORTANT: Cranberry and lingonberry juices will also help with mild edema

How to avoid edema during pregnancy? Prevention of edema

To avoid problems with edema during pregnancy, a woman needs to:

Take control of your own health. It is advisable to undergo a complete medical examination before pregnancy, or at least during pregnancy. early stages. Then it will be possible to timely identify health problems that may result in swelling, and take appropriate measures
Eat properly. The amount of salt consumed should be reduced. Fatty and fried foods, canned food, smoked foods, and pickles also contribute to fluid retention in the tissues. Therefore, it is better not to eat all these harmful things.
Drink water. Then its movement in the tissues will be optimal
Move. Even small ones physical exercise– this is the prevention of edema
Strengthen the walls of blood vessels. For preventive purposes expectant mother Vitamin E may be prescribed

spend more time outdoors
alternate physical activity with rest
refuse to perform monotonous actions with hands and feet
sleep and rest with your feet on a small hill
exclude coffee

If a woman experiences swelling during pregnancy, it is important for her to follow all recommendations. After all, if there is swelling on the outside, there is also on the inside. This means that the blood circulation of organs, including the uterus, suffers.
Judging by the reviews, the measures to eliminate edema recommended by the doctor are effective.

VIDEO: Edema during pregnancy. What to do with swelling during pregnancy

Are you interested in knowing why your legs swell during pregnancy? How dangerous are swelling of the legs during pregnancy, why do they occur, what is the reason and how to deal with them.

What is edema and the reasons for its appearance

One of the complications of pregnancy is swelling. It affects the legs, arms, face. It happens to almost all expectant mothers after 22 weeks, but it manifests itself strongly already by 35.

Why do my legs swell at 38 weeks of pregnancy? The appearance of edema is promoted by an increase in fluid in the body. This is how symptoms of gestosis appear, which can be dangerous in the last trimester of pregnancy. The main causes of disturbances during pregnancy:

excess fluid in the body;
there are varicose veins on the legs;
kidney function is impaired;
uncomfortable shoes and clothes;
disruption of the thyroid gland and heart;
frequent diarrhea;
acute thrombophlebitis;
gestosis (read the article Gestosis during pregnancy >>>).

Swelling in the legs and arms occurs with joint diseases, with venous insufficiency, if the expectant mother moves little, she has excess weight. In any case, you need to visit a doctor.

The cause of swelling is not always clear. The gynecologist will prescribe you to undergo additional examination.

You will need to have an ultrasound of your kidneys and blood tests;
The main task of a woman is to count urine output (read also an article on a related topic: Frequent urination during pregnancy >>>);
It is necessary to record the volume of fluid consumed and the amount of urine excreted. If there is not enough urine, you will be prescribed special therapy.

Swelling may depend on the weather and time of day.

If swelling appears suddenly on the face and hands, this is very dangerous. This disrupts the blood supply and increases blood pressure;
In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic veins, which leads to stagnation of blood in the lower extremities;
Swelling of the ankles and feet during pregnancy can be caused by a lack of potassium when a woman consumes salty foods, canned and smoked foods, and caffeine.

This pathology has 4 stages of manifestation:

first the legs swell;
then the hips, stomach and lower back;
face and hands;
whole body.

In the later stages, when the uterus puts a lot of pressure on the bladder, pathology arises from poor urine outflow.

What are the dangers and is everyone at risk of edema during pregnancy?

Swelling during this period is not always dangerous.

At this time, sodium salts accumulate in the body of the expectant mother, attracting water;
When certain factors affect the body, physiological edema develops, which is considered a completely normal phenomenon during this period and should not cause concern;
If it occurs, you just need to remove the cause.

Legs swell greatly during pregnancy, when there are disorders in a woman’s body that affect her health;
In this situation, swelling is accompanied by weakness, high blood pressure, high temperature and it becomes difficult for a woman to move;
In this case, the pathology occurs in another part of the body, and not just on the legs.

Attention! Severe swelling is a symptom of preeclampsia, which leads to a sharp rise in blood pressure and rapid weight gain. In severe forms of preeclampsia, vision decreases, irritability and abdominal pain appear, and the head hurts severely.

It can also be a sign:

blood clot in the legs;
poor circulation;
presence of sugar in the blood;
heart and kidney failure.

Sometimes accompanied by numbness of the limbs, discomfort and pain.

Pathological edema is associated with a violation of water-salt metabolism in the body, when the outflow of blood and lymph through the veins of the legs occurs incorrectly and, at the same time, the blood thickens.

Important! Ignoring the problem threatens to disrupt the connection between the expectant mother and the baby through the placenta, hypoxia, and termination of pregnancy.

Swelling in different trimesters of pregnancy

In the first trimester, swelling is not visible. In the second trimester, if swelling appears before the 36th week, then doctors consider this a pathology of early gestation. At this stage, this problem is associated with chronic diseases that worsened during gestation. In this case, the gynecologist sends the woman for an examination of the heart and kidneys.

Legs, in the early stages, may swell for the following reasons:

initial stage of varicose veins;
there is a predisposition to kidney problems;
the woman drinks a lot of fluids;
abuse of salty foods.

