Any good tips for summer swelling? « Back to Group Discussions

[5Boysplus]

When I have summer babies I have the worst time with really bad edema in my legs and hands.  I am already starting to get puffy this go around, and I know I still have the whole summer ahead of me. I had to take my wedding ring off a month ago.  My blood pressure is totally fine, so it's not too worrisome, but it is SO uncomfortable! Anyone have any good tricks that have worked for them? I have been walking every day for a few miles, (I'm not quite so in shape as most of you), and I drink lots of fluid. . . any other tricks I'm missing?  I'm not looking forward to a dozen pounds of water weight.

[ilovejeff]

Watch your salt intake...the worst swelling I had when pg with dd was after I had the. Most. Delicious. Salted caramel ice cream ever. I've been studying (nursing) with DH lately and he keeps saying "water follows salt". And LOTS of water to flush it out

[goin' green]

I found that following the brewer diet last time (lots and lots of protein) worked great.  This time around, I'm about 90% paleo, so lots of protein, veggies and fruit.  Grains actually cause inflammation (and I feel like hell when I eat them now) so I'm avoiding them altogether now (wasn't in the beginning - I'll be honest).  

[Monkey Keeper]

Counterintuitively, you also need to watch your water intake. And adding lemon to your water can help a bit as well. I also have read that watermelon is a diuretic. Not sure if that is true or not, but it's a great excuse to eat watermelon!

What I can never figure out is how to "put up" your feet and not violate all the get-your-baby-in-a-good-birthing-position rules!

[amysue]

I've been having a little bit of swelling in my ankles.  I know when I drink enough water/fluids and get up and move every hour or so it really helps (I have a desk job where I sit a lot).  I also drink my red rasperry leaf/nettle/alfalfa tea.  The nettle, especially helps with swelling, but I think the other two do as well.  I usually drink a 32 oz glass iced in the morning and one in the afternoon, along with water. 

[help007]

Just after my second pregnancy ended, a friend of mine posted to facebook about the research he did on his wife's behalf- her due date was about 6-8 weeks after mine, and she had major swelling issues. He said that both in his research and his wife's experience, swimming or even just walking around in chest to waist deep water helps swelling a LOT. Something about how the water creates counter pressure or something like that- I don't remember the details.

Anyhow, very early in this pregnancy, I had an odd bout of swelling. We took our boys swimming, which for preschoolers meant we walked around pulling and pushing them the whole way. I got out of the water, and by the time we were dressed to leave I had peed twice, and a lot. The swelling was gone by bedtime, and so far, I haven't had any more. That said, I usually don't get swelling issues until the last couple of months, so I expect to do a lot of water activities this august and september!

Sorry to make such a short story so long!

Go get in some water!

[Lucy Alden]

Originally Posted by help007 

He said that both in his research and his wife's experience, swimming or even just walking around in chest to waist deep water helps swelling a LOT. Something about how the water creates counter pressure or something like that- I don't remember the details.
 

I totally second swimming. I had horrible edema with my first because of a desk job. My feet looked awful and felt even worse. I could press my finger down and have huge pits 10 minutes later. My midwife told me to swim everyday. She explained that the pressure of the water forces your blood to circulate which allows your body to flush out the extra water. I lots 7 pounds of water in the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy just by gently moving around in the water.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by Monkey Keeper 

What I can never figure out is how to "put up" your feet and not violate all the get-your-baby-in-a-good-birthing-position rules!

Ha! It's like they enjoy toying with pregnant women. "Sit, but not for too long. Stand, but also not for too long. Move around plenty, but take it easy. Put your feet up, but keep them below hip level. Lie down, but avoid reclining." And on and on. And that's without even thinking about all the food, drink, supplement advice.

(FWIW, I'll be worrying about positioning laaateeer.. still on the early side for that, I think, in terms of probability of baby flipping around anyway and mother going INSANE in the meantime.)

[mamalovex3]

Originally Posted by hyde 

Ha! It's like they enjoy toying with pregnant women. "Sit, but not for too long. Stand, but also not for too long. Move around plenty, but take it easy. Put your feet up, but keep them below hip level. Lie down, but avoid reclining." And on and on. And that's without even thinking about all the food, drink, supplement advice.

(FWIW, I'll be worrying about positioning laaateeer.. still on the early side for that, I think, in terms of probability of baby flipping around anyway and mother going INSANE in the meantime.)

That's exactly how I feel!  I have never gotten so much contradictory advice in my life.  With my last pregnancy, I had threatened pre-term labour at 24 weeks (my cervix was shortening) and so this time around the closer I get to that milestone I feel like I need to slow down and take it easy, even though I feel fine! 

I had terrible swelling towards the end of my last pregnancy which is apparently common with twin pregnancy - my feet were puff balls, I couldn't wear boots at all (and my babes were born in January) and my legs always had marks on them from where my socks cut my circulation :(  I don't have much to add but keep drinking LOTS of water :)

[wendipauline]

my feet and ankles are starting to puff up as well. i'm trying to increase my protein, which is a bit tricky because i currently have no appetite! 

i love the swimming suggestions... once i find a reasonably-priced maternity suit i'm going to start hitting the pool. 

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by wendipauline 

i love the swimming suggestions... once i find a reasonably-priced maternity suit i'm going to start hitting the pool. 

Target has started marking theirs down already. I wore one of their maternity tops (the adjustable ruched style which lasted me the whole pregnancy with room to grow) with regular low cut bikini bottoms last time.

$8.74 available online in Large and XL:

http://www.target.com/p/Liz-Lange-for-Target-Maternity-Tankini-Swim-Top-Ebony-White-Palm-Print/-/A-13327103

Edited by Monkey Keeper - 5/17/12 at 12:18pm

[MadiMamacita]

Originally Posted by help007 

I got out of the water, and by the time we were dressed to leave I had peed twice, and a lot.

Funny- I take DS swimming for a few hours each friday and I do notice that I have to pee A LOT- like 5 times in just 2-3 hours. I thought I was just weird!

[5Boysplus]

These are great ideas! I'll have to look into the Brewer diet, and I've never heard of swimming being helpful, but that sounds good to me!  I've ordered a swimsuit because I don't have a maternity one, and mine are NOT fitting.  Thanks Monkey Keeper!  I'll keep my water bottle in my car filled up.  And yeah, the conflicting advice for pregnant mamas is always entertaining.  I always thought that just meant you could take it or leave it :-) Thanks again!!! And keep the suggestions coming if you have more!