Edema in pregnancy - pitting or non-pitting?

earthycrunchymama

Who has edema and when does it typically start in pregnancy???

Do you have pitting or non-pitting edema?

Anyone have it before pregnancy and can you easily tell the difference between pregnancy-related edema or edema caused by other issues???

 

Yes, I'll ask my doctor Monday (not just the interwebz)... I'm just curious how it presents in others during pregnancy since  I've had it since before only it's more severe of late so I have no clue if I'm at the typical point for it from pregnancy or if it's not related... And I have pregnancy compression stockings. 

APRILMW

I have pitting edema.  Just started to be very noticeable within last 2 weeks.

LuvMyBostons

I didn't have any edema prior to pregnancy and mine started around 32-33 weeks.  I also work 12 hour shifts and am on my feet for many hours of the shift.  Typically when I am home, the swelling goes down, but when I work it definitely starts swelling more, and yes it was pitting.  Also, I have had no BP issues, just the swelling.  GL, hope you get some relief!

earthycrunchymama

Mine started getting bad at 22-23 weeks so I'm guessing it's NOT pregnancy related?

My sodium is low so that's not the cause. it's low to the point of cardiac symptoms. (I'm eating my daily ramen right now LOL). I do have a history of congestive heart failure and kidney problems so it could be related or the baby is stressing my heart...

do you guys get it ONLY in the legs or everywhere? I'm like head-to-toe puffy... I am followed by a dozen specialists (so that's several doctors appts a week). I just don't want to be worried if its "just pregnancy" related at this point, but I don't want to not be following with cardiology or whoever if it's not "normal" to have edema this early... (I'm currently 27 weeks). I have a bad habit of dismissing symptoms that are serious assuming it can't be that bad... I'm trying not to while pregnant of course. But I do see Maternal Fetal Medicine monday so she can look. though the issue is that in the mornings it's never bad, it's late afternoon or night (when doctors are closed) that I'm huge. of course. why would something be bad during office hours???  

 

sturgeje

i have mild pitting edema.  i would say it started around 33 weeks for me. 

kpt

I think it is pitting, but hard to tell right now b/c i only have it at night, and started at 36 weeks for me. did not have any swelling with #1. kind of disappointed to see it this time.

sturgeje

earthycrunchymama:

do you guys get it ONLY in the legs or everywhere?  

mine's only in my ankles and feet, sometimes my calves if i've been on my feet all day.  i think it's fairly normal to also have swelling in your fingers and hands as well.  i do remember my doctor warning me to watch for any swelling in the face bc it's a sign of pre-e.   

taureanbuddhist

::raises hand::

mine really started about a week and a half ago...it is non pitting at this point...but the swelling really started in my hands first...wasn't able to wear my rings after 29 weeks...

i talked to my NP about it and since my BP has been fine, there has been no protein in my urine at my visits and i have no chest/abdominal pain or terrible headaches, they are just keeping an eye on things at this point...my next appt is on tuesday so i guess we'll see what they say then:)

GL:)

earthycrunchymama

I feel like an elephant.

maybe I should  let my partner think it's baby related whether it is or not. He's more sympathetic to things that he thinks are "his fault" (since I didn't get myself pregnant) then my typical medical stuff. LOL

Erika6504

I have pitting edema that just started this week.  It's definitely worse when I don't elevate my feet enough.

JhawkCE

I have pre-pregnancy pitting edema both bi and unilatal. 

My pre-preg. p. edema goes away more quickly than pregnancy edema and standing up and walking around helps alleviate the pre-preg. edema where as the preg. edema is better after elevating my legs and resting. 

winomom22

I have had edema since 30ish weeks. Sometimes it is pitting. The last couple of days it has gotten worse even with my compression stockings. I actually went over to triage one night (I work in the hospital already) and had it looked at because only one leg was swelling and I was worried about a DVT. I just have more varicose veins in that leg (right) and the uterus tends to lie on that side so that is why I had to swelling. Strangely enough I had no swelling with dd #1 even though I delivered her in August.

winomom22

earthycrunchymama:

Mine started getting bad at 22-23 weeks so I'm guessing it's NOT pregnancy related?

My sodium is low so that's not the cause. it's low to the point of cardiac symptoms. (I'm eating my daily ramen right now LOL). I do have a history of congestive heart failure and kidney problems so it could be related or the baby is stressing my heart...

do you guys get it ONLY in the legs or everywhere? I'm like head-to-toe puffy... I am followed by a dozen specialists (so that's several doctors appts a week). I just don't want to be worried if its "just pregnancy" related at this point, but I don't want to not be following with cardiology or whoever if it's not "normal" to have edema this early... (I'm currently 27 weeks). I have a bad habit of dismissing symptoms that are serious assuming it can't be that bad... I'm trying not to while pregnant of course. But I do see Maternal Fetal Medicine monday so she can look. though the issue is that in the mornings it's never bad, it's late afternoon or night (when doctors are closed) that I'm huge. of course. why would something be bad during office hours???  

 

Because you have a history of CHF and kidney problems, I would call. When was the last time you saw your cardiologist? The baby could be putting added stress on your heart and kidneys. It is normal to have some swelling in pregnancy and given your history you would be more prone to it since your heart and kidneys would have a harder time getting rid of access fluid. Have you brought it up in any of your appts?

My swelling is only in my ankles and feet and sometimes in my fingers.

synchrosally

I started getting swelling at the end of the day at 22 weeks.  Doc said it was normal.  Last week the swelling in my legs was redonculous!  I also had high b/p last week though.

earthycrunchymama

naybride04:

earthycrunchymama:

Mine started getting bad at 22-23 weeks so I'm guessing it's NOT pregnancy related?

My sodium is low so that's not the cause. it's low to the point of cardiac symptoms. (I'm eating my daily ramen right now LOL). I do have a history of congestive heart failure and kidney problems so it could be related or the baby is stressing my heart...

do you guys get it ONLY in the legs or everywhere? I'm like head-to-toe puffy... I am followed by a dozen specialists (so that's several doctors appts a week). I just don't want to be worried if its "just pregnancy" related at this point, but I don't want to not be following with cardiology or whoever if it's not "normal" to have edema this early... (I'm currently 27 weeks). I have a bad habit of dismissing symptoms that are serious assuming it can't be that bad... I'm trying not to while pregnant of course. But I do see Maternal Fetal Medicine monday so she can look. though the issue is that in the mornings it's never bad, it's late afternoon or night (when doctors are closed) that I'm huge. of course. why would something be bad during office hours???  

 

Because you have a history of CHF and kidney problems, I would call. When was the last time you saw your cardiologist? The baby could be putting added stress on your heart and kidneys. It is normal to have some swelling in pregnancy and given your history you would be more prone to it since your heart and kidneys would have a harder time getting rid of access fluid. Have you brought it up in any of your appts?

My swelling is only in my ankles and feet and sometimes in my fingers.

I just called her since one side is a lot worse right now then the other.... my foot looks rather balloonish and my  toes feel almost numb from the swelling... EEEK!!!

If it gets worse, she wants me to go to L&D to be checked for a clot where one side is so much worse. (it's the side my port is implanted on and they've been concerned there could be a clot in it anyway). 

She'll look monday though to see if she can sort through it or send me to cardio. they can't do much while pregnant (we were talking pacemakers right before which isn't an option til delivery should I choose it). Cardio is just constantly consulted for me, just I'm not following in-clinic since I have enough doctors right now - like at least one for every gut. LOL!