Swelling of the feet in pregnant women. What are the dangers of edema during pregnancy? Treatment and prevention of swelling during pregnancy

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 a 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 the 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 separate 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: indoor plants, 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 with swelling all over your body, you should urgently go to the 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 true cause of the 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 smoother 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 only see external manifestations problems without thinking about what's 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, avoid tight tights - allow blood to circulate freely.

10 hours of sleep required, daytime 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. Hydrops 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. Follow the correct diet and rest, attend antenatal clinics on time and motherhood will only delight you.

There is no doubt that pregnancy is the most wonderful and exciting time for every woman. Describe the state and sensations of the woman in whom the new life, it is not possible, it can only be felt. However, pleasant expectations are often overshadowed by unpleasant problems. One of these problems can be safely called swelling of the extremities. Actually, we are interested in swelling of the legs. Doctors state that or left under certain conditions can be considered a normal phenomenon. Although it is more correct to consider leg swelling during pregnancy unpleasant, and to a sufficient extent dangerous symptom. Let's figure out together why pregnant women's legs swell, how you can independently determine the swelling, and what treatment helps eliminate this problem.

Why do my legs swell? Causes

It is rare to find a woman preparing to become a mother who does not complain of swelling different parts bodies, especially on later pregnancy. Yes, this phenomenon is very common. But in order to successfully deal with such a problem, you should first find out: is this condition a sign of some pathology or not? It is worth mentioning here that pregnancy for a woman is quite a difficult test, and if everything is not in order with health, if some organs do not function as expected, then edema, in particular, swelling of the right leg during pregnancy may be a consequence of exacerbation of somatic diseases. These can safely include the following:

. Inflammatory processes and infections of the urinary system;
Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
Kidney diseases (pyelonephritis, nephrosis);
Malfunctions of the endocrine system.

As you can see, there are a sufficient number of reasons that cause swelling of the limbs, face, and neck, and only an experienced specialist should determine what caused swelling of the legs during pregnancy. Often, edema in pregnant women can appear due to an increase in the amount of blood that appears in women during pregnancy. As the baby grows, the uterus grows along with it; more nutrition and oxygen are required for the growing body, which is delivered to the child precisely by this additional blood. As pregnancy progresses and the uterus grows, pressure on the pelvic organs and the vascular system that pumps blood from the lower parts of the body increases. IN right side In the pelvic region there is a large venous vessel, which becomes compressed in the later stages of pregnancy. The result of this process is stagnation of blood in lower parts, water retention and, as a result, swelling of the right leg during pregnancy.

Stages of development of edema

Doctors, as a result of many years of observation, have identified four main stages of development of swelling of the legs during pregnancy. These include:

. Swelling of the feet and legs;
Complete swelling of the legs;
Swelling of the lower abdomen and sacral region;
The appearance of swelling in the hands and puffiness on the face.

These stages end with general swelling of the body. In the offices of a gynecologist during pregnancy, you can often hear such a common question: How to determine the presence of edema? We immediately draw attention to the fact that it is impossible not to notice the symptoms of edema. Women usually notice that by the end of the day or even in the morning, their favorite shoes become unbearably tight. When standing on your feet, you feel a tingling sensation under the skin, and bursting pain occurs in your ankles and legs. If you put pressure on your feet in the ankle area, swelling will leave a hole left by your toe, and it will level out only after some time.

It should be said that swelling of the legs during pregnancy is normal, but if some other parts of the body begin to swell (arms, stomach, face, lips and eyelids, fingers and toes), then you should immediately consult a doctor. Such swelling can be a symptom of pregnancy pathology - late toxicosis. Late toxicosis is also called gestosis.

What should you do to reduce or completely eliminate swelling?

