Overview
Pregnancy Will Make You Feel Like Your Body Has Changed Too Much To Live: While pregnancy hormones are known for making some women feel moody, a quick Google search will tell you that those same hormones can also make some women feel hungry more often than usual, leading them to eat more than they should. This can make your waistline grow — a lot.
But don’t panic just yet. While there are plenty of resources out there that’ll tell you about some of the pregnancy myths that you shouldn’t believe — like the myth that eating candy and drinking alcohol is somehow healthy — they don’t always cover side effects to be aware.
You know the swollen feet feeling? You get a slight indentation in the middle of your foot. The rubbing against the shoe can be slightly uncomfortable and difficult. The other problem with swollen feet is lack of circulation. This occurs because the veins in your feet are enlarged and getting blood from the extremities back to your heart. Keep in mind that not all women are the same when it comes to pregnancy. For some women, just 1 or 2 pounds of water weight is normal, and for others, it can be more than 5 pounds.
What Is Feet Swollenness?
These swellings may be accompanied by numbness, a change in shape, and pain. The cause of edema may not be associated with the symptoms experienced. If edema is mild, treatment usually involves the use of a compression garment or tape to reduce the swelling. Swelling or pain that is severe or that interferes with walking, running, or standing should be investigated. Treatment may involve the following: The vast majority of people with edema have the opposite condition, sepsis.
Causes Of Swollen Feet During Pregnancy
Overall, most women have a heavier swelling around their ankles when they first begin to experience water weight. Because water weight increases the size of your legs, this extra weight can make your ankles look like tree trunks. By the end of pregnancy, you’re going to notice the swelling going down (and the walking ability will get a lot better). But this is because your body is dropping off water weight as you near the end of your pregnancy.
Initial Trimester
Early in the first trimester, you might notice that you haven’t had a period yet. This is normal, as progesterone slows down the production of your own period.
Second Trimester
If you’re not able to walk comfortably, ask a partner to help you get things around your home. Your baby’s head is about 3-4 cm away from your belly button. The placenta is now providing some support to your growing baby, which is why your baby can now feel the pressure and movement from the movement of the placenta.
You may feel your breasts get bigger, and especially if you’re breastfeeding, your nipples can become sensitive. As your baby grows, you may also experience bloating and swollen ask a partner to help you get things around your home. Your baby’s head is about 3-4 cm away from your belly button. The placenta is now providing some support to your growing baby, which is why your baby can now feel the pressure and movement from the movement of the placenta. You may feel your breasts get bigger, and especially if you’re breastfeeding, your nipples can become sensitive.
Here as your baby grows, you may also experience bloating and swollen joints. If your baby’s movements start to feel less frequent, get checked by your midwife or GP. Find out about what is normal for your baby’s movement, what may be a sign of a problem, and what changes you need to look out for. Your baby now weighs about 1.5 kg. The baby can hear your voice, and responds by moving or kicking more. Your baby can also recognize your voice, and responds to your voice if it is raised, when you talk to your baby, or when you coo to your baby.
Third Trimester
In the third trimester, your baby is growing more and more: Your baby weighs about 2 kg. The body of the baby is more rounded. The bones of the baby are beginning to harden. Your baby may have movements that can cause a “clicking” sound. A spine can be seen under your skin. Your baby is starting to develop the head, hands, feet and nose of your newborn.
As your baby grows, their movements become stronger, and you may feel that your baby is much lower, especially when lying on your left side. In the third trimester, your baby can now wiggle its way down into the pelvis, or emerge fully from the pelvis at the end of the vaginal canal. The third trimester also brings you more commonly: a “tipsy” feeling on one side or the other, if you were lying on your left side. felt when your baby is getting ready to drop an increase in your Braxton Hicks contractions (lower back pain, tightening in your stomach). your water breaking.
Factors Contributing To Swollen Feet
Balloon feet is temporary and usually has a short-term fix. People should watch for signs of continued swelling, including pain, redness, and blisters. Most issues are only temporary.
However, certain conditions, such as puberulent cellulitis, may cause long-term problems. Individuals who have a swelling condition are at an increased risk of developing chronic infections. Anyone who has experienced the appearance of balloon feet and is interested in trying a treatment option is advised to consult a doctor.
Ways to Get Relief From Swollen Feet Pain
The simplest way to relieve the pain is to stay off your feet as much as possible. The good news is that your feet don’t have to be swollen for much longer to realize any kind of relief.
Warming your Feet
Simply warming up your feet using a hot water bottle or a heating pad may help. If your swollen feet do cause significant pain, you may wish to see a podiatrist. A podiatrist can prescribe anti-inflammatory medications that can be taken by mouth or prescribed to take by your doctor.
Medications
These medications will keep your feet comfortable, and your doctor may be able to prescribe steroids to treat the swelling and discomfort. If the feet are more than slightly swollen, there is likely not much you can do.
