Swelling and propping up your feet...

kgunz11

Okay, over the past few days, my feet have started to swell.  The fact that it's 100 degrees here and I was overweight before getting pg certainly don't help.

I'm chugging water like crazy and my BP is fine.  I've been going home after work and propping up my feet, which really seems to help.

So here's my question: I have a desk job.  I'm been propping my feet on a small box under my desk (as opposed to resting them on the floor) during the day, but everything I read indicates that isn't a high enough prop.  How do you prop feet any higher, comfortably, under a desk?  Has anyone found a good setup for this?

TIA!

PirateGirl04

I use a chair to prop my feet up.  but my desk is open on both ends so I have room to push it up.  If you can swing that maybe do a few boxes and maybe put a pillow on top.

mbritto4

I worked FT when I had DD and that's about all I could do with the confines of my office/desk.  When I'd get home my feet would immediately go up.  Lots of water during the day, limit salt intake, and wearing loose fitting shoes seemed to help.  If they were really bad I'd prop my feet up in bed on a few pillows, which was awkward but it got them higher than my heart and helped the swelling. 

My OB ended up making me go on medical work from home about 3 weeks before my EDD due to my swelling, because she was worried I'd get pre-e.  Never got pre-e but DD came a week early.

LnR70707

I've had no luck.  Technically your feet need to be above your heart to reduce any swelling, so I don't even bother.  I just try to get up and walk around every so often, and then prop with ice packs when I get home.   When they are really bad I'll sleep with them propped up too, but that screws up my back so its a no win situation.

TayVA

I'm in the same boat; swelling just started last week/few days. I found a large box and put that under my desk. My legs are pretty much straight out in front of me like I'm sitting on a bed. Luckily, I have an L shaped desk and the box is in the corner so I have lots of room. It's a good set up.

hcdekarske

I have been using a rubber maid tub, it gets them about level...I realize they should be higher, but then again, I haven't had much swelling (but maybe I haven't since I started to prop them early to ward it off)

Epsom salt bath when you get home, does wonders. 

BethD76

mbritto4:

I worked FT when I had DD and that's about all I could do with the confines of my office/desk.  When I'd get home my feet would immediately go up.  Lots of water during the day, limit salt intake, and wearing loose fitting shoes seemed to help.  If they were really bad I'd prop my feet up in bed on a few pillows, which was awkward but it got them higher than my heart and helped the swelling. 

My OB ended up making me go on medical work from home about 3 weeks before my EDD due to my swelling, because she was worried I'd get pre-e.  Never got pre-e but DD came a week early.

This. I had mine a few days after my due date. Right now I put one foot on my little heater or in the chair. I can put both on top of the computer if I want to. The swelling hasn't been that bad for me yet. I remember how pooftastic I was last time. It didn't go away after a nights rest, so that's what I'm comparing it to.

aimeelynn116

I have an L shaped desk and my computer tower is under my desk in the corner so I put my feet up on that. It helps a little but not much. I'm also getting further and further away from my desk as my belly gets bigger so I have to pull my keyboard way in to reach it.

MustanGTbaby13

Speaking as a ATC- if your legs aren't above the level of your heart , then they technically aren't in an elevated position as they are still gravity dependent.