Agree, it’s not very pleasant to feel like a bloated, watery bladder. But this feeling covers almost every woman when she is visited by edema during pregnancy. Reasonable questions arise here: Is it possible to eliminate swelling in any way? What should you do for this? We immediately draw attention to the fact that the main way to reduce swelling is movement. A pregnant woman needs to move more, walk in the fresh air, dance the waltz, in general, give up a sedentary or lying down lifestyle. To reduce swelling in your legs, take fifteen to twenty minutes several times during the day to lie down with your legs elevated. Do foot massages, foot baths with sea salt, drink as much fluid as you want.

The daily consumption of ordinary water for pregnant women is at least three liters. Follow physical exercise, limit your intake of table salt and other foods high in sodium (olives, olives, salted nuts). Remember that a balanced diet rich in vitamins is extremely important for a pregnant woman. Naturally, the main suppliers of vitamins and enzymes are vegetables and fruits. The main thing is that they are not subjected to prolonged heat treatment, during which large quantity vitamins are lost.

If you need to go through a thorough comprehensive examination or get the right treatment, the best thing would be if you use the services of specialists from our specialized treatment and diagnostic center. Our institution employs the most highly qualified specialists, powerful, modern diagnostic equipment is installed and functioning. The laboratories in our center are equipped with the latest instruments and apparatus. The most important thing is that when you come to our center, you will be able to undergo all examinations and take all tests without leaving the building. The prices set in our center pleasantly surprise all patients, as well as the highest level of service. Your health is our concern!

Most women carrying a child experience swelling of the lower extremities. This can occur under the influence of many factors, some of which necessarily require treatment to avoid complications. To prescribe adequate therapy, it is necessary to find out what caused the problem.

Why do your feet swell during pregnancy?

Possible causes of edema:

Excessive fluid intake. This condition is not pathological, but requires observation.
Excess body weight. In some cases, with an unbalanced diet, weight rapidly increases, which in turn increases the load on the legs and provokes their swelling.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities. The uterus increases in size, putting pressure on the vessels, and the veins, overflowing with blood, cause swelling.
Late toxicosis. This is a dangerous condition in which blood pressure rises and protein is present in the urine test.
Impaired kidney function. The load on this organ doubles during pregnancy, so problems often arise that should be under the supervision of the attending physician.

Factors that provoke swelling

There are factors that increase the risk of edema. These include:

long stay in the heat;
lack of potassium in the body of a pregnant woman;
standing or sitting for long periods of time, wearing uncomfortable shoes;
Frequent consumption of drinks that contain caffeine.

Types of swelling during pregnancy

Edema can be obvious or hidden:

Obvious swelling immediately makes itself felt: the usual shoes become small, the shin increases in girth, the elastic of the socks leaves a strong mark on the skin.
The latent form is revealed when a woman comes to the doctor to be weighed. If there is a sharp jump in a pregnant woman’s weight, the gynecologist may suspect hidden edema.

What to do if your legs are swollen

Change your body position as often as possible: long standing, sitting, lying down will adversely affect the condition of your legs. Walking must be replaced by rest, all loads must be distributed correctly. At the end of the day, it is useful to do an exercise: lie on the floor, raise your legs up for 10 minutes, you can lean them against the wall. After this, perform a small foot massage. Place a pillow under your feet while you sleep to help drain blood from your extremities.
Shoes should be soft, comfortable, without heels. Also choose clothes that are comfortable and do not compress blood vessels.
Nutrition is of great importance expectant mother. It is worth putting a taboo on visiting fast food restaurants, limiting yourself in consuming sweets, salt, smoked meats, spicy, fried foods. Fruits, vegetables, steamed, stewed, boiled dishes will be useful.
Ensuring a full supply of fluid to the body will have a positive effect on the body and prevent the appearance of edema, but you need to keep in mind that in the evening the amount of water you drink is reduced. Avoid soda and very sweet drinks, as they interfere with fluid removal.
Baths with cold water, to which you can add sea salt.
Only strictly as prescribed by a therapist or gynecologist, drugs that have a diuretic effect, drugs, and vitamins that help strengthen blood vessels help in the fight against edema.

If edema occurs, you should never self-medicate to avoid consequences. Only a doctor can conduct a competent examination and treatment.

