Home Pain Swelling in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester. Swelling of the legs during pregnancy: causes and treatment

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Swelling in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester. Swelling of the legs during pregnancy: causes and treatment

Occurring for various reasons, but in almost all expectant mothers, puffiness is the most common complication. Especially often women who do not eat properly, drink little water, as well as those who bear a large fetus or several at once are at risk. And here you can not do without an individual approach and specially selected methods of dealing with edema.

Exactly what methods to treat puffiness during pregnancy should be decided by the doctor, therefore, before attempting to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, you need to consult with him. Most often, the treatment of edema involves the use of complex measures: from correcting the diet to prescribing diuretics.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the amount of fluid consumed. Contrary to popular belief, edema often occurs not due to excess water in the body, but due to a lack of it. The reason for one of the serious complications - gestosis, is precisely the lack of water and albumin in the blood of a pregnant woman: in this case, a natural process of fluid retention and accumulation occurs. Therefore, to avoid edema, you should drink at least 2-3 liters of water daily.

Movement is the best medicine for edema

To prevent fluid from accumulating in the body of a pregnant woman, you need to lead an active lifestyle. It is necessary not to linger in the same position for a long time. You can prevent swelling by doing a little warm-up hourly or by going for a short walk 2-3 times a day.

Swelling of the arms and legs can be relieved by lying down and lifting them up on a pillow. Sleeping on the left side also contributes to the prevention of edema: in this position, the organs that remove fluid from the body work better. After sleep, it is recommended to wear maternity underwear or high-waisted tights to reduce the strain on your legs during long walks and prevent swelling of the ankles and calves.

Diet for puffiness and gestosis

By following a certain diet, you can also fight puffiness. It is undesirable to eat foods containing sodium, such as olives, eat less salty and spicy foods, and avoid smoked meats.

It is necessary to exclude water, especially sweet water. Better to switch to fruit drinks and fruit drinks without sugar. By the way, many of them, prepared according to special recipes, are diuretics, for example, cranberry juice, viburnum or celery juice, dried apple peel compote. With the permission of a doctor, you can drink herbal teas from lingonberry leaves, horsetail or bearberry.

Swelling during pregnancy is not uncommon. Almost every woman in the last weeks of gestation is faced with this problem, but the violation can be expressed to varying degrees. You also need to understand that the cause of edema can be different, sometimes this symptom is a sign of severe pathology that is dangerous for the life of the mother and child.

Causes of edema during pregnancy

Edema is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the body. This phenomenon can be observed locally, for example, with an injury or an insect bite, or throughout the body. As a rule, general edema is always associated with a pathological condition that affects the entire body of a woman.

Edema occurs when there is fluid in the body and tissue that retains water.

If a woman drinks a lot, for example, in the heat, then the likelihood of edema increases. Especially if the patient consumes drinks that retain fluid in the body, for example, salty mineral water, soft drinks, sweet fruit drinks and juices, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Edema can be a consequence of the pathology of internal organs. So, cardiac, renal edema is secreted, and a violation is also manifested in diabetes mellitus and hormonal failure in a woman. Pregnancy is a condition that in itself increases the likelihood of developing edema, and this is not always associated with a serious illness.

The fact is that for the correct development of the fetus, it is necessary to increase the supply of fluid in the woman's body. Some of the water is used for blood production to provide the fetus with nutrition. Several liters are needed to fill the fetal bladder with amniotic fluid. Also, water is needed to prepare the mammary glands for feeding the baby.

Thus, the amount of total fluid in the pregnant woman's body increases by about 8 liters by the end of the third trimester. And the body does not always successfully remove excess, therefore, water can accumulate in the tissues of the body and the formation of edema of varying degrees.

Pathological edema can occur for several reasons, the mechanism of the development of pathology is quite complex. The following diseases become the cause of general edema during pregnancy:

Heart pathology. In this case, the blood flow rate is disturbed, which leads to the release of fluid from the vessels into the surrounding tissues. Swelling takes a long time, they are quite dense, and concomitant cardiac symptoms are also observed. For example, shortness of breath at rest, palpitations, pale skin, chest pain, etc.
Kidney disease. In this case, the kidneys cannot cope with the flow of fluid, which leads to its accumulation in the body. Signs of renal edema: pale skin, swelling of the eyelids, poor appetite, protein in the urine, the swelling itself is mild and affects the entire body.
Hypertension. With increased pressure, the permeability of the vessels increases and the fluid enters the surrounding tissues, damage to the kidneys and urinary system occurs. As a result, the formation of edema. Usually, in this case, the legs and face swell first.

