Legs swell a lot late in pregnancy: when it is time to see a doctor

Swelling is rather common for pregnant women. According to the specialists, of about 75 % of women feel uncomfortable because of leg swelling. Prevention of leg swelling during pregnancy includes proper rest (it is advisable to keep legs above the trunk level), drinking enough liquid (water) every day, balanced diet (it is necessary to reduce consumption of salt, add in the diet the products containing potassium).

How to reduce swelling during pregnancy, which swelling is considered normal and when you should see a doctor, will be told later.

Ankles, feet and toes often swell during pregnancy, as a body retains more water than usual in this period. By the end of the day, excess fluid tends to concentrate in the lower parts of the body. It happens most often in hot weather. Moderate swelling does no harm to a mom and her unborn child, but causes some disadvantages.

Usually swelling emerges during the final stages of pregnancy. What should you do in case of swelling in the third trimester? You should monitor the situation. If the swelling emerges towards evening, and you have spent the whole day on the move, it is normal. Swelling disappears after the rest with legs raised above the trunk level, night sleep, cold compress.

If your legs swell significantly late in pregnancy, and the swelling does not go away in several hours of rest, there is a tumidity of face, neck, hands, you have a headache, it is a reason for concern. Only a doctor can distinguish between physiologic swelling during pregnancy and preeclampsia, which is the state threatening health and life, basing on test results, weight gain pattern, arterial pressure indicators.

You cannot take off the rings with ease, the fingers themselves are swollen. Why does finger swelling emerge during pregnancy? In this period the body produces 50 % more blood and other biologic fluids. A part of excess fluid accumulates in the tissues, and swelling concentrates in the limbs: hands and feet, due to the gravity law. As a rule, a woman notices a tumidity of fingers starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, and the swelling persists during the third trimester.

If the actions described above give no results, or a face tumidity has emerged, you should see a doctor immediately. It could be an indication of preeclampsia, which is the potentially dangerous combination of high blood pressure and elevated protein level in blood.

Of about 30% of pregnant women complain of running nose and nasal blockage. At that, such a state is not an allergy or a virus infection. Rhinitis gravidarum may begin already on the second month of pregnancy, and at later stages the symptoms may become more pronounced.

The cause of rhinitis: change of the endocrine profile during pregnancy favors the swelling of the mucous membranes inside the nose. The blood volume in the body increases too, that causes vasodilation and nasal blockage.

Treatment of nose swelling during pregnancy:

• drink more;
• sleep on a high pillow;
• do steam inhalations;
• use saline solution for nasal lavage and/or instillation;
• use an air humidifier (especially at night);
• avoid potential irritants (cigarette smoke, paint, chemical evaporations).

It is not advisable to use nasal drops and sprays during the first trimester. If you have a severe nasal blockage, you should see a doctor who will prescribe a pharmacological therapy.

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