[Iamhappy2BAmom]

OK so a few days ago I noticed my ankles starting to swell. I went to the DRs. office this am- was not swelling. So my doctor says I shouldn't really worry until the swelling is "uneven" plus my blood preassure was fine. Then today I did notice the swelling start again- not uneven though and I'm just sitting at a desk not walking around. My hands are starting to get sore as well after only a couple hours of working on the computer. I first thought it might be the carpal tunnel a lot of preg women seem to acquire but I think it's partially due to the swell as well. Ay-yay-yay. BP seems ok.<br><br>
Anyway- I have 10 more weeks to go. Anyone there have any advice as to helping the swell go down. I am drinking lemon in water and that's not working, drinking lots of water and still the same, drinking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Is this just one of those inevitable things I should try not to panic about?<br><br>
Anyway- just venting.

 

[Ks Mama]

Is this your first? If not, what was your experience like first time around?<br><br><br>
I gained a TON of water weight/swelling at the end of my first pregnancy...<br>
as soon as the weather got warmer. I'm expecting it will likely be the same this time around.<br><br>
I found the best thing to help alleviate the swelling feeling was swimming - A LOT - not just dipping your ankles in, but actually submerging your body (actually if you do a search on this, submersion is supposed to help your body eliminate excess water - something like water pressure pushing the excess water in your skin through your body, so you can excrete it? I'm probably butchering the process - but do a search)... I always felt & looked, if even temporarily, better after swimming.<br><br>
And of course, drinking lots of water. And propping your feet up whenever you're starting to feel exhausted & swollen.

 

[tls]

I have noticed just this week (33 weeks along) that I have begun swelling too. It happens at night and I am usually prettty warm when it is happening. I have a blood pressure cuff and have been monitoring my blood pressure. It is always a little higher at night. So I am hoping as well that others have some ideas to keep the swelling down. I'm a little nervous because with DS I was on modified bedrest for the last few weeks because of higher bp and swelling. Of course he was 2 weeks late in the hot August summer which probably had something to do with it <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">.

 

[wombatclay]

I'm soooooo sorry! I had so much swelling with my last pregnancy I actually had to go on disability 4 weeks before my due date due to nerve compression! I gained a total of just over 70 pounds and about 30 pounds of that was water...I started to swell around the 7th month and it just went from there. This time I've had some swelling, but not so bad yet so I have hope!<br><br>
The bright side is, as long as it's not pre-e type swelling or anything serious, gaining a lot of water weight means that weight will just melt off in the first week or so after the babe arrives. I lost 20 pounds in the first week! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
For swelling there are a few things to try:<br><br>
--feet up and hands up (in a neutral position, like "flat" out on a table) as much as possible.<br><br>
--don't cross your legs or stay in the same position too long...move around, stand up, sit down, etc.<br><br>
--DRINK DRINK DRINK, staying really well hydrated can help with the swelling. My care provider told me to get one of those 32 oz water bottles and drink 2-3 of them a day with a little lemon.<br><br>
--make sure you have enough salt in your diet. Although it seems contradictory, cutting back on the sodium too much can actually cause more swelling. So don't go crazy, but salt things to taste.<br><br>
--eat bananas and other potassium sources. Also make sure you've got the calcium/magnesium you need. Swelling can lead to funky imbalances in other things and the last thing you want is RLS or cramping due to low potassium/magnesium levels.<br><br>
--foods like cucmber, watermelon, and celery are great for helping the body shed extra water. I've also heard that asparagus can help (though keep in mind if you eat too much asparagus your pee will absolutely STINK for a while). Personally I can't wait till watermelons are back in the stores, but I do make sure to eat cucmber every day (it's a great snack!)<br><br>
--take your wedding ring or other rings off before they get too tight. I know mamas who've had to have jewelry cut off and while it can be repaired, still. Also, don't sleep in rings or other jewelry. Although the swelling usually goes down while you sleep, it may not.<br><br>
--if it get's bad, buy those support stocking panty hose things. You put them on first thing in the morning and leave them on all day. Not really comfy, but they keep your legs feeling better and prevent the swelling/pooling of fluid in the legs.<br><br>
--if possible, sleep on your left side...things drain better and circulate better in that position and it can help.<br><br>
--purchase a pair of those soft wrist braces and wear them while you sleep. The swelling can compress the nerves in the wrist (instant carpal tunnel syndrome) and the braces will help keep your wrists in a neutral position while you sleep. If it really helps, wear the braces during the day too...but they're easier to ignore at night.<br><br>
--my care provider did suggest one last thing but she added a big warning...you can put a thin piece of wood under the foot of your bed or under the foot of the mattress to raise the bottom of the bed just a half inch or so. This can help with the swelling BUT it can also lead to the babe moving out of optimal positioning. So if you're worried about a posterior or asynclitic babe this isn't a good option.<br><br>
Hang in there...