All these disorders in pregnant women can be combined into a condition called preeclampsia or late toxicosis, which forms in the third trimester. Gestosis is characterized by impaired cardiac, renal function, increased blood pressure and the formation of edema throughout the body.

Risk factors

Doctors identify a risk group whose women are more likely to suffer from edema and other manifestations of preeclampsia during pregnancy:

Delivery too early. If a girl becomes pregnant at the age of 15-17, the likelihood of developing preeclampsia increases greatly. Despite the established menstruation, at this age, puberty has not yet ended. An unstable hormonal background often leads to the development of complications during gestation.
Late childbirth. If a woman becomes pregnant after 35 years, then the likelihood of edema also increases. With age, the body wears out, organs function worse than at 20-25 years old, and the presence of various diseases in the anamnesis does not have the best effect.
Preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. If a woman has a tendency to develop edema, then most likely the situation will repeat itself in subsequent pregnancies. Such women should be under strict medical supervision.
Severe toxicosis with persistent vomiting in the first half of pregnancy. It can be a consequence of pathology in the body, as well as the cause of impaired renal function.
Women who have worked or continue to work in hazardous industries.
Unfavorable living conditions, poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, a tendency to inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Multiple pregnancies. When carrying two children or more, the load on the body increases even more, the kidneys and heart may not be able to cope with it.

The likelihood of severe gestosis increases greatly if a woman has internal edema that was not detected in a timely manner.

Classification

First of all, it should be noted that edema is external and internal. External ones are visible with the naked eye: a woman's legs and arms swell, her face swells, and her stomach can also increase. Internal edema is not visible externally, which is very dangerous. Such a violation can only be identified by uneven weight gain.

In total, there are 4 degrees of external edema in pregnant women:

At the very beginning, swelling appears only on the legs.
Legs and lower abdomen are affected.
The face and hands are swollen.
The whole body swells, dropsy may appear.

Most often, pregnant women experience grade 1-2 edema, which does not harm the fetus with timely treatment. Swelling of the 3-4th degree is referred to as a serious condition that requires hospitalization, sometimes it is necessary to carry out emergency delivery - it all depends on the cause of this complication.

Gestosis in pregnant women can also be divided into 4 degrees:

The formation of dropsy is a local accumulation of fluid in the tissues.
Nephropathy is kidney damage.
Preeclampsia - accompanied by severe edema, high blood pressure, increased protein in the urine.
Eclampsia is the most severe form of preeclampsia, causing extremely serious complications, including pulmonary edema, placental abruption, fetal death, renal failure in the mother.

In some cases, the pathology can develop very quickly, therefore, women with even the smallest edema should be regularly observed in the antenatal clinic and treated. If the condition worsens, immediate hospitalization is needed.

Signs of edema during pregnancy

It is not always easy to detect edema during pregnancy, therefore, a woman should be regularly observed in an antenatal clinic starting from 12 weeks. This is very important, since only with the help of weight control, urinalysis, ultrasound diagnostics can the process of the gestation period be accurately tracked.

legs began to swell in the evenings;
fingers on hands swell, rings become tight;
if you press on the skin with your finger, a white spot and a dent is formed;
a sharp increase in weight. Normally, a woman gains 300 grams per week. With edema, the weight can jump by 1-1.5 kg or more, although the woman did not change the diet.

Edema against the background of preeclampsia may be accompanied by headaches, increased drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, increased uterine tone.

Diagnosis of edema is the prerogative of the gynecologist. The doctor prescribes a number of tests for a woman, in particular, urine and blood tests, measuring the volume of urine excreted per day, measuring blood pressure. All these procedures help to confirm the pathology and identify its causes.

Treatment of edema in pregnant women

Therapy for edema during pregnancy is carried out strictly under the supervision of a physician. There can be no question of any self-medication, this is indeed a very dangerous condition that can lead to the death of a child and the woman herself.

Treatment is usually medication. Prescribe drugs to lower blood pressure, diuretics, and a diet for edema. If the cause of the edema is, for example, inflammatory kidney disease (pyelonephritis), then a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.

The diet for edema will be different, depending on the cause of their development.

With gestosis, a balanced diet with an increased amount of protein is prescribed. In case of impaired renal function, for example, against a background of inflammation, protein is removed from the diet in the first few days of treatment to make it easier for the kidneys to work. Then protein food is gradually introduced in a small amount.

