I have to share my secret weapon against swelling « Back to Group Discussions

[crazykittymomma]

Thank goodness I have such an awesome midwife this time around! Last time, I started swelling up around 28-30 weeks and it never stopped, just got worse and worse until I had no ankles at all and was totally miserable. My previous midwife's advise was to keep my feet up, avoid salt and drink water...yeah, not helpful. This time however, my midwife is wonderfully proactive and whenever I start swelling I can do a few things and it's gone by morning (even after walking all over legoland and eating junk food all day yesterday!).

My new routine when I start to swell is take some nettle tincture (from my midwife) with a glass of juice with mama calm (a magnesium supplement) then hop in a bath with epsom salt, afterward I chug as much water as I can stand and get my husband to massage my feet with a peppermint EO lotion. Add to that my daily yoga and being active chasing my toddler and I think that's the magic remedy for me. :) My midwife also recommends eating or juicing celery, carrots, cucumber and watermelon so I snack on those as often as possible. I'm really just in awe that I'm almost 35 weeks and I still can see my ankle bones and wear my wedding rings!

Do you have any "secret" weapons to share?

[jbk21]

I have no idea why I don't swell, but I am vegetarian so maybe I just naturally eat more carrots, cucumber, etc.  Who knows!  I do eat a lot of salads and fresh produce, and this time in particular I am eating very low carb because of GD.  I don't eat processed foods either, so maybe that helps.  I wish I still had my juicer- we got rid of it when we moved cross-country.  

During my last labor I was in the hospital and hooked to IVs (abx for GBS and I was induced so pitocin and fluids were given as well).  The nurse tracked my intake/output and I was within 1/10 of a mL overall- so my body was just naturally putting out the exact amount of fluids that I was taking in even during a stressful event.  She said that is very rare, so I don't know if I just got lucky or what.  I'm just thankful!

[Jaimee]

I don't swell either and I'm not sure if that's a genetic thing or what?  I do tend to have pretty low BP, does that have something to do with it?  Oh, and like J, I'm a vegetarian as well.  Who knows!  I'm glad things are going much better for you this time around, though, Sarah!  That's great!

[meesh933]

I was vegetarian my last two pregnancies, and I swelled last time, but not this time, so who knows. I've also gained significantly less weight this time, (maybe 30 lbs at 34 wks vs 55lbs each wit hthe other two), and I think that helps. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing differently, other than chasing two kids this time. I might walk a little bit more? I agree, though - it's nice to still have my wedding bands on this far into the game!

[berry987]

I swelled a lot with my first pregnancy...and was actually a vegetarian at that time. But my last three pregnancies, including this one, I haven't swelled at all and was no longer a vegetarian for the last three. I was on my feet a lot with my first pregnancy due to school and work - the last three I've been able to sit down in the afternoons some more. So who knows!

[Abraisme]

I'm another one that doesn't have much swelling.  I'm not a vegetarian, but I do eat a really healthy diet that includes tons of fresh produce.  I'm not too convinced that there is a correlation between vegetarianism and swelling, but who knows for sure.. 

[MrsKatie]

I had one day of swelling, when it was blisteringly hot here (well, for Oregon standards anyway).  But otherwise I haven't had ANY swelling.  I have relatively low BP and am vegan, don't eat processed food etc... maybe that helps?

It's good to know that you have so many effective solutions for swelling!  I DO get tired of "rest and drink a ton of water" as a solution to, like, EVERYTHING (even though it probably is )... your midwife sounds awesome!

I was so worried about having to take off my rings and now that I've passed 37 weeks and I'm still my normal size (well, except for that whole HUGE BELLY thing), I think I'm in the clear!

[birdhappy85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraisme 

I'm another one that doesn't have much swelling.  I'm not a vegetarian, but I do eat a really healthy diet that includes tons of fresh produce.  I'm not too convinced that there is a correlation between vegetarianism and swelling, but who knows for sure.. 

I'm not too convinced about the vegetarianism preventing swelling either, as I'm a very big meat eater (heavy protein intake) and I've had virtually no swelling during my pregnancy. I'm still wearing my wedding band like normal too, even through my 38-lb weight gain. My diet has fluctuated across the entire spectrum of healthy to horrible, as I went overboard with my eating in my 2nd trimester when my food intolerances seemed to disappear for a while. Fried foods, fast food, desserts, you name it... I've been sedentary for most of the pregnancy too. I pretty much strayed into territory I never thought I would while pregnant! My body just went rogue and took over. I ate way healthy and exercised a lot pre-pregnancy and it all fell to the wayside when the hormones surged! I've still eaten fruits and vegetables regularly during most of the pregnancy, though, and I've been really happy with my vitamin regimen. I haven't had a single thing go wrong with the pregnancy and my blood work has been some of the best my midwife has ever seen (especially iron levels).