Expectant mothers often face the unpleasant problem of swollen feet. Pregnant women are concerned about whether it is normal for the body to swell or whether it is a symptom of pathology. Doctors carefully monitor the condition of their patients and, if necessary, prescribe additional examinations. How dangerous are edemas and is it possible to prevent their occurrence? Let’s find out.

Reasons why pregnant women's legs swell

Over 40% of women notice swelling of the lower extremities while bearing children. There are several reasons for this:

excess fluid in the body. Thirst in pregnant women occurs due to changes in hormonal levels, and a frequent desire to drink is considered absolutely normal for expectant mothers;
Varicose veins. As the fetus increases in size, the pressure of the uterus on the vessels of the legs also increases. The outflow of venous blood becomes difficult, and it bursts the veins from the inside. This is how varicose veins develop, usually accompanied by edema;
renal dysfunction. The increased load on the kidneys during pregnancy leads to inadequate removal of fluid from the body. Externally, this problem is indicated by bruises under the eyes. Rare urination provokes swelling of the legs, and sometimes the upper limbs or the whole body;
wrong choice of clothes and shoes. Blood circulation in pregnant women is impaired by tight clothes or shoes, which compress the blood vessels. High heel It is contraindicated for expectant mothers, even if there is no tendency to edema, and especially if there is such a tendency;
disruptions in the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Problems with the thyroid gland and heart cause swelling of the lower extremities, shoulder girdle, and sometimes the tongue. These diseases are often accompanied by fatigue, constipation and a constant desire to sleep;
intestinal disorders. Frequent diarrhea causes disruption of the intestines, which in turn leads to the formation of edema;
A woman has recently had a viral disease. Some infections cause complications on the kidneys, negatively affecting the ability to cope with their functions;
acute form of thrombophlebitis. If swelling is accompanied by pain, redness of the legs and increased body temperature, the doctor may suspect acute thrombophlebitis;
gestosis. With this disease, the external and internal parts of the body, including the placenta, swell. Therefore, gestosis is deadly for the child and poses a threat to the health of the mother.

You can see this in the example of Kim Kardashian. that incorrect selection of shoes by a pregnant woman, in addition to the risk of injury, is fraught with swelling of the legs, which have been in an uncomfortable position for a long time

Symptoms of edema in the body of a pregnant woman

Initially, the ankles of the legs swell, then the swelling moves down to the feet or rises along the lower leg towards the hips. In rare cases, the calves and knees are affected, but this is more of a pathology than the norm. Against the background of a general increase in body weight during pregnancy, swelling is not immediately detected by women. Signs to confirm suspicions of edema:

Your feet feel tight in your usual shoes. There is usually no accumulation of fat in the feet, even if a person gains extra pounds. So, if the day before comfortable shoes or boots suddenly became too small, it means that fluid has accumulated in the lower extremities;
there is a significant difference in volume between the liquid that is drunk and the one that is excreted. If a pregnant woman receives the normal amount of fluid per day (30–40 ml per 1 kilogram of the woman’s weight), and the daily urine collection shows a much smaller volume, it means that the remaining fluid remains in the soft tissues of the body. Liquids consumed include all drinks, vegetable or meat broths and gravies in dishes;
When you press on the skin, the dents do not dissolve for a long time. By pressing on the shin in a normal state, you can see a dimple from the finger, which disappears in a second. Swelling takes longer to disappear. The mark from the elastic band of socks on a swollen leg also does not go away for a long time;
the skin tightens and becomes pale. The accumulated liquid stretches the skin, as a result of which it becomes thinner and seems to shine;
The expectant mother experiences rapid weight gain. With an established diet for a pregnant woman, the next weigh-in shows a greater weight gain than normal (maximum 300 g per week in the last months of gestation).

Monitoring the weight of the expectant mother allows one to suspect internal edema at the initial stage if the difference between weekly readings exceeds 450 g

When to see a doctor about swelling during pregnancy

If signs of fluid accumulation are observed in the evening, most often after a long stay in an upright position, and by the morning the swelling subsides, then there is no reason to worry. You just need to limit yourself to walking and standing for long periods of time, then the likelihood of leg swelling is significantly reduced.