It is also necessary to observe the drinking regime. It is very important to drink enough liquid, at least 1.5 liters, but not to overdo it. Lack of water, as well as excess, leads to disruption of the vascular system and the formation of edema.

The same thing happens with salt. The complete exclusion of salt threatens to disrupt the function of the endothelium (a layer in the blood vessels), which is responsible for vascular tone. Violation of contractility leads to an increase in capillary permeability and edema.

Excessive salt intake is also negative, because sodium chloride tends to retain fluid in the body. Therefore, salt is not completely excluded, but its amount is reduced to 3-3.5 grams per day.

As you can see, the diet for edema can be different, so you do not need to limit yourself too much on your own. It is enough to exclude from the diet very salty, spicy, sweet, fatty. It is better to drink just purified water without gas, and steam, bake and boil food. It is very important that food is fractional, 5-6 times a day in small portions, so that it is easier for the body to cope.

fresh cranberries, cranberry juice and juice;
lingonberry juice, lingonberry leaf decoction;
watermelons;
cucumbers;
fresh pumpkin juice;
grapefruit, etc.

You can also alleviate your condition with the help of physical activity. Exercise for pregnant women from edema helps to improve blood circulation and fluid flow. Swimming is one of the most beneficial physical activities. Daily walks are also useful, but not too long, about 30-60 minutes a day, optimally - 30 minutes in the morning and in the evening.

At home, you can do a simple and effective exercise. You need to get on all fours and alternately smoothly pull one leg to the stomach, then straighten it back, repeat 5 times. Return to starting position and exercise on the other leg.

Prevention of edema during pregnancy

To prevent swelling during pregnancy, you must:

take a responsible approach to planning pregnancy, undergo a course of treatment for diseases if necessary;
it is desirable to become pregnant between the ages of 20 and 30;
be in a comfortable environment, live in a dry, warm room, dress in clean clothes;
adjust nutrition - it should be healthy, balanced;
avoid a passive lifestyle, but do not abuse physical activity;
be regularly examined in the antenatal clinic, take vitamins as needed and follow the doctor's recommendations.

Most often, edema with gestosis in pregnant women in the third trimester is associated with a hereditary predisposition, which is difficult to deal with. A woman can reduce the risk of complications if she adheres to preventive measures and is examined. Timely detection of edema will help to take timely measures to eliminate them and prevent premature birth and other complications.

Swelling is a phenomenon in which muscle tissue builds up fluid and squeezes blood vessels. It occurs in 80% of pregnant women and can occur anywhere on the body. But most often the legs suffer from excessive swelling.

What are the types of edema?

There are 4 degrees of puffiness - depending on how extensive the problem is:

1st - only the lower part of the legs swells, from the knee to the foot;
2nd - shins, feet, lower abdomen suffer;
3rd - the surface of the legs, hands, face swells;
4th - puffiness is observed throughout the body.

Latent edema may also occur during pregnancy. Outwardly, they are invisible, and are recognized by a sharp increase in body weight - more than 1 kg per week, a change in the oval of the face, swelling of the cheeks. The expectant mother feels pain and tingling in her limbs, as well as her legs.

Latent edema can be detected by monitoring the work of the excretory system: the daily volume of urine should be at least 75% of the total amount of fluid consumed. If the usual shoes have become small, and the wedding ring cannot be removed from the finger, swelling is to blame.

Reasons for the appearance

The following causes of ailment are distinguished:

The causes of puffiness also depend on the duration of pregnancy. In the first trimester, this phenomenon is observed in the presence of chronic diseases of the kidneys, heart, blood vessels. A woman must be observed by a doctor. In the second and third trimester, the fetus grows rapidly, and the uterus enlarges and presses on nearby organs, impairing their blood supply and causing swelling. This problem is especially relevant for women carrying a large fetus or twins.

If the legs are very swollen at the 9th month of pregnancy, a possible cause is preeclampsia. It occurs against the background of hormonal changes in the maternal body, which provokes the appearance of microscopic holes in the blood vessels. As a result, there is an outflow of fluid into the tissue, and the blood thickens. In this case, hospitalization is required.

After delivery, the edema disappears on its own within a few days. If not, the reason is not at all in pregnancy.

When do you need to see a doctor?

