does anyone have any remedies for swollen feet and ankles?

e+jfamily08

I hardly eat any salt at all - I don't add salt to anything I eat and avoid salty snacks like the plague but my feet and ankle swelling wont go down! I'm also drinking roughly 1/2-1 gal of water - just plain water - per day. Any other suggestions as to what might help? It's about 100 + degrees here today and I'm 2 days shy of 38 weeks so it may just be a lost cause

MommySteph2009

Unfortunately not much other than keeping your feet up.  I've got some major swelling right now too, and I had it really bad when I had DS # 2

HelloAnnie!

I read someplace that avoiding all salt can actually worsen swelling because the body actually requires salt in moderation.  My midwife tells me to lie down on my left side -- this almost always helps. 

meg211

HelloAnnie!:

I read someplace that avoiding all salt can actually worsen swelling because the body actually requires salt in moderation. 

There is sodium naturally occurring in all foods, so our bodies don't actually need us to add salt to anything.  Assuming you are getting a good fill of veggies, anyway!

MilMom2B

With the extra blood volume we have while pregnant your body actually needs the sodium, too, so don't avoid it like the plague! Good job on the water, keep it up! You can't get enough. And while you're at it, keep your legs up, too. Like for real up, in as high a position as is comfortable, without restricting the blood flow (like not on the edge of a hard surface, etc.) Also, cold water soaks for your feet can help bring some of the swelling down. Hopefully you have a/c? Stay in where it's cool as much as possible.

mbritto4

Feet higher than your heart lots of rest and water. Though after a certain point with DD nothing I did helped my swelling. This LO hasn't made me puff up too bad, but we are just having our first real dose of summer here.

nicoledyoung7

I am right there w/ you. I live in Texas and it is HOT! I've been propping my feet up as much as possible and icing them at night. I had a prenatal massage last week and even though she didn't massage my cankles, she massaged elsewhere and I think it really helped blood flow. My swelling improved afterwards.

carriebklyn

I've been eating a lot of watermelon and find it helps when my feet swell up. (I'm also avoiding Mexican food -- mole poblano seems to give me cankles.) good luck!

hcdekarske

With the combination of all you have going on, yeah, it kind of is a lost cause, having baby is about all that will help. 

 

You can try a bath in epsom salt, it has helped me, but what swelling I have in my legs is very, very minor, I have all of it in my hands.  But it does help.  (at the bare minimum you get to relax in the bath for a while)

bdjeans

I haven't tried this personally, but my mom's midwife had her cut up ginger roots and place them in the bath tub and it somehow draws out the swelling. She said it worked great... but I've been very blessed and haven't really experienced any swelling besides my hands a little. But try it out... It can't hurt!

prairiedreams

Getting my feet up and cool water with epson salt has helped me. Also my (awesome) husband has taken to rubbing my feet which I think helps!