Ankles can swell when a woman overuses salty and smoked foods, as a result of a lack of potassium.

Video: my experience in dealing with edema during gestosis

And if swelling bothers you in the morning and does not disappear after rest, this is a reason to immediately visit a doctor. Contact for medical care necessary in the following cases:

weighing shows a sharp weight gain. If a pregnant woman watches her diet, but still gains more than 300 g per week, it means there is edema, possibly internal organs, which is very dangerous for the fetus;
the fingers and toes become numb, and it becomes impossible to bend them with normal ease. In addition, a burning and tingling sensation is felt due to compression of the nerves by the accumulated fluid. It hurts to stand on your feet, the shoes are tight and it is difficult or completely impossible to remove the rings from your toes;
the face becomes noticeably rounded, swelling of the lips and nose appears;
the heartbeat quickens, blood pressure rises and shortness of breath appears.

My childhood friend spent the last months waiting for her child in custody. Preeclampsia was manifested by swelling of the legs, arms and face. Masha was simply inflated like a balloon. After the birth of her daughter, while still in the maternity hospital, 13 of the 22 kilograms gained during pregnancy were lost, of which only 3,200 were for the baby, named Inna in honor of the doctor who fought for many months for her birth. Mashunya strictly followed all the gynecologist’s recommendations and her daughter was born without any deviations.
Swelling and high blood pressure- signs of a life-threatening disease for mother and child called gestosis, or late toxicosis

What are the dangers of edema during pregnancy?

According to statistics, up to 90% of pregnant women suffer from edema in the last trimester. They are not always dangerous, although they cause discomfort. Swelling is a cause of concern as a symptom of certain diseases.

Preeclampsia develops due to the fact that the increased load on the blood vessels deprives them of strength and elasticity. Fluid and protein from the blood easily enter the soft fabrics, provoking internal swelling, which is not immediately detectable. Loss of water in the circulatory system leads to increased blood clotting, thickening and increased blood pressure.

All this causes the appearance of blood clots, which are life-threatening for the mother and child. Kidney diseases in the mother pose a danger to the fetus by disrupting the normal functions of the urinary system. Waste products and toxins accumulate in tissues without being eliminated in a timely manner.

This pathology is characterized by puffiness of the face and swelling of the eyelids during the morning hours of awakening from sleep. When there is a malfunction of the cardiovascular system, edema occurs mainly in the evening. Everyone should be treated carefully associated symptoms

so that a serious disease does not have time to develop.

Video: what to do for swelling of the legs during pregnancy

Treatment of leg swelling in pregnant women If swelling is caused by diseases, first of all you need to treat the cause, and not get rid of the symptoms. They try to prescribe non-drug treatment for pregnant women, since it is difficult to predict the reaction of the female body or fetus to the components of the drugs.

Correcting your diet and drinking regimen helps to cope with swelling that appears from time to time.

Proper diet for a pregnant woman with a tendency to edema You need to drink up to 1.5 liters of water per day, excluding compotes and broths. You shouldn’t drink large volumes of water at once, it’s better to drink a little, but often. It is advisable to consume the main part before lunch. You can drink freshly squeezed unsweetened juices or fruit drinks, tea with milk. It is better to exclude caffeinated drinks from the diet, since black tea and coffee affect blood vessels and the pressure in them. Contrary to popular belief about the benefits green tea , it also contains large amounts of caffeine. The main thing is not to get carried away, drinking up to two cups a day. You should forget about soda, especially sweet soda, at least for the duration of pregnancy and breastfeeding
child, as it retains fluid in the body and causes heartburn. If you want to try herbal teas for diuretic tea, be sure to consult your doctor about the advisability of such treatment and prevention.

Specialized stores sell compression bandages to prevent swelling in the feet and legs.

