Swelling « Back to Group Discussions

[ISHISN0WC0NE]

I had to take my rings off already :(  I was hoping it was just yesterday, since I had a SMALL serving of chinese food 2 nights ago.  But it looks like the swelling is here to stay. . . I have been drinking tons of water and avoiding sodium and it just wont go away.  I checked my BP and its 130/80, not great but not really high or anything.  Anyone else having swelling?  Im 23 weeks.

[~Demeter~]

too much water and not enough salt can cause swelling, it's as bad as not enough water and too much salt, you know? there's a balance. try to only salt your food to taste, my midwife recommends you drink 2 Liters of water a day (i typically can only get down 1.5 liters, lol) and eat LOTS of protein (80g/day). Some swelling is quite normal though so if it's not really bad and wasn't sudden I wouldn't worry too much just yet.

[ISHISN0WC0NE]

Its not really bad but was sudden; after the chinese though :P  

[~Demeter~]

By sudden I think they mean really bad... eating certain foods triggers me to hold onto water as well. I think there's more concern when it includes your face. Hands and feet will swell and that's normally. I also tend to get a bit of pitting edema on my legs (only had that with my girls) later in pregnancy but my doctor with #4 told me that was to expected especially in a late summer pregnancy. I'm assuming I'll experience the same this go around to some degree. :)

[LilyTiger]

It could be something else too.  When I do long walks I notice my hands swell enormously.  But it usually goes down within a day.  So far though, it hasn't been too bad.

[intime0]

at the end of some days my rings are insanely tight.  I keep wearing them though.  I second what Demeter said.  I dont give up my salt for anybody. LOL.

[Ninetales]

I took off my engagement ring.  I never had it soldered to my wedding band because I worked in a warehouse store after my wedding and didn't want to damage the diamond.  I took it off now figuring that if either of them needs cutting off at least the band is cheaper to replace.  I wouldn't say I'm swelling per se - my rings are tighter, but I'm also rather heavier than when I got married.

[andaluza]

Dh and I got new rings for our 10th anniversary last year (our originals are from a shop in Chinatown when we were still not even serious about marriage). I can tell my new ring is getting tighter, so I will soon go back to my original for as long as I can (they are different sizes, actually). I think summer and pregnancy swelling are going to be a bad combo for any ring wearing for me, though. I also swell a bit in my hands after my walks. I have been drinking tons of water and think I have a healthy amount of salt in my diet, so I think some swelling is just unavoidable. So far it's not severe and only in my hands. My legs and ankles seem to be just fine.

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by andaluza 

Dh and I got new rings for our 10th anniversary last year (our originals are from a shop in Chinatown when we were still not even serious about marriage). I can tell my new ring is getting tighter, so I will soon go back to my original for as long as I can (they are different sizes, actually). I think summer and pregnancy swelling are going to be a bad combo for any ring wearing for me, though. I also swell a bit in my hands after my walks. I have been drinking tons of water and think I have a healthy amount of salt in my diet, so I think some swelling is just unavoidable. So far it's not severe and only in my hands. My legs and ankles seem to be just fine.

I always take my rings off during the summer anyways. :P 

[pennywhistle]

My ankles sometimes get a little bit puffy by the evening (to the point where I can see indentations from my sock cuff), but it's gone by the next morning.  My rings seem to fit the same as before.  I'm chugging water like crazy, though (I've already drank 2.5 liters today, and it's only 2:15pm here), so maybe that's helping?

My midwife said the same thing about salt - she said cutting it out is just as bad (in terms of swelling) as eating too much, so she suggested not changing anything in my diet re: sodium.

[Lizbiz]

I have a bit of high blood pressure too... 127/81 - not quite normal for me and verging on high-ish - so I've got to watch it.  This also happened with my last pregnancy, although later on than this.  I likely eat way too much salt living in China.  MSG and salt abound :(.  So... I'm going to try to cut back a bit.  Although we had takeout tonight and I'm pretty sure I swallowed an ocean full of sodium, dangit.  I think I'm going to have to give up takeout - which stinks because it's a lifesaver once/twice a week when we're both working.

As for swelling - I'm noticing after a day in my office chair now - I'm a bit swelled in the ankles/calves.  Ugh.  I'm drinking lots and trying to take walk breaks - but I think it's unavoidable.  

I'm also jumping up in weight kind of quickly these past two weeks... So I'm going to have to keep an eye on things!  

I've also heard that too little salt can cause the swelling too.  

[midstreammama]

How does one manage to consume 80-100g of protien a day..this the recommendation from the birth center in my area. It seems so hard!

[~Demeter~]

I eat at least 2 eggs/day and try to get some form of protein with each meal/snack I consume. A handful of nuts, some nut butter, a lean meat, cheese, cottage cheese is probably one of the cheapest forms of protein you can get... My midwife said for my height she'd recommend at least 60 but I'm closing in on very close to 80 each day.

[~Demeter~]

Oh forgot to add... at least one bean serving a day helps as well.

[pennywhistle]

Yeah, the key is getting protein every time I eat.

I have a protein shake for morning snack (powder is 25g protein), and I usually have a Think Thin bar at some point which is also around 20g.  Add an egg or two, greek yogurt at some point, meat at lunch & dinner, plus peanut butter with my apple or banana for afternoon snack and it racks up quickly!

[wyogirl]

I have not experienced any type of swelling at this stage in my pregnancy (24 weeks).  In my first pregnancy, I was having edema, but none yet so far.

[Sol_y_Paz]

My rings still fit just fine.  I keep waiting for that not to the case.  I am in my 25th week.  

[midstreammama]

Feel like I am doing better with the protein., I can't eat too much at once because then I feel like crap so the key is paying super close attention to what I'm eating all the time. That's hard for me so I started planning a little ahead of time..I have a super packed day of soccer, gymnastics, and dance competition so we will see how today works out!

[intime0]

I want some cottage cheese!  Lizbiz, do you have cottage cheese there? I found the tiniest container, like 6 oz perhaps for $6 Sing.  AND I almost bought it.  It was like 4 bites.

I keep almonds in my purse.  I drink milk with every meal.  But I CANNOT do eggs.  I TRY.  But I just don't like them.  Any suggestions?

[Lizbiz]

We too have tiny containers for sale sometimes in the import stores - but they cost a jillion dollars :).  So... no cottage cheese!  I would eat it by the gallon if I could though - it's one of my favorite snacks!  

Other sources of protein I eat pretty regularly here: 

Nuts - walnuts, almonds, peanut butter (non-sugary kind). 

Beans - black, garbanzo, pinto.  

Eggs - hardboiled, fried, poached.  

Yogurt - I should eat more of this... but I've been lazy about getting to the special store where I buy sugar-free yogurt. 

I'm afraid I'm a terrible example - I don't eat enough protein, for sure!  I do eat some meat, but not much - I just don't like it that much here!  I need to try harder though.  

I'm finding I don't swell at all over the weekends when my movements are more varied - it's those office-chair days!