Swollen Feet in pregnancy😖👣👣

🤔Today, during a discussion with an expecting friend, I recalled one of the major discomforts I faced during my pregnancy - the swollen feet!

🤝Most of the expecting moms would agree with me that -as they have reached the third trimester this problem of swollen feet has risen. By the end of third trimester, you may notice that your shoes no longer fit, your ankles and lower legs are swollen, and your feet look larger in size.
👩🏼‍🏭Though I was told my my gynaec that it is a normal part of pregnancy and is not a cause for alarm I was keen to know more -what causes swollen feet during pregnancy?
❓Here is what I learnt -
✅Pregnancy results in a 50% increase in the volume of your blood say by 34th week
✅The kidneys of expecting moms also retain more water and sodium, resulting in even greater fluid volume in the body.
✅Hormonal changes and pressure from the enlarging uterus cause the veins in your legs to expand in size making it more difficult for blood to travel up the legs. ✅This causes the blood to pool in your lower legs, ankles, and feet, resulting in swelling.
‼️Measures -
Since I faced this problem of swollen feet mainly due to pre eclampsia, I was always on my doc’s radar to control it and thankfully was guided how to decrease swelling in feet. 👀Some of the best ways -

💁🏻‍♀️Sleep on your left side - This will remove some of the pressure that the uterus applies to the veins in your pelvis and legs.
💁🏻‍♀️Elevate your feet - It is best to put your feet up so that they are higher than your heart. This will help blood to travel away from your feet, reducing the amount of fluid accumulation.
💁🏻‍♀️Wear compression socks or stockings. ( only with your doctor’s approval) These apply pressure to your lower legs and feet to push fluid out of those areas and reduce swelling. Talk with your doctor about choosing compressionsocks that would suit you.
💁🏻‍♀️Drink 8-10 cups of water- Drinking more water can encourage your body to remove excess fluid when you urinate, which may help reduce swelling.
💁🏻‍♀️Move around - ( in case not recommended bed rest)Try not to sit or stand in one place for extended periods of time. If you are sitting, take frequent breaks to get up and walk around for a few minutes.
💁🏻‍♀️Avoid foods with a high salt content- Salty foods can increase the amount of water that your body retains and will further increase fluid accumulation.
💁🏻‍♀️Stay inside during hot and humid days - Hot temperatures can worsen swelling.
💁🏻‍♀️Massage your feet- This will help your feet feel better, increase blood flow to the area, and decrease swelling.
🤰Swelling will go on its own post delivery -
Swelling will start to decrease after delivery when your body starts removing excess fluid that was necessary for your pregnancy through urination or sweating. 🙆‍♀️This is your body’s natural way of eliminating excess fluid.
❌Warning signs - pls dong ignore these signs :
‼️Although swelling of the feet and ankles is common in pregnancy, if you notice that you have swelling of your hands or face, especially around your eyes, you should contact your doctor. This could be a sign of preeclampsia or a state of high blood pressure in expecting moms. Preeclampsia can be dangerous to both you and your baby, so it is important to contact your doctor if you notice this.
‼️if you notice that swelling only occurs in one of your legs, you should contact your doctor immediately because this could be a sign of a blood clot.

Be alert, be safe!

Happy pregnancy journey 🤝
Love to all -soon -moms -to -be 💚