Swelling of the legs during late pregnancy is considered absolutely normal. During this period, swelling occurs in the arms and legs, face, abdomen and neck. In recent months, in severe form, they can spread throughout the body. The provoking factors for the appearance of edema in the later stages are:

Multiple pregnancy;
Preeclampsia;
Chronic diseases;
Eating large amounts of sweets and fatty foods.

Of course, this problem in the later stages signals the presence of a serious illness.

To diagnose this disease, the doctor will take blood and urine tests and do an ultrasound. As additional diagnostic methods, it is possible to do Dopplerography and coagulogram. Treatment requires hospitalization. This is important for preserving the life and health of both the baby and the woman herself.

It is quite natural for your legs to swell at 36 weeks of pregnancy. Indeed, under the pressure of the fetus, the vessels of the legs narrow and, as a result, blood flows poorly to the legs. But if the expectant mother suddenly gains weight, then she should be under the supervision of a doctor.

If this problem is not treated, it will lead to impaired blood circulation in the placenta, which can lead to hypoxia in the baby and premature birth.

Know! In the presence of eclampsia and preeclampsia, a pregnant woman experiences leg cramps, which cannot always be eliminated; the woman loses consciousness, and if the situation is advanced, she falls into an eclamptic coma.

How to get rid of swelling

How to get rid of leg swelling during pregnancy? First, you need to determine the cause. It will not be possible to completely remove them, but you can alleviate the condition. The following tips can be applied:

consume less salt;
Drink no more than 1 liter of water per day;
do not abuse fatty and sweet foods (read the article

By morning, as a rule, they go away and if this problem is regulated by diet, then there is no particular reason to worry. But such symptoms are the beginning of very serious complications. If they are associated with varicose veins, renal and heart failure, gestosis. If you have these diseases, you should consult a doctor before becoming pregnant, as pregnancy can complicate the disease.

Causes

Swelling is the concentration of excess fluid in the tissues or the restructuring of the entire body to retain fluid. Inflammation, bites, and injuries lead to some swelling. General edema changes the condition of the entire body.

First of all, the face and legs swell, then sometimes the stomach and arms are added. Most women are familiar with edema and consider it normal during pregnancy. Then why are doctors so attentive to edema? They prescribe diets and monitor tests.

Why are they so dangerous? It depends on the causes of edema.

normal edema (changes in a pregnant woman’s body cause an additional need for water)
varicose veins (changes in the uterus disrupt normal blood flow in the extremities, which leads to the formation of nodes, swelling, pain in the legs)
renal failure (causes swelling in any trimester, the load on the kidneys increases and they cannot always withstand it)
gestosis (late toxicosis, diagnosed by a combination of three signs: edema, high blood pressure and protein in urine)

How do you know if you have swelling? Symptoms, signs of edema

Obvious swelling

Swelling on the face
Manifestation of edema: the face becomes rounded, the eyelids swell, the nose swells. Loose fiber, like a sponge, retains liquid.

Hormonal changes also cause a runny nose. The mucous membrane of the nose swells, breathing becomes difficult. Rhinitis appears at the same time of day and at a particular stage of pregnancy, but can accompany the entire period. With the termination of pregnancy, it disappears without a trace. Its danger is that a child with breathing problems may experience a lack of oxygen.

Nasal swelling may be a symptom of allergies, analyze all possible sources: houseplants, detergents, Pets

Swelling of the hands
The hands are much more likely to suffer from this disease. There is tingling, burning, and numbness in the limbs. The most famous symptom is the ring: if previously it was loose, now it is difficult to remove.

Women who work a lot on the computer, do needlework, sculpting, or any monotonous repetitive work are prone to such swelling. Do exercises for your arms; periodic rest won’t hurt either. If these symptoms are combined with swelling of other parts of the body, you need medical advice.

Swelling of the legs
Swelling of the legs is the most common phenomenon due to the force of gravity. The legs are noticeably enlarged, there is a mark from socks on the ankle, it is impossible to wear the same shoes. As a rule, such swelling appears in the third trimester.

If such swelling does not go away by the morning, and other parts of the body swell along with the legs, then it is necessary to be examined; perhaps this is a manifestation of late toxicosis - a dangerous phenomenon for mother and child.

How to detect obvious swelling?
If you press on a part of the lower leg where there are no muscles, a dent will remain on the skin that will not disappear after 10 seconds. If the swelling has spread throughout the body, the dent will remain on the sacrum. There is a rubber band mark on the ankle, the shoes are too small.
Swelling of the hands: the ring that was free before pregnancy now does not rotate; you can try the first method on your hands.

Hidden swelling

Such edema may be indicated by an abnormal increase in body weight (more than 300 g per week), provided that over the entire 9 months the pregnant woman should gain no more than 12 kg, the rest is always excess. The doctor may prescribe monitoring of fluid intake and urine output.

If the difference is more than ¼ plus weight gain, a McClure-Aldrich test is performed to check for tissue pastiness. Sodium chloride is injected under the skin. A blister forms at the injection site and usually lasts for an hour. With hidden edema, the blister does not appear at all or will disappear earlier.