 

[Iamhappy2BAmom]

Yes- my first! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/innocent.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shy"> Probably why I get so alarmed so easily.<br><br>
Looking at your list wombatclay:<br>
I do drink tons of h20 a day. I am worried about the cal/mag and potassium thing b/c I can't handle cows milk. Nor am I able to digest bananas for some odd reason. Which sucks b/c those are the easiest fruits to eat. I can't do spinach b/c that eeks out calcium from your system. So potassium wise what else is there?<br><br>
(*I started buying watermelon's here in CA a few weeks ago and 4 in a row they have all been tasteless. What are they doing to watermelon's nowadays to make them taste so unnatural.*)<br><br>
tls- I think I will buy a blood preassure cuff as well. b/c aside from pre-c what else could swelling be a bad indication of? right? But then again that may lead me to obsessively taking my bp every 30 minutes. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[wombatclay]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I can't do straight cow's milk either (though I'm okay with yogurt and cheese). I use a calcium/mag supplement AND a seperate magnesium supplement. My OB this time round said that the only "negative" side effect of too much magnesium is really loose stools...so if I start getting diarrhea I should drop the extra supplement, but other than that it was okay.<br><br>
For potassium, check out <a href="http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/foodnut/09355.html" target="_blank">http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/foodnut/09355.html</a> This site has a table of foods that are good sources of potassium...including things like prunes/raisins, avocado, cantaloupe, chicken, sweet potato, carrots, celery, baked potato...and lots more. So hopefully there will be something on the list you already like/enjoy/have at home.

 

[mm72873]

What has helped me keep off the swelling so far has been drinking tons of red raspberry tea. I use a french press to make 3 cups at a time and just sip it wiht some honey.......My midwife told me to drink water almost obsessively for it showed on my sugar test that I was not drinnking enough...so now I carry water with me everywhere......nothing else. But so far, I am huge, but no swelling. oh, when you notice your feet get tired, a 10 minute catnap has been very helpful too....I have a toddler, so that is the most I can do at times. The pool idea was great too.....I remember just loving feeling weightless, as if I were not pregnant while in the water..I did not wan tto get out.....take a floaty when you go to the pool, so you can just lay on it wth oyur shoulders and float.....feels absolutely heavenly....<br><br>
Miriam

 

[torio]

Up your protein intake. Protein helps to keep water out of the tissues and in the digestion process.<br><br>
Alfalfa tablets also help with swelling. You can start with 1 tablet, 2-3 times a day and go up to 16 tablets a day if necessary.<br><br>
I'm also having trouble with stiffness/pain in my hand, especially the right one. I'm not sure if it's carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve from sleeping only on one side or the other and propped up to avoid relux, my circulation, or some combo of factors. My blood pressure has been fine, low even for a twin pregnancy. No one else thinks I look like I have any swelling, but I did have to take off my wedding ring.