The accumulated fluid in the tissues impairs blood flow, first in the capillaries, and then in large vessels. This is how varicose veins arise - a phenomenon that affects 40% of expectant mothers. With this diagnosis, you need to be regularly examined by a doctor.

It is not so much the puffiness itself that is dangerous, but the reasons that caused it. These can be disorders of the kidneys, heart or endocrine system. It is worth worrying if:

All these are signs of gestosis, which can lead to hypoxia, developmental delay and fetal death.

How to deal with puffiness?

If your legs swell during pregnancy, try the following methods:

If a woman has gestosis, only special therapy is appropriate. With this malaise, the body suffers from dehydration, therefore, it is impossible to self-medicate and limit the volume of incoming fluid.

Often, women who are expecting a baby are faced with swelling of various parts of the body. The article below dispels the myths associated with this condition, as well as explains the reasons for its occurrence and possible methods for solving the current situation.

Edema during pregnancy: serious threat or avoidable phenomenon

Swelling during pregnancy is observed in 75% of women. The opinion of specialists related to the need to eliminate edema is ambiguous and depends on the history of a particular patient. The article below reveals the question in which situations such a condition requires immediate intervention, and when it is a physiological consequence of the changes undergone by the body.

Why appear during pregnancy: the main reasons

While waiting for the baby, the woman's body takes over the fulfillment of vital functions "for two." This also applies to the volume of fluid, which doubles in the process of carrying a child. At first glance, this fact can be considered a completely logical explanation for the occurrence of edema, proving the "naturalness" of the phenomenon under consideration during pregnancy. However, medical experts consider swelling to be a serious abnormality that requires an immediate decision on the prescribed treatment. The situation can be aggravated by the "companions" of edema: high blood pressure or protein in the urine of a pregnant woman.

Main reasons:

the presence of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, for example, gestosis;
insufficient daily intake of fluid;
frequent inclusion in the diet of fried, fatty or foods with a high content of salt and sugar;
clamping of the grown uterus of veins and lymphatic vessels;
physiological changes in the content of trace elements in the blood and tissues of a pregnant woman.

Signs: how to identify puffiness

To minimize the negative impact of puffiness on the body of the mother and child, it is important to diagnose it in a timely manner at the initial stage. In addition to edema visible to the naked eye, there is a likelihood of developing pasty tissue of the body (latent fluid retention).

Such serious deviations are determined by doctors during the examination and evaluation of the results of a general analysis of urine or blood. Due to the lack of the opportunity to visit a gynecologist or take tests every day, it is in the power of the pregnant woman herself to periodically check parts of the body for the presence of obvious edema visible to her.

Lower legs and lower limbs

Provided that the pregnant woman does not have serious diseases and a favorable course of pregnancy, edema of the lower extremities occurs in the second and third trimesters and is considered a natural change in the body.

Edema is considered not dangerous for the expectant mother and baby only with good results of OAM and OAC. Otherwise, a doctor should prescribe treatment, and sometimes a referral to a hospital should be issued.

The main "signals" for a woman indicating the accumulation of fluid in the legs and lower extremities are:

weight gain by more than 300-400 grams over the past week;
severe "swelling" of the extremities exclusively in the evening;
feeling of heaviness, discomfort, or pain in your legs.

Hands and fingers, hands

To diagnose the occurrence of swelling of the upper limbs, it is reasonable to pay attention to:

the presence of a "tingling" or "numbness" sensation in the arms and hands;
the ability to freely remove and put on rings from your fingers;
the presence of traces from a bracelet or dense elastic band (located for a short period on the wrist) for a long time after their removal.

Frequent numbness and "tingling" of the hands of a pregnant woman may indicate not only the presence of a large amount of fluid accumulated in the tissues, but also about disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system.

Face

The swelling that occurs on the face is the most obvious for the expectant mother. This fact is due to their significant influence on changing the appearance of a woman. With the development of puffiness, pregnant women observe:

"Swelling" of the eyelids;
the appearance of "bags" under the eyes;
"Rounding" of the oval of the face;
an increase in the size of the nose.

Belly and waist

"Swelling" of the waist area is considered the most dangerous type of the considered deviation. This is due to the inextricable connection of the mother's abdomen with the vital organs of the child, which consists in supplying the placenta ("swelling" when the abdomen swells) to the baby with oxygen. Accordingly, the earlier a pregnant woman is able to independently notice the slightest swelling in this area, the more chances there will be to avoid the influence of pathology on the growing body. An objective cause for concern should be:

withdrawal of fluid less than 75% of the daily volume of water consumed by a woman;
"Sharp" significant weight gain;
significant "swelling" of the ankles;
increased blood pressure.