How dangerous (and is it dangerous?) edema during pregnancy?

If you have physiological edema, which can be eliminated by restoring your normal routine and diet, then you can get by with prevention. If you wake up in the morning swollen, with swelling all over your body, you urgently need to antenatal clinic.

Edema is dangerous not just because of physical and aesthetic discomfort. Often these are symptoms of serious illnesses. In any case, only after the examination the doctor will make a final conclusion: is your swelling “normal”?

Rapid weight gain of more than 20 kg (300g per week) will also be a serious reason, so you need to constantly monitor your weight. Even with normal health, ignoring swelling threatens to disrupt the connection in the “mother-placenta-fetus” system with possible fetal hypoxia and the threat of pregnancy.

Treatment and prevention

First you need to identify the real reason swelling. Sometimes it is enough to reduce salt intake, reduce physical activity, limit exposure to the sun, and ensure normal rest.

First trimester

When edema is detected, blood tests are checked every week and blood pressure is measured. This will help the doctor monitor the development of nephropathy. Treatment depends on the stage of pregnancy and the location of the swelling. At the first stage, you can get by with outpatient treatment, in the future - only hospitalization.

During a severe stage of pregnancy and the development of nephropathy, fetal hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) may occur and serious treatment cannot be avoided. The doctor prescribes medications to improve blood flow, metabolism, lower blood pressure, and herbal diuretics.

If the swelling is not physiological, then at the beginning of pregnancy they are clearly associated with disturbances in the functioning of the heart or kidneys. Cardiac edema appears if a woman has heart problems and they are localized exclusively in the lower part of the body - legs, lower back. Shortness of breath, tachycardia appear, the liver is enlarged, and the lips may turn blue.

Unlike cardiac edema, renal edema can be everywhere: start from the face (“panda effect”), later move to the arms and legs. The reason is worsening kidney disease. The sooner you seek help, the more successful the birth will be.

Second and third trimesters

Often, late edema is a clear symptom of gestosis (late toxicosis). The less attention you pay to such swelling, the more problems you and your child will have. You see only the external manifestations of the problem, without thinking about what is inside.

With gestosis, all tissues swell, including the placenta, uterus, liver and brain of a woman. This is a direct threat to pregnancy

Magnesium, vitamin E, and lipoic acid are usually prescribed for treatment.. It improves blood circulation, as well as the functioning of the kidneys and heart. Diuretics are rarely used (due to toxic effects on the fetus). In any case, such treatment can only be entrusted to a specialist, taking into account both the potential risks and benefits.

One and a half liters of water (can be with lemon), excluding other liquids- the norm for an expectant mother. Drink water often: 8 glasses daily help eliminate sodium and other waste, poisons, and toxins that affect swelling. Harmful, maybe berry juice.

The main treatment is a balanced diet– up to 3500 kcal per day (120 g protein, 350 g carbohydrates and 80 g fat). You can take prenatal vitamins.

Eat less salty foods, spices, carbonated drinks and foods containing sodium, avoid heavy gastronomic delicacies. Do not sit in one position for a long time, elevate your legs while sleeping, and do not neglect walks. Facilitates kidney function for 5-10 minutes.

If you spend the day on your feet, take breaks, wear comfortable shoes, refuse tight tights - allow blood to circulate freely.

10 hours of sleep required, day rest, limit emotional overload. Food should be protein with a minimum of fats and carbohydrates. Hot spicy foods increase capillary tone, thereby complicating the disease.

Practice fasting days once a week, consuming only one product during the day (in 5-6 doses). apple day(1.5 kg apples), curd(800g cottage cheese and 500 ml water), kefir(1.5 liters of kefir). Watermelon also works during fasting days, as it has an excellent diuretic effect.

Exercise is especially important for swelling. Walking, running, swimming, etc. will be helpful. Be sure to discuss your choices with your doctor.

In folk medicine there are many means of combating edema.

Lingonberry berries and flowers, hawthorn, bear's ears, bearberry leaf, horsetail, cherry stalks are excellent diuretics. The norm is a glass of decoction per day for a month. You can try an infusion of dried apricots: steam it overnight, eat it all in the morning before breakfast.

Cool foot baths help relieve swelling: the water should be comfortable (don’t catch a cold!). Hold your legs for 15 minutes, rest on your left side with your legs elevated. It's good to massage your feet.

Don’t get carried away with diuretic tablets, and you need to be careful with herbal medicine; consulting a doctor won’t hurt

Instead of a conclusion

There are four degrees of the disease:
1. Dropsy of pregnancy– swelling, weight gain, weakness, fatigue.

2. Nephropathy in pregnancy– protein is also added to the urine, blood pressure rises, if all three signs are present at the same time – a threat to pregnancy.

3. Preeclampsia– changes in the brain and fundus of the eye are added to nephropathy.

4. Eclampsia- convulsions begin - an extremely dangerous condition for mother and child.

Pregnancy is a crucial period in a woman’s life. While the child grows and develops, his life and health are completely in your hands. Observe correct mode nutrition and rest, attend antenatal clinics on time and motherhood will only delight you.