Sudden swelling

Incrediblelife

I'm 28 weeks and haven't had any swelling until 3 days ago. Now I feel SO swollen...my hands and feet (and calves too) actually hurt from being so swollen. I've assumed it's normal, but am suddenly questioning that. What's been your experience with it? Anything that helps ease it a little bit?

jennybean80

Any chance you're dehydrated? That can cause water retention and swelling. Swelling can also be a sign of PIH, especially if it comes on suddenly. Probably not a bad idea to get it checked out.

Rynleigh

Whenever there is swelling in the hands or face (feet/legs is normal), especially when it's sudden, you need to go in and have them check your bp and get labs/urine analysis to rule out pre-e. You also want to go in if you press any of the swollen parts of your body and it leaves an indent. 

Rynleigh

(had no symptoms of pre-e, myself, with any of my UAs/BP checks during my pregnancy until my BP suddenly skyrocketed around 34w - landed on hospital bedrest at 35w - I did not have any experience with pre-e in either of my first two singleton pregnancies. It came on very suddenly, no warnings or precursors, and it took out most of my platelets with it. I would take sudden swelling involving the hands pretty seriously)

Rynleigh

As for relieving it a bit, in the mean time, put your feet up so that they are higher than your heart, like laying down with a pillow lifting them, and hydrate like a mofo. 

Incrediblelife

Thanks @rynleigh! Went and got checked out, and thankfully there's currently no signs of Pre-eclampsia, but they (and I) are keeping an eye out for it. The craziest thing happened...the swelling began on Christmas Eve and lasted until the morning of the 27th, then completely disappeared out of the blue! Weird. So I'll take that as good news at this point!