If the feet are swollen

To determine the accumulation of fluid in the feet, doctors recommend paying attention to the fact of their possible increase in width. As soon as a woman notices that it becomes impossible to put on old shoes, she should immediately contact a gynecologist to confirm or refute the fact of the development of a dangerous condition caused by water retention in the body.

What is hidden edema, how to identify them during pregnancy

Unfortunately, the excessive accumulation of fluid in the body of a pregnant woman can not always be determined during regular self-diagnosis at home.

It is necessary to regularly visit the gynecologist. In addition to scheduled visits, a pregnant woman should regularly take tests and follow the general recommendations of a doctor on nutrition and lifestyle.

Having taken up the definition of latent (pasty) puffiness, the specialist will take as guidelines:

uneven or sharp weight gain over the past month;
deviations in the analysis of the results of diuresis;
slow resorption of a special solution, which forms a kind of "blister", injected under the skin of a pregnant woman (this procedure is known in professional circles as a "blister test");
significant excess of the blood pressure norm;
detection of protein in the patient's urine.

Than the dangerous fluid retention in the body during pregnancy

The effect of edema on the body of the expectant mother and the development of the fetus in the womb is directly related to the gestational age when the described condition was diagnosed.

First trimester

A significant fluid retention in a woman's body in the first trimester of pregnancy is extremely non-physiological and will definitely be regarded by a doctor as a consequence of dysfunction of the vital organs of a pregnant woman (kidney, heart, liver).

In addition to possible heart or kidney failure, swelling in the early stages can be triggered by varicose veins or severe toxicosis, which significantly dehydrates a pregnant woman's body.

Ignoring the problem is fraught with the development of serious diseases for the expectant mother, which eventually become "chronic". For a child at the stage of "laying" the basis for the subsequent formation of life systems, maternal edema can be dangerous, possibly provoking disturbances in the functioning of the placenta, which is responsible for supplying the baby with oxygen.

Second trimester

The considered deviations in the condition of a woman in the second trimester are more natural, due to the significantly increased load on the body, including due to the gained weight. The safety of the identified puffiness at this time can be determined exclusively by a gynecologist based on the results of additional studies and analyzes. Otherwise, we are talking about the initial stage of gestosis, which is dangerous not only for the general condition of the mother, but also for the life of the unborn baby.

Third trimester

Significant swelling in the last weeks of the third trimester inevitably entails hypoxia of the fetus in the womb. In the vast majority of cases, doctors in such situations decide to send a pregnant woman to a hospital in order to try to eliminate unnecessarily accumulated fluid in a woman's body with a medication. In the absence of positive dynamics in the removal of edema of the expectant mother, emergency delivery will be recommended to save the life of her child.

How does puffiness affect a child, how dangerous

Modern gynecologists perceive the edema of a pregnant woman, accompanied by significant weight gain, increased blood pressure, as well as abnormalities in the OAM and OAC, as a phenomenon that poses a serious threat to the child in the womb. The influence of such a state can be expressed in:

violation of normal blood circulation in the placenta or the development of placental insufficiency, inevitably leading to hypoxia (lack of oxygen);
provoking excessive activity of the baby, leading to the entanglement of the umbilical cord around his neck or abdomen, which poses a potential danger for subsequent births.

When swelling occurs in the early stages of pregnancy

Swelling in the first weeks of pregnancy is considered a consequence of:

dysfunction of the vital systems of the woman's body (cardiovascular, urine, genital, and so on);
non-compliance with the daily drinking "regimen";
eating a large number of salty, fried, spicy, sweet, fatty foods.

Is there always swelling in the last 9 months of pregnancy

The frequent occurrence of edema in the last stages of pregnancy does not at all mean their obligatory presence in every woman. In the absence of abnormalities in the functioning of other organs and the normal course of pregnancy, a young woman who plays sports before and while waiting for the birth of a baby, there may be no fluid retention that poses a danger to her or her baby.

If the face, legs and arms are swollen, is it possible to reduce the swelling with medication

Having identified the onset and development of latent or obvious edema in time, the gynecologist, depending on the anamnesis and the current state of the pregnant woman, prescribes treatment. Modern pharmaceutical companies offer a wide range of drugs that are effective in combating a dangerous "disease".