I would say if there's anything keeping my swelling away, it must be my heavy water intake and/or my blood pressure that is consistently around 110/68. I'd say I have pretty bad genes between both of my parents, so I wouldn't really contribute a lack of swelling to genetics, but who knows since I'm built differently thank everyone else in my family. My mom has taken diuretics for as long as I can remember and has high blood pressure that even medication is having trouble controlling. But then again, I don't know if she had swelling during pregnancy itself...

[crazykittymomma]

I've been vegetarian through both pregnancies, but last time I did gain around 60 lbs and only 30ish so far this time. I'm a lot more active than last time though, so that probably also makes a difference.

[KayPea]

I'm wondering if it could just be a baby-to-baby thing too - I swelled A LOT during my first pregnancy, and I was walking a lot more than I am this time too. Diet is pretty much the same, though I think I've gained less weight this time around (I don't actually know, because I don't weigh myself) but I am 37 weeks, and have only had mild swelling of the fingers. Oh, and my feet swell after having a shower. It's amazing.

[Jaimee]

I'm sure it's a combo of things: genes, diet, lifestyle, exercise, hydration, weight gain, weather, etc.  Obviously gaining less weight and being able to get off your feet more often would help and I think that most of us on here adhere to pretty healthy diets regardless of meat intake. 

[TalkToMeNow]

I'm going to say it's totally random! I'm a vegetarian (and have been through all three pregnancies) with a very healthy diet. I drink a ton of water. First pregnancy while young (21) and now I'm 31. I was very active with #1, and sort of active with the last two. Gained 28 lbs with #1, 55 lbs with #2, and 23 lbs (so far) with this one. And I have swelled with all three pregnancies. No wedding rings for me. In fact, about a month ago I thought I was going to have to have my ring cut off! My finger was turning blue!! My feet and hands swell when I'm on my feet for more than a few minutes. My hands even swell over night. I'd say with all the differences with my pregnancies, there isn't anything I can really do to prevent.

I will say, a nice bath does help a lot at the end of the day. :)

[CDsMom1031]

I swell terribly... And have for a couple of weeks. This is my first baby and I'm not a vegetarian, nor do I watch what I eat, LOL.

It has gotten a LITTLE better. I don't know if it's because I changed some things. I.E., I wear slip-ons instead of shoes that tie and only when I HAVE to (School and work), otherwise I wear flip flops, I wear invisible socks instead of ones that go around my ankle, so they don't cut off circulation. I end every day with a nice, warm bath, and I sleep with my feet propped up on my boppy!

It might also be getting better because my body's getting "used" to being this size. IDK? Or maybe I'm just getting used to the swelling so I don't notice it as much.

[rhombus]

I was just telling someone today about my remarkable lack of swelling this pregnancy. I have been a puffball by this time with my other two. My blood pressure is always low (and has been through all my pregnancies) and I follow a super healthy diet. Yet, this time around, I've only had two separate instances of pitting edema, both following a lot of outside activity on sweltering hot days. I have never been this far along (37 weeks 5 days) and still had ankles! It's pretty wonderful, actually. I attribute my swell-free pregnancy to drinking A LOT of nettle infusion every day. That's been the only major thing I've done differently. I've always dabbled in nettles, but now I'm a big huge fan!

[jbk21]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

I'm sure it's a combo of things: genes, diet, lifestyle, exercise, hydration, weight gain, weather, etc.  Obviously gaining less weight and being able to get off your feet more often would help and I think that most of us on here adhere to pretty healthy diets regardless of meat intake. 

This is totally true.  I didn't mean to attribute my vegetarianism to my non-swelling, just thought since I probably eat more of the veggies the OP mentioned that maybe I was already doing what her MW would recommend.  No offense, meat-eaters :)  I do think that high salt intake or lots of processed foods might affect it, but I think it would vary person to person.  Some people can eat carbs without bloating, some can't- just another example of how every body is different :-)

[jill the pill]

I swelled up like a balloon during my last pregnancy and this time nothing.  I think drinking red rasberry leaf and nettle infusions everyday has totally helped with this.  The nettle also helps prevent varicosities too.  Magic stuff!