How much swelling is too much?

BeckyF82 · March 2014

So I've had normal blood pressure throughout pregnancy, roughly 120/80 each visit. Last couple of visits I've been quite stressed because the baby is still breech and they talk about c sections etc which i think pushes it up a bit to around 123/90. As a result they told me all the symptoms of pre eclampsia and told me to keep my eye out for them.

Well I haven't had any symptoms so far including any swelling at all. Until Friday when my feet got quite swollen. I'd been on my feet for a long day at work and my work shoes got tight. I couldn't see my ankles any more. I put them up when I got home and over a couple of hours the swelling went down. My face and hands did not swell at all. No other symptoms of PE at all. Over the weekend my feet are fine IF I keep them elevated all the time. But as soon as I put "real" shoes on and / or walk around for more than five mins they start to swell up again.

I have a consultants appointment tomorrow anyway. Plus I will of course phone the doctor today if I get any other symptoms but because I know swollen feet can be totally normal in pregnancy I'm just a bit reluctant to panic just yet? Anyone know much about PE? How much swelling should I be looking out for?

Nellennium · March 2014

I think if the swelling is a problem it will come with other symptoms such as headaches and tummy pain. But don't take my word for it

I can't wear my shoes at all now because of my swelling, it's jandels everyday! Can't wear my rings either

and socks cut off my ankles. My MW is not worried though.

bingbongsmama · March 2014

My ankles swell up when I'm on my feet too much, after a night of resting it goes back down. I think it's normal at this point in the pregnancy. But blury vision, headaches or high bp added would not be ok.

Katiecave · March 2014

Honestly that bp reading isn't that high. Like pp said, mention to your OB. But your feet swelling at this point is pretty normal as long as it doesn't come along with other symptoms.

maelic · March 2014

Mention it at your appointment, but facial swelling would be much more concerning. Any swelling that goes down after rest is not as severe, in terms of potential pre-e symptoms.

adheaton1387 · March 2014

My bp has been similar and my ankles stay swollen now, but my doctors aren't concerned at all. As long as there is no protein in your urine and you aren't experiencing bad headaches you are fine; but if you're still concerned definitely mention it at your next appointment! I always point out my swelling just to make them aware and they reassure me it's normal this late in pregnancy.

WifeofaComposer · March 2014

Our doctor told me that I should call if I have a swollen face when I wake up in the morning, along with swollen hands and feet that are painful. Other symptoms to be concerned about are nasty headache, eye floaters, and unusual nausea. It's perfectly normal for our feet to be a little bit swollen right now, even if we haven't been standing on them all day. My BP has been fantastic all pregnancy, and suddenly started creeping up on Thursday. I had to go to our hospital's OB department for monitoring yesterday because I had a headache, severely swollen hands, and painfully swollen feet - my feet looked like water balloons. My BP was 135/58, so the nurse did a NST for the baby and he's 150% fine and happy, and she gave me a cup of ice water and had me lay on my left side for 45 minutes. My BP was checked after 30 minutes and it was 135/67, which she said still isn't too concerning other than the fact that my usual BP is so much lower. Now, I'll be having BP checks and NSTs every other day until the baby is born. So, I think the concerns are different for everyone. What's normal for one woman is not normal for me, and vice versa. If you are worried, check with your care provider.

Elf2718 · March 2014

I'm swollen and sore...but no headaches, floaters, nausea, etc.... and my bp was slightly higher than normal at last appt, but NP wasn't concerned.
She mainly felt sorry for me and rubbed my cankles for a minute! LOL

smushi · March 2014

I've been swelling all the way up my legs for the last 3 weeks, and I haven't been able to wear shoes since... BP is normal around 120/80 and no protein in urine, so my OB doesn't seem concerned (although I'm concerned, because the swelling is absolutely intense). Drink tons and tons of water. I sleep with my feet propped up on two pillows at night (above my heart). I've also had friends who soak their feet in Epsom salt to help reduce the swelling. My (ahem) vet suggested I pack my feet in sugar... lol he said it worked on cows so maybe it'd help me

We have an odd relationship...

AcaAwkward · March 2014

Sounds like normal End of Pregnancy swelling to me. Mention it at your appointment, but I wouldn't worry too much.

BeckyF82 · March 2014

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will keep an eye on it today and mention it to doctor tomorrow. I'm just so panicky that they are going to say it is PE, and admit me or put me on bed rest. I've got 4 days of work left and so much to do in that time that I just want to make it to the Thursday! X

knotty-girl · March 2014

I went to my OB FrIday and did some blood work. The previous appointment I had complained of somewhat severe swelling in my hands that was painful, but then remembered I had eaten corned beef on St. patty's Day. My last appointment the swelling was more mild, BP fine, and it was determined I don't have PE. I saw my OB at dinner last night and he commented my face also looked less swollen, and I had been doing left side bed rest as he suggested. However I woke up this morning with painful puffy hands again (and the swollen feet which is a given) and my face seems a little puffy. Some of these posts are making me wonder if I should call him, even though I see him for an appointment on Wednesday.

Bluebird2318 · March 2014

ETA: OMG, super long post, sorry.

I had severe pre-e with my first and my swelling was atrocious round-the-clock. It was so bad I had to wear my husband's shoes, and no amount of rest or fluid intake helped it. They just stayed swollen. My ankles had rolls and the tops of my feet were puffed up like balloons, 24/7 in both cases. My feet were Cinderella's worst nightmare.

This time around, I can tell you that "normal" swelling is much different. With this pregnancy I had no swelling at all until 30-31 weeks, at which point my ankles started swelling a bit at the end of the day, but the swelling would go down overnight with rest/elevation. At 36 weeks I finally got some mild swelling in my actual feet which caused me some panic because my BP was also slightly higher than normal--124/70 when my usual BP for this pregnancy has been anywhere from 95/60 to 115/70 or so. My BP checks at home were also giving me slightly higher than normal results for a couple of days. My OB wasn't concerned and I have noticed that after a few days of dealing with it, it seems very "normal" compared to what I dealt with when I had pre-e. The swelling in my feet goes down overnight and my BP has been roughly what I'm used to (with a few slightly higher readings). It seems like it's just the third trimester taking it's toll. I also feel like my sodium intake vs. fluid intake is also making a bigger difference these days.

Keep your doctor informed, but I don't think you need to worry unless you have sudden swelling of your hands/face that doesn't resolve, or if your BP seriously shoots up. Your BP is going to fluctuate naturally and third trimester isn't going to help that any. My MFM told me that women typically start seeing a normal rise in blood pressure starting at about 24-28 weeks or so and that it can continue to rise slightly until full term with nothing being wrong. A major spike is something to worry about, a few points higher than usual is probably normal. (But I know how easy it is to worry!)

mrsB68 · March 2014

I think it sounds normal for this stage of the game too, especially if it reduces with rest or increases as the day goes on. Also reducing sodium intake!

I will say that Epsom salt baths rock. They take my swelling pain and swelling and really give me se relief from them.

Good luck tomorrow!

BeckyF82 · March 2014

I might have to go out and buy some of these magical Epsom salts. I was born in Epsom and grew up there and still only live half an hour away so I really have no excuse for never having tried them! Lol!

softservecity · March 2014

Stalking from May 14. Mine got super huge, couldn't walk on Friday. Yesterday I got compression stockings from Walmart and they really help!

Kriztyn · March 2014

Swelling in hands and face (and calves) is more alarming than the feet and ankles. There would be protein in your urine and your BP would be much higher.

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