What is prescribed for acute forms

In case of severe swelling of the legs, face or upper limbs, in addition to general recommendations and adherence to the drinking regime, as well as adjusting the daily diet, doctors in a hospital prescribe:

"Courantil";
"Kanefron";
Phytolysin;
Spironolactone;
Magne B6;
"Magnerot".

What tools are effective

The most effective of them are recognized as "Curantil" and "Kanefron". The compositions of these medicines are as natural as possible, which determines the absolute safety of their use, along with a high speed of action of active substances.

It is strongly discouraged for a pregnant woman to self-medicate, since in the absence of a proper preliminary examination, as well as the correct determination of the dosage, any medications can do more harm than good for the mother and her baby.

What should not be taken during pregnancy for edema

Because of the potential danger to pregnant women posed by some drugs that have been used successfully to treat edema in other people, doctors prefer to avoid prescribing drugs that have diuretic properties:

Furosemide;
"Hypothiazide";
"Theobromine";
Xipamide;
"Lasilacton";
Triamteren;
"Diakarb".

How to deal with edema during pregnancy with folk remedies

A woman in position can try to minimize swelling at home by herself, by using effective folk methods, adjusting the diet, as well as performing simple exercises.

Foot baths: how to relieve puffiness

The most common home remedies for eliminating fluid retention in the leg area include:

foot baths (in water, at a temperature of 30 - 35 degrees, sea salt, mustard, chamomile or lemon balm dissolves in a proportion of 1 tablespoon of the active substance per liter of liquid);
cold and hot shower.

How to relieve facial swelling

To eliminate the "swelling" of the pregnant woman's face, it is recommended to wipe the skin with ice daily, and also regularly do:

cucumber mask;
a mask of potatoes and honey;
a compress on the face with a decoction of calendula, green tea.

How to reduce swelling in the lower abdomen

Daily use will help reduce dangerous swelling in the lower abdomen during pregnancy:

berry fruit drinks;
vegetable juices;
herbal infusions, in particular parsley, rose hips, hawthorn, chamomile.

Diet for puffiness during late pregnancy

In addition to the above "rituals", pregnant women are advised to adhere to a special diet to reduce edema, which implies sufficient fluid intake.

Products that reduce swelling

Along with a plentiful drink, important components of a full-time menu for a woman who is expecting a baby should be:

salt-free meals;
fresh vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, melons, watermelons;
seasonal berries such as cranberries, lingonberries or red currants.

Diet for the day in the early and late stages

The daily diet of the expectant mother with the development of puffiness, both in the early and late stages, implies compliance with the identical basic rules of "healthy" nutrition:

The daily amount of salt in dishes should not exceed 5 g.
It is necessary to completely exclude sweet, flour, fatty, spicy, fried foods.
Priority should be given to dishes rich in proteins, vitamins, useful micro and macro elements:

"dietary" meat boiled or baked in the oven;
fermented milk products;
steamed dishes;
vegetables;
citrus fruits, in particular lemon (in the absence of allergies);
porridge.

It is imperative to avoid excessive consumption of coffee, black tea, carbonated drinks.

The amount of fluid consumed in the last weeks

The volume of fluid consumed by a woman in the last weeks of pregnancy should be at least 1 liter per day. This indicator applies not only to clean water and other drinks, but also to all liquid food in the daily diet of the expectant mother.

The slightest deviation from the generally accepted drinking regime can lead to the development of puffiness or, conversely, dehydration.

Exercises for puffiness during pregnancy

It is also worth noting the need to perform a number of exercises by pregnant women, contributing to the normalization of the process of removing accumulated fluid from the body. These include:

regular adoption of the knee-elbow position;
visiting the pool;
daily active walks on foot over long distances;
"Rounding" and "arching" of the back, standing on all fours;
keeping the position, several times, alternating legs, perform a "pull-up" of the bent knee to the stomach, with the accompanying rounding of the back;
lying on your back and putting the lower limbs on a pillow, perform circular movements of the feet in different directions;
while remaining in the same position, alternately pull the legs bent at the knees to the stomach.

After studying the information in the above article, a pregnant woman will be able to understand how to prevent the occurrence of a potentially dangerous condition for the life of her baby. However, despite the existing "home" methods of dealing with puffiness and the well-known "normal options", if symptoms of the deviation in question are found, the expectant mother should immediately consult a doctor to establish the presence of a real threat to her health.