 

[scrappingmom]

in agreement with what i've read so far <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
drinking "alot" of water.. is relative to each person.. i drink about 1 1/2 gal a day and upwards to over 2 in warmer months(starting around now) and i feel dry all the time..lol<br><br>
this is my 8preg and 5th delivery.. i had Pre-e with the first had some swelling and borderline on bp with the others at times things that definelty help was contiously making sure i hd enough sodium.. i ended up adding a pinch of sea salt to my water.. basicly it acts sorta like a sports drink..without the sugar and dye and junk <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
also, along with having our feet, and hands raised, you can do it yourself or have dp/friend etc do it.... just lightly rubbing from tops of the feet up toward your leg then around your leg forming sort of a circle and imagine your are just sliding the water up, or even a brushing like motion(like if you spill water on teh counter and sort of sweep toward the sink or something?!) and "sweep" the water toward your knee... and likewise with your hands going toward your elbow... it sort of reminds your body that the fluids need to return back toward your torso.. nota technical explanation but its more or less whats happeneing.<br><br>
most of all.. dont stress(this will unecesarily raise your bp).. observe, take notes if you feel you need to to bring to dr/mw listen to your body.. not to much to the freak out side of your brain though <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> lol

 

[awallrising]

You were reading my mind when you started this thread.<br><br>
I am sooooo swollen & uncomfortable. In addition to my achy joints, my hands & feet feel like they will explode. On top of the warm (albeit beautiful) weather today, I ate Chinese food (at a veg. restaurant) for lunch & I think that did me in. I can't even make a fist & my left thumb feels like it dislocated it's so swollen. I'm trying to drink lots of water with lemon & have other natural diuretics (pineapple, etc). I hope when the weather cools off in a day or two, I'll feel a little better.<br><br>
I've been eating my 60grams of protein daily & drinking at least a gallon of water. I hope I'm not this way for the last 8 weeks.

 

[dara00]

I'm with you! I was in IL this weekend and while hiking my fingers swelled up. they're normal now, but after the flight home, my ankles are swollen! I'm confused because keeping my feet up to reduce swelling is the opposite of keeping my belly below my hips that I'm supposed to do to try to get the baby in the right position! Last time I didn't swell till the very end and I have 2 months left - not good!<br><br>
Wombat, how do you know so much about everything??

 

[Marvelleaux]

Ugh! I swelled last night for the first time! I'm pretty sure it was due to being hot though. My husband, who is a notoriously thrifty man when it comes to heating/cooling the house, was upset because I had the A/C on when he came home from work so I turned it off and went upstairs to ignore him. In retrospect this was a pretty stupid move, as it several degrees warmer upstairs than down. Two hours later I emerged from my hot-box and showed him my grossly swollen appendages and he was MORTIFIED <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">. I don't think he'll be bitching again about the A/C being on any time soon. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[wombatclay]

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<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Wombat, how do you know so much about everything??</td>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
I'm glad I've got you fooled! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br><br>
I'm a reference/research librarian at one of the Ivy League schools...until dd arrived I spent 40 hours a week (and now I spend 25) helping people find information on all sorts of things. And my last pregnancy I had a lot of minor to moderate complications so I read A LOT about pregnancy and all the bits around it. Sitting at a reference desk with unlimited access to databases and research collections has a big down side...you can scare your pants off pretty easily. And now I have a few standard searches I run every day so I can stay on top of the literature.<br><br>
I probably need a 12 step program... "Yes, I am an information addict and I can't help sharing" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[willoLevin]

Yesterday's record-breaking high for the date (86 F) made me wish I'd scheduled our central air installation for ASAP instead of the first week of June! It is cooling off here, but I've felt swollen and hot the past few days, and it was only 60-something Sunday (and 70-something today.) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"><br><br>
I ate Chinese food about a month ago and had dreadful swelling. DH keeps asking if we should get Chinese for dinner (we're doing LOTS of takeout as our kitchen is undergoing a remodel), and I won't let him because I'm afraid to swell up again.<br><br>
--willo

 

[torio]

Isn't it interesting that Chinese food causes more swelling. If more salt is helpful to decrease swelling, apparently whatever is in Chinese food is not the same as regular NaCl.<br><br>
I need to get myself immersed in water--pool, ocean, anywhere. Not only is it supposed to be good to help decrease water retention, but it would be soooo comfortable.