First of all, you need to eliminate all foods that cause thirst:
crackers and chips. As a beer snack, they contain salt and additives that encourage consumers to drink them with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks;
soda and kvass. Sugary drinks increase thirst, and a person drinks more liquid. And gas bubbles cause intestinal disorders;
homemade pickles, dried or salted fish. There is no need to even explain, everyone understands that salt is perhaps the main ingredient of these dishes.

After consulting with your doctor, you can sometimes arrange fasting days. Under no circumstances should you give up food completely!

Here are several menu options for fasting days:

Cucumber-tomato salad, dressed olive oil, and 1 kg of apples. During the day, salad and fruit must be alternated, and during lunch you are allowed to eat small piece boiled beef. Do not use salt when cooking.
Kefir day. Just one liter of fermented milk product should be drunk per day instead of all meals.
Apple diet. If you eat 1.5–2 kg of green apples per day, you can relieve your body quite well.

Green apples help improve intestinal function due to their fiber content, so they are very useful for pregnant women

I have personally tried these diets and they have worked well for me. The first time I made a salad for the whole day, but already at the second snack I felt the taste of something else from the refrigerator and henceforth cut a new portion for each meal. I took kefir for a day if constipation occurred, or for three days (from the date of production) if my stool was normal. For those who feel that they cannot handle the recommended amount of food per day, you can cook and immediately eat a bowl of oatmeal without salt and butter in the morning. I boiled it in water.

Exercises and massage to relieve swelling in pregnant women

Light physical activity effectively helps relieve swelling. A specially developed complex for pregnant women takes into account all the nuances of the position of a woman carrying a child.

You need to start charging with a warm-up:

Lie on your back. Place a round cushion under your feet.
Rotate your feet left and right 10–15 times.
Stretch your heels and toes forward, alternating the order of execution.
Pull your legs bent at the knees towards your stomach 10 times and straighten them back.

Please note that you cannot strain for a long time - if you feel tired, it is better to rest. Due to the growing pressure of the fetus on the uterus, it compresses the vena cava, and women feel dizzy. Most exercises for pregnant women are performed while lying on your back, but there are other options.

Video: yoga against swelling of the legs in expectant mothers

In the last trimester, do not take risks, but give preference to swimming in the pool. For swelling in the first half of pregnancy, try these sets of exercises:

Exercise 1:
1. Get on all fours.
2. Take a deep breath and arch your back.
3. Lower your stomach, straighten your shoulders, and raise your head.
4. As you exhale, arch your back upward, pulling your chin down.
5. Repeat steps 10 times.
Exercise 2:
1. Sit on a chair or stool.
2. Keep your back straight.
3. Place small objects on the floor and use your toes to try to pick them up and place them in your hands.

It is advisable to take a massage course from a professional massage therapist, and if this is not possible, seek help from someone close to you.
Expectant mothers are allowed only 3 techniques - kneading, stroking and rubbing. Avoid sharp, chopping movements.

While in a lying position, place your legs on an elevation relative to the level of your hips, this will relieve swelling or prevent it from forming

Drug treatment of swelling during pregnancy Waiting time for a baby is not suitable for experimenting with health. Any medications should be prescribed only by a doctor in a personal meeting, and not by friends and relatives who were helped in their case. You should absolutely not start drug treatment based on advice on the Internet.

They should be taken as information only!

The following phytotherapeutic drugs are usually prescribed:
Cyston contains mumiyo, double-carp, saxifrage and other medicinal herbs. Prescribed for urinary dysfunction resulting in swelling of the legs;
Chophytol is a preparation based on artichoke leaves. Used for inflammation of the genitourinary organs, swelling due to problems with the kidneys or blood circulation; Phytolysin is a paste-like medicine that contains extracts of medicinal herbs - wheatgrass, horsetail, parsley and knotweed, and essential oils
Canephron - tablets containing lovage, centaury and rosemary leaves. Helps improve kidney function, providing a mild diuretic effect. In the form of an alcohol tincture, it is contraindicated for pregnant women. When treating with Canephron, it is necessary to ensure sufficient fluid intake to avoid dehydration.

