During pregnancy, your body changes rapidly. Some of the changes that your body undergoes could be extremely ugly and very uncomfortable. One of such changes is pedal edema -- swollen feet and lower legs.
It is not uncommon for your feet and even your legs to swell during pregnancy. In fact, because swollen feet are very common during pregnancy, many pregnant women believe that they are normal. But, are swollen feet really normal during pregnancy?
WHAT IS PEDAL EDEMA
Pedal edema occurs when your feet and lower legs swell, especially during pregnancy. It happens when small blood vessels in your feet and lower legs leak fluid into surrounding tissues.
WHAT CAUSES YOUR FEET TO SWELL DURING PREGNANCY?
1) Normal Changes During Pregnancy
Your body produces more blood and fluids during pregnancy. As a matter of fact, about 50 percent more blood and body fluids are produced to meet the need of your baby (fetus).
An increase in the amount of blood and body fluids encourages small blood vessels to continuously leak fluid into surrounding tissues, resulting in pedal edema. This explains why you might not be able to don your favorite shoes during pregnancy.
2) Pedal Edema Caused By The Effects Of Gravity
Also known as dependent edema, it is caused by the effects of gravity. Here, fluid pools in the feet and lower legs. Plainly put, gravity pulls blood toward the feet. Standing, sitting, or staying in one position for too long can cause dependent edema.
3) Preeclampsia
This is a condition that can occur during pregnancy and immediately after birth. Preeclampsia causes pedal edema and dangerously high blood pressure. It could also cause your face, your hands, and the skin around your eyes to swell.
Even worse, it might be associated with headache, confusion, blurry vision, difficulty breathing, and convulsion (eclampsia). If you suspect that you have preeclampsia, it is important to talk to your doctor.
4) Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
This is the presence of a blood clot in a vein in your leg. The thing is, thanks to hormones, pregnant women are more likely to get blood clots than the average person.
Common symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include the following: swelling in one leg and foot, the affected area is warm and painful, and the presence of low-grade fever. If you suspect that you have DVT, it is important to talk to your doctor.
HOW TO GET RELIEF
If your feet are swollen, and if more sinister causes of pedal edema such as DVT and preeclampsia have been ruled out by an experienced health-care provider, you could do the following:
- Reduce sodium intake. That is, reduce salt intake. - Reduce caffeine or coffee intake. - Increase potassium intake. Put simply, eat lots of bananas, oranges, carrots, potatoes, etc.
- Drink more water. - Always raise your feet when lying or sitting. In other words, put your feet on a pillow when lying or sitting. - Go for a 10-minute walk.
- Always sleep on your left side. The reason is, sleeping on your left side can improve blood flow. - Wear compression (tight) socks that extend to your thigh.
THE TAKEAWAY
Swollen feet are a normal part of pregnancy. However, during pregnancy, frightening conditions such as preeclampsia and DVT can cause pedal edema; they warrant a medical response from an experienced health-care provider.
Tell us, pregnant or not and man or woman, what else do you do when your feet are swollen?