 

[Mab]

lots of great advice, but i also want to remind you of really making a point of having your feet up all the time except of course when walking. if you are in the couch, at the computer or something, put a chair in the side and rest your feet up there, since sometimes we are very pregnant and this stage and don't realize how much time a day we are in a sitting position with our feet down.<br><br>
feet up against the wall once or twice a day for a few minutes is a good idea too.<br><br>
good luck!

 

[awallrising]

I was wondering about wombatclay being a font of knowledge, the reference librarian thing makes a lot of sense.<br><br>
I am feeling better today, but my joints are still so very achy. This must be what my 85 year old G'pa feels like. I can't even get my wedding ring on. Luckily it's only in the 60s today.<br><br>
Again, I hope this isn't what the remaining 8 wks or so is like.<br><br>
Hope you all get some relief today. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

 

[lunaleau]

Wombatclay you do have a lot of great info. In my first pregnancy I had a lot of swelling ( gained 2 shoe sizes!!!) and borderline pre-e. My homebirth was a transport and c-section due to this ( not saying that to scare you just to let you know my personal experience) This time I was really freaked out at first and have been very strict about my diet, luckily my MW is REALLY knowledgeable about nutrition so that is a big help, here are the things that she also suggested,<br><br>
1)avoid MSG ( the chinese food issue) at all costs it wreaks havoc with your system, and though salt a bit to taste remember that almost anything processed will probably push you over the limit for a day or two.<br><br>
2)Also I get 100 grams of protein a day and about 60% pf my food is raw ( though my acupuntutrist suggested these last few weeks that I eat less raw and stem more of my veggies, it has been going well).<br><br>
3)In terms of the magenesium and potassium, I cannot drink milk either so I have either a smoothie of yogurt, berries, protein powder and molasses or just a glass of soymilk with molasses in the am. It ends up tasting kind of like chocolate milk. I was having charlie horses for a bit and this cleared them up plus boosts my iron for later.<br><br>
4) I eat LOTS of leafy green veggies and lastly I swim 3x a week. I was in a car accident about 6 weeks ago and cannot walk great distances and I was determined not to gain the 80+ lbs I did the first time. I do not push it, I am up to 45 minutes each time but I just keep moving and wow do I feel good!<br><br>
The upshot, I have had NO swelling this time. My fingers get a little tight when it gets warm but my midwife said a little extra fluid is good because it helps prevent you from going into shock after the birth. I guess the last suggestion is to relax!! Stress and worry will always sabotage your best efforts!This has been my biggest challenge since I am a HBAC in 3 1/2 weeks. But good luck.<br><br>
Hey what us up with Alfalfa I am intrigued!

 

[Neve]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>dara00</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7934156"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I'm with you! I was in IL this weekend and while hiking my fingers swelled up. they're normal now, but after the flight home, my ankles are swollen! I'm confused because keeping my feet up to reduce swelling is the opposite of keeping my belly below my hips that I'm supposed to do to try to get the baby in the right position! Last time I didn't swell till the very end and I have 2 months left - not good!<br><br>
Wombat, how do you know so much about everything??</div>
</td>
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My fingers used to swell when I hiked even before I was pregnant! This is a great thread--so many remedies I had never thought of/tried. I actually logged on to ask this exact question!<br><br>
One question--does keeping your feet raised help? I am sure this helps, but unfortunately when I do this my BH contractions kick in. Sort of like stealing from Peter to pay Paul?!<br><br>
Thanks!!

 

[wombatclay]

Elevating your feet (and hands if you can) does help since it encourages the fluid to "leave the area"...but if you get BH, or if you're following optimal fetal positioning techniques (which include not sitting back with your feet up!) you can try those compression stockings. Basically the stockings (sometimes sold in the maternity section, sometimes in the general pharmacy section) go on first thing in the morning when swelling is low and prevent the fluid from collecting in the legs to begin with. Some people find them really comfy, others hate them...