Useful video

Almost every expectant mother faces edema during pregnancy. But edema is not a normal or safe state of the body, so every pregnant woman should consult a doctor with complaints of such a condition. The causes of edema are different, but they all require treatment and diet correction. In addition, fluid retention in the body negatively affects the condition of the fetus and is fraught with many complications.

Why does edema appear during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the volume of circulating blood increases. A woman gains about 10 kg over the entire period, of which 5 - 6 kg is fluid (amniotic fluid, blood). The fluid enters the tissues (mainly the subcutaneous fat and connective tissue) from the blood. This is due to the peculiarity of the organism of the expectant mother (it accumulates water and sodium, which attracts her). The retention of fluid in the body of a pregnant woman does not begin immediately. In the first trimester, there is usually no edema, but mostly they appear in the later stages. The occurrence of edema in the second trimester of pregnancy is an unfavorable prognostic sign.

The reasons for the appearance of edema during gestation:

physiological edema (associated with an error in the diet, for example, excessive intake of fluids and salty foods: cucumbers, sauerkraut, nuts);
edema as a sign of preeclampsia (a severe complication of pregnancy, which, in addition to edema, is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine);
varicose veins (varicose veins appear in almost every pregnant woman, which is associated with the pressure of the growing uterus on the vessels);
kidney disease (eg, glomerulonephritis);
cardiovascular pathology.

Physiological edema appears towards the end of the day, and, as a rule, on the lower extremities, after prolonged walking or standing. During the horizontal position, the edema disappears on its own. Swelling of the hands can occur as a result of severe stress on the fingers and hands (working on a computer, modeling, knitting).

How to distinguish edema on your own?

A woman is able to determine or notice edema during pregnancy on her own. The first bell is a trace of the elastic of socks in the ankle joints. The more pronounced it is, the stronger the swelling. Also a characteristic symptom is the inability to put on shoes (or it is difficult to put on) favorite and long-worn shoes.

In addition, you can identify the so-called symptom of the ring (a favorite or wedding ring cannot be removed or it is difficult to remove). Relatives and friends, and the pregnant woman herself, may notice the swelling of the face. It becomes round and swollen, the eyelids swell, and the nose grows in size. Another sign that allows you to diagnose edema on your own: when pressing on the lower leg, a fossa appears in the bone area, which does not disappear immediately.

In case of kidney disease (acute or chronic glomerulonephritis), edema is first localized in the face and only then displaced to the lower extremities. In the presence of cardiovascular disease, edema is found in the lower parts of the body. So, when walking, they appear on the legs, and in a horizontal position in the lumbar region. Swelling in cardiovascular disease indicates heart failure.

Diagnosis of edema in pregnant women

First of all, edema, especially hidden (that is, invisible), is indicated by pathological weight gain. The woman at the reception is weighed every time. If the weight gain is more than 300 - 400 grams per week, this is a sign of fluid retention in the body. Also, a pregnant woman, before each visit, takes a general urine test, according to which the doctor determines the presence of protein (a sign of gestosis or kidney pathology). In difficult cases, a woman is sent for an ultrasound of the kidneys.

In addition, daily urine output or the amount of fluid consumed and excreted is assessed. Normally, ¾ of the liquid drunk is released (soups and fruits are taken into account). Negative urine output is a sign of fluid retention in the body.

In addition to all of the above, the shins are measured (in the same place) in dynamics. If the shin circumference has increased by 1 or more centimeters, this is a sign of edema. Another way to determine edema is the McClure-Aldrich test (blister test). For its implementation, 0.2 ml of saline is injected intradermally, after which a blister appears. Normally, it dissolves within an hour. The faster the blister disappears, the more intense the swelling.

What is the danger of edema during pregnancy?

With fluid retention in the body, not only tissues swell, but the placenta, which adversely affects the condition of the fetus (intrauterine hypoxia, growth and development retardation). In addition, edema is often a sign of gestosis, which is fraught with such a dangerous condition as eclampsia and the possible death of a woman and a child.

How is pregnancy edema treated?

First of all, a special diet is prescribed, with a high protein content and salt restriction. Food should be undersalted. With severe edema, fluid intake is limited to a liter per day (including soups and fruits). Particular attention should be paid to rest (it is better to sleep on the left side, which improves kidney function). You should not be in the same position for a long time, stand on your feet for a long time, or walk. If there are no contraindications, doctors recommend special exercises. Severe edema is treated in a hospital.

Anna Sozinova