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Swelling of the arms and legs during pregnancy
Swelling of the arms and legs during pregnancy occurs when fluid is retained in the tissues of the body, and sodium and the hormone progesterone prevent its excretion. It is important to be able to identify the symptoms of edema and know how to deal with them.
Swelling of the hands during pregnancy
Most often, fluid collects in the wrists and fingers. Swelling in the hands is more noticeable in those who work on the computer for a long time, knit or sew. Monotonous movements cause tissue congestion.
If you develop swelling of the arms and legs during pregnancy, do not wear high-heeled shoes and tight clothing.
You can understand that you have swelling in your hands by the following symptoms:
- The wedding ring is difficult to remove or leaves a deep mark on the finger.
- Tingling and numbness of the fingers are felt.
- When pressed with a finger on the skin of the hands, a fossa remains.
Usually, with edema, several symptoms appear at once.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy
If you are in doubt if you have swelling in your legs, take a closer look at these signs of fluid retention in the body:
- Everyday shoes are suddenly too small.
- There are traces of the elastic of the socks.
- Feel tingling and heaviness in the legs.
- When the skin is pressed, a depression remains in the lower leg area.
These symptoms are especially noticeable in the afternoon. During sleep, fluid is evenly distributed throughout the body. When you are on your feet, fluid builds up in the ankles, shins and feet.
The legs swell in almost all pregnant women, especially after a long walk. If the swelling persists after a night’s rest, this is a reason to see a doctor.
What to do if there are swelling of the arms and legs during pregnancy?
In addition to the symptoms listed, others appear. For example, if you are gaining weight quickly and unevenly, this is a sign of edema. Compare how much water you drink and how much is excreted in your urine. As a rule, ¾ of the fluid is excreted in the urine, the remainder through breathing and in the form of sweat.
Take a diuretic to relieve swelling only after consulting a gynecologist
If edema develops, reduce salt intake to 8 g per day. Avoid spicy foods and smoked foods. Do light leg and arm exercise and massage. Take vitamins containing magnesium and vitamin E. Eat fruit drinks from cranberries and lingonberries.
If your legs are swollen, lie more often with your legs raised using a pillow. Give them cool baths in the evening.
The danger of edema also lies in the fact that they can be the initial stage of gestosis – late toxicosis. This causes oxygen starvation of the baby. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize the symptoms of edema and then monitor urine protein and blood pressure.