NCDR: Pregnancy related- swollen feet!

MrsPBNJ0220

I figured the majority of you have either been pregnant or are pregnant currently.  So, I'm curious can you tell me, do Dr.'s ever put people on bed rest for swollen feet.  If it isn't related to blood pressure of course. 

I'm just asking because for the last 1-2 months my feet have been swelling.  Before they would swell and go down or just not swell sometimes.  Now withint 15 minutes of getting out of bed my feet, ankles, toes, everything is swollen.  I suppose I'm curious if I should be concerned that my Dr. may be concerned and if there is anything I can do other than propping my feet up all day!

 TIA Ladies!

bethandjoe09

You could get some compression hose.  They're really tight hose that you put on before getting out of bed.  They're ugly and a PITA, but they work.

If your legs are that bad, I'd call your Dr.  They generally want to know about things like that.

MrsPBNJ0220

bethandjoe09:

You could get some compression hose.  They're really tight hose that you put on before getting out of bed.  They're ugly and a PITA, but they work.

If your legs are that bad, I'd call your Dr.  They generally want to know about things like that.

Where do you get compression hose?  Both my regular and my high-risk Dr. are aware about my swollen feet, and they haven't been to concerned because it doesn't pit, but granted it has gotten worse since I saw them last.  I see my high-risk Dr. and my regular Dr. next week so I will let them know again, but I'm sure they will check as well.  Thank you for the suggestion of compression hose!

jmayamama

Have you tried watching your salt and drinking lots of water?

What about laying on the floor, bumping your butt up against the wall, and putting your feet up it?

It's no fun to be swollen

sweetpea18

I would call and see if they want to check your blood pressure. Swelling can be a sign of pre-e. If your bp is fine, cut out salt, stay hydrated and get yourself some compression hose. You can get them at most drug stores. Also, try drinking gatorade. It helped with my swelling.

MrsPBNJ0220

sweetpea18:

I would call and see if they want to check your blood pressure. Swelling can be a sign of pre-e. If your bp is fine, cut out salt, stay hydrated and get yourself some compression hose. You can get them at most drug stores. Also, try drinking gatorade. It helped with my swelling.

Luckily it isn't my blood pressure, I was super concerned about that but my blood pressure has been perfect.  I need to try and drink more water, and I was going to check into the compression hose.  Thank you for the gatorade suggestion I will for sure be trying that!  I love gatorade so that's a good idea as well!

Kim72508

I was pregnant in the summer.  My legs were seriously the size of tree trunks!  Honestly, I think my legs/feet were the same size as my thigh all summer b/c it was so humid.  My OB/GYN monitored my blood pressure and since it was normal she just told me to stay off my feet as much as possible, drink a lot of water, and limit the salt.  I'd check with your OB just to be sure but I think it's something that just happens with pregnancy!

aschleser

There are many reasons why your feet can swell during pregnancy, and the PP have touched on them all, but I'll try to expand a bit:

1) The most common reason for swollen legs/feet/down there area is because the baby puts pressure on your veins/arteries that circulate blood to/from your legs.  Since arteries deliver blood and have a lot of pressure within them from the pumping of your heart, the blood has no issues GETTING to your legs, but veins have very little pressure in them at all.  Because of this - the blood has a really hard time not only getting up your leg and back to your heart, but getting past the pressure that the baby and enlarging uterus is putting on them.  This causes the blood/fluid to back up into your legs/feet.  When you lie down, the pressure of the baby is lessened, and its easier to travel up the leg because gravity is no longer a factor.  Compression hose help by doing just that - they compress the legs gently aiding in venous blood return.  Knee high are fine if your are just swelling in your calves/ankles/feet.  If you are swelling in your knees or above your knees, too - you'll want thigh high or full out compression hose that go up over your stomach.  Just be sure to get maternity ones at that point or they'll be too tight on your belly!

2) Pre-E is another reason - but if its just your legs, its usually not this, and if your blood pressure is fine.  Swelling anywhere above the groin is generally more of a cause for conern - face, hands, arms, etc.  Sounds like you are probably out of the woods on this.

3) Diet and fluid intake - salt causes your body to hold on to excess fluid, making #1 worse.  REALLY really watch your salt intake - you'd be amazed at what salt is in!! Plain water is best, as gatorade actually has electrolytes and salt in it, but if you get the newer watered down gatorades, it should be alright.  Just drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday.  I keep a glass of water with me at all times and just sip constantly.  It really, really helps.  Plus you need lots of fuild intake at this point anyways.

Hope this helps clarify things for you!