In that case, you might try a soak in warm water and salt to get rid of the fluid and help the swelling subside. If you’re having regular bouts of swelling that are bothersome, or if it appears to be affecting your daily activities, it may be time to get evaluated by a doctor to see if there are any underlying causes to your swollen feet.
Reducing Sodium Intake
Ways to reduce sodium in your diet are to: avoid ready-made sauces and seasonings, which often contain high amounts of sodium avoid fried foods and fizzy drinks that often contain high levels of sodium eat fish instead of meat, as many fish have very low levels of sodium Eat naturally-occurring foods such as fresh vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, fruit, and lean meat.
Control Blood Pressure
High blood pressure and gestational diabetes can affect a developing baby, so doctors advise pregnant women to follow the Heart UK’s 30-day challenge to control blood pressure. Many studies show that reducing sodium intake may also help reduce blood pressure.
To help control blood pressure
Exercise regularly staying hydrated with water eating balanced meals readily available and well-known foods and drinks that are high in sodium include:
canned foods and drinks high-salt soft drinks cooking sauces additives, such as sodium benzoate, that are used to preserve processed foods and make them taste better sodium-based seasoning and condiments fast foods and snacks chip shops, fish and chip shops, bangers and mash, and breaded foods and snacks soda, including diet cola and fruit juice cheese and cheese spreads dried fruit takeaway food, including pizza, burgers, fish and chips, and takeaways drinks such as coffee, tea, cola, lager, and fizzy drinks omelette and sandwich fillers lunches such as sandwiches and cold meat.
Potassium In Your Diet
Almonds bananas pineapples tropical fruits potatoes coconut spinach guava Keenan-Wells recommends adding these foods to your diet if you’re pregnant.
Bananas And Mangoes to Eat
Those expecting a baby should aim to eat a banana at least twice a week during the third trimester. The nutrients in bananas can help you avoid swelling, while the potassium in the fruit can help you cope with the swelling. A study showed that women who ate just three bananas a day experienced less swelling in their calves, thighs and lower legs.
Those who ate five bananas a day also saw more rapid reduction in swelling in their feet and ankles. One large banana has 12% of your daily vitamin C requirement. This vitamin has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help prevent swelling. You can buy bananas in canned form in the grocery store or get them fresh from the produce aisle of the market. You can also eat mangoes as part of a daily fruit intake. Mango’s natural sugars also help promote better digestion.
Get enough iron
During pregnancy, you may experience fatigue and other sleep disturbances. These symptoms can come and go, but the most common symptoms that persist throughout the third trimester are anemia and fatigue. During pregnancy, you need iron for more than anemia. Iron supports the proper functioning of red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout the body.
Eating a variety of iron-rich foods throughout the day can help you get enough iron during your pregnancy. These include green leafy vegetables, beans, lentils, dark leafy greens and shellfish. Fruits and vegetables also contain vitamin C, which helps to regulate iron absorption. Vitamin C can also boost your immune system, which can help fight fatigue.
Feet Should Be Elevated
Sitting in these positions is great for your body and mind. A relaxed and comfortable position allows for better breathing, better digestion, and overall improved blood flow to the pelvic area, which helps keep labor and delivery at bay.
Sleep To Your Left
Sleep on your left side for 6–8 hours a night.
Massaging
Having your feet up all day isn’t a healthy option for your baby. At the mall, the overhead air-conditioning and massaging seat will help boost circulation, too. Take walking is a great way to get your blood flowing.
Swimming
Try standing or swimming in a pool where the water depth is almost up to your neck. At the very least, you will feel lighter, cooler, and get a little exercise. You may also find that your feet and legs are less swollen.
Try swimming or exercising for 30 minutes a day to see if this helps. Lifestyle modifications To decrease swelling in the feet and ankles, try to: Stay hydrated Take your multivitamin Avoid or limit spicy foods and sugary treats Take some magnesium supplements Change your shoes when needed Move around frequently.
Use Comfortable Foot Wear
Wear cotton socks with your heels and change them out as they get sodden. Never sit in such types of shoes which are to tight to handle your feet.
Walking
Keep walking. Maintain your diet Eat healthy, and make sure to get plenty of water. If you are having symptoms like nausea, cramping or swelling, you might be dealing with dehydration. Drink plenty of water. Limit your caffeine and alcoholic drinks.
Bottom Line
Most importantly, if you have severe swelling, be sure to visit your doctor to rule out any other causes. You might be able to avoid some of the swelling though if you can manage your weight as you grow. As your baby grows, the weight of their body adds pressure to your liver, kidneys and other organs.
References
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/lrb.2016.0038
- https://www.jfas.org/article/S1067-2516(10)00273-5/fulltext
Sirisha B