If their help fails, the gynecologist leading the pregnancy decides on treatment with medications that are more suitable for the particular woman.

Video: how to treat leg swelling in the third trimester - personal experience

Traditional medicine in the treatment of edema in pregnant women

Grandmother’s recipes have also found application in the fight against edema. But you shouldn’t buy herbs secondhand, taking the sellers’ word for it. The collection could be carried out in contaminated places, or even the wrong plants would be offered.

Herbal mixtures for brewing kidney teas are sold in pharmacies; before use, be sure to ask your doctor’s advice about the benefits for you.

Among such herbal teas for pregnant women, the most popular is tea made from the leaves of Orthosiphon staminate.

An infusion of birch leaves acts as a diuretic and relieves swelling quite well. Pour two tablespoons of dry birch leaves into 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for two hours, wrapped in a thick thick cloth. Drink half a glass three times a day. Parsley infusion helps in the fight against swelling. Grind the root of the plant and pour 1.5–2 cups of boiling water. Leave for 9 hours, then drink a tablespoon several times a day. With absence allergic reactions

Expectant mothers can try bearberry infusion - pour a teaspoon of dried leaves into a glass of boiling water. The drink is ready as soon as it cools down. Take the strained infusion of bearberry twice a day, half a glass. It helps well with varying degrees of edema and the presence of inflammation of the urinary system.

The call for pregnant women to be careful during treatment applies equally to all medicines: both folk and traditional. One should not assume that herbal medicine is harmless. Lingonberry berries and leaves effectively remove swelling in pregnant women; this is one of the most effective diuretics in folk medicine . The leaf decoction is prepared simply - pour the dry mixture in the proportion of 1 cup

The urological herbal mixture includes ingredients of exclusively plant origin: mint, dill, calendula, bearberry and eleutherococcus. The action of all components is aimed at stimulating the outflow of fluid and fighting infections in the excretory system. You need to pour 2 tablespoons of the collection into 0.5 liters of water and boil for half an hour. When warm, take 70 ml 20–25 minutes before meals three times a day.

Our family is expecting a new addition this summer - younger sister preparing for the birth of her first child. Since she had problems with her kidneys since childhood, she honestly told the doctor about it, and she was prescribed Brusniver. While treatment with infusion of lingonberry leaves before the 28th week of pregnancy causes heated debate among doctors, there are almost no negative reviews about Brusniver. Since the tenth week, Anya periodically brews 2 bags of the mixture in the morning and drinks it throughout the day, sometimes putting one filter bag in a cup instead of the two recommended by the manufacturer. At first I was grimaced - it was bitter, but then I got used to it and even liked it. But Brusniver did not help her friend who recently gave birth; she had swelling due to varicose veins veins, and Oksana wore compression stockings. As you can see, there are no universal remedies for solving the problem of edema during pregnancy.

Treatment of edema during pregnancy occupies an important place in obstetric practice, since impaired lymph circulation can cause serious disorders in the female body. And this, in turn, can pose a threat to the health of the unborn baby. Only a small percentage of women are able to go through the entire period of gestation without swelling of the arms or legs; for most pregnant women this problem remains relevant.

Follow simple tips to avoid swelling:

Monitor it, as rapid weight gain negatively affects the condition of the expectant mother and her child.
Drink at least 2 liters of water per day to stimulate your kidneys to eliminate fluid.
During the day, allow yourself to lie down to rest, while placing a cushion under your shins.
Do not stay in one position for a long time; alternate between sitting, standing and walking.
Give preference to shoes with low, stable heels.

If you adhere to these rules, you may never know what edema is throughout your entire pregnancy. If the measures taken are ineffective, contact your gynecologist.

Edema during pregnancy is accompanied by a large number of women, so the relevance of the question of how to treat them remains high. Swelling of the extremities may indicate not only fluid retention, but also the development of severe toxicosis in the later stages. Therefore, if lymph stagnation occurs, consult a doctor about this problem to determine the cause of this condition.