Swollen Feet During Pregnancy: A Would-Be Moms Go-To Guide

swollen feet in pregnancy

While you are all excited about your pregnancy and enjoying the beautiful moments, you simply can’t ignore the various challenges that come with it. Being a mother is not easy, especially with all those physical and emotional changes, yet it is something every woman craves for. As you are eagerly anticipating the arrival of your little one, there are a few side effects that need to be managed alongside. Swollen feet is one such side-effect, that is experienced by a lot of women during pregnancy. Let us try to understand why this happens and how you can manage the swelling easily at home, with the help of the best IVF specialist in Delhi.

What causes swollen feet during the first trimester of your pregnancy?

During the first trimester of your pregnancy, the progesterone levels in your body start to elevate rapidly, thereby slowing down the process of digestion. As a result of this, you are likely to experience bloating, even before your baby bump becomes evident. As this happens, you may also experience some swelling or puffiness in your limbs and face. Mild swelling is normal, however, if you are experiencing excessive swelling accompanied by dizziness, headaches and bleeding, immediate medical intervention is a must.

What causes swollen feet during the second trimester of your pregnancy?

As you reach the 2nd trimester of your pregnancy, which starts with the 13th week, it is quite common to experience swelling in the limbs, especially if you are living in a hot climate area or moving on your feet too much. This can be due to the hike in the volume of blood and other fluids in your body by nearly 50 per cent. Though you may find it a bit difficult to fit into your favourite shoes, this is not completely a bad thing. These extra fluids help your body to loosen up a bit and prepare for childbirth, something that all pregnant women need. Also, experts from the top IVF clinics in Delhi suggest that the extra fluids start to decrease rapidly post-childbirth, which means you don’t have to worry about shedding those extra pounds after all.

What causes swollen feet during the third trimester of your pregnancy?

Week 28 marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester of your pregnancy, and this is when you are most likely to experience swelling in your feet. This happens as your body continues to accumulate blood and fluids, and also because your uterus continues to expand to hold the growing baby. Other possible causes of swollen feet in the 3rd trimester of your pregnancy include hot weather, dietary imbalance, dehydration, drinking caffeine and standing on your feet for too long.

Swelling in the feet, or pedal edema, can be a sign of developing high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnancy. Hence it is not a symptom that can be ignored and a check up with the gynecologist is mandatory along with BP monitoring. Even if the results are fine, a follow up as advised.

How can you manage the problem at home?

By now, you must have understood why pregnant women tend to experience swelling in their feet. Let us now find out how this can be easily managed at home.

  • Lower your sodium intake as it is known to cause water retention. Also, try to avoid canned and processed foods as these contain high levels of sodium, in the form of preservatives.
  • Add potassium-rich foods to your plate. These include potatoes, bananas, spinach, yoghurt, beets, salmon and lentils
  • Kick the caffeine from your daily routine. This can not only worsen the swelling but also harm your baby, as it can easily cross the placenta and decrease blood flow to the uterus.
  • Stay hydrated as this will help to counteract swelling. 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day, and you are good to go.

Rest your feet in an elevated position while you are sitting or laying down. You may use a cushion for the same.

  • When it comes to your wardrobe, go with loose and comfy rather than trendy.
  • Avoid exposure to heat and stay indoors.
  • Try waist-high compression stockings. These not only look great but also help to bring down the swelling.

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