Why swelling of the legs during pregnancy and what is fraught with it

During pregnancy, the body of a woman begins to change significantly. Under the pressure of the growing uterus, blood circulation slows down, because the tattoins are compressed.

And as a result of these processes, the legs are especially affected. Pregnant women often complain of swelling of the lower limbs, especially in later periods.

In most cases, swelling of the legs is the result of normal processes in the body during pregnancy .

However, sometimes swelling of the extremities can indicate health problems. Let's see what causes the development of edema.

Pregnant women in the body in large quantities produced progesterone - a hormone that does not allow the uterus to contract. But in addition to its main task, progesterone causes fluid retention in the female body, thereby also contributing to the development of edema.

In addition, often the cause of swelling is the very behavior of the pregnant, namely, abundant fluid intake.

After 34 weeks of pregnancy, edema can occur as a result of the accumulation of fluid from small blood vessels in the tissues.

This process is called gestosis. Gestosis is developed as a result of impaired circulation in the kidneys or brain. You should pay attention to the appearance of edema in this period, becauseGestosis may be accompanied by cramps, increased blood pressure, loss of consciousness, the appearance of protein in the urine.

Sometimes swelling can become a signal that other health problems occur.

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Why do swelling develop

Why do swollen legs become most common during pregnancy:

• cardiovascular disease;
• disorders of kidney function;
• diseases of the digestive tract;
• venous diseases( varicose veins, thrombophlebitis);
• thyroid disorders.

Therefore, one should not treat edema as a trivial problem. It is better to consult a doctor to prevent serious consequences.

What is the danger of

? As already mentioned, not always the appearance of limb edema in a pregnant woman is a normal state of the body. If the edema does not go away on their own, already in the morning you observe their presence, swelling begins to spread to the hands, hips, face, this is the reason for an immediate call to the doctor.

Sometimes puffiness is not noticeable at once, they can be detected only with regular weight control. Therefore, it is recommended that all future mothers be weighed regularly. If the weight increases dramatically, it is also an occasion to undergo a medical examination.

Why swelling is dangerous

First of all, because they can lead to the development of other diseases. For example, to varicose veins.

In addition, as already mentioned, edema can become a symptom of a violation of the heart, kidneys, especially if before pregnancy, a woman had any diseases of these organs.

And of course, swelling can harm the development of the baby, especially if the swelling is a manifestation of gestosis( late toxicosis).

How to detect swollen legs?

You can detect edema yourself, even before going to the doctor. As already mentioned, initially swelling begins to form in the lower limbs. You can identify it easily.

The habitual shoes become cramped, you notice that the foot is slightly swollen. In addition, there is shortness of breath, a feeling of fatigue. If the swelling rises higher, it can be determined by gently pressing the shin bone. If, after pressing on the surface of the skin a hole is formed, it means that there is edema.

And of course it is recommended to be weighed regularly to identify swelling in time. When typing more than 300 grams per week, you should see a doctor, possibly a hidden swelling develops in the body.

Degrees of severity

There are 4 degrees of severity of edema:

1. First degree: edema appears in the area of ​​feet and shins.
2. Second degree: swelling to the lumbosacral region and abdomen.
3. Third degree: the appearance of edema on the hands, a general "puffiness".
4. Fourth degree: edemas on face( especially noticeable on eyelids), general edema.

Also distinguish 4 degrees of severity of gestosis, which is also appropriate to consider, because edema can be a manifestation of gestosis:

1. The first degree: the appearance of swelling( obvious and hidden), fatigue, malaise.
2. Second degree: edema spreads above the lower limbs, a protein appears in the urine, blood pressure may increase.
3. Third degree: eye fundus diseases may appear.
4. Fourth degree: all of the above symptoms, to which cramps are added, which can lead to "aging" of the placenta and strangulation of the fetus.

Choosing methods of treatment

When choosing methods of treatment, you should consult your doctor in advance. During pregnancy, the woman's body is more vulnerable, many medications may be contraindicated by .

Therefore, it is strongly advised not to engage in self-medication. The same applies to treatment, it would seem, in harmless folk methods. Before using this or that remedy, you should get your doctor's approval.

Below, we will cite several folk recipes to combat swelling.

Traditional medicine recipes

The most popular recipes that help with limb tumors during pregnancy:

1. Infusion of birch leaves. This product works as a diuretic and well relieves edema.1-2 tablespoons of leaves pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and insist for 2 hours. Drink half a glass 3-5 times a day before meals.
2. Infusion of their parsley root. Grind the root of parsley.1 tablespoon root pour 2 cups of boiling water and press for 9 hours. Drink during the day for 1 tablespoon per reception. Instead of tincture, you can use powder from the roots of parsley. Take it should be 1 g 3-5 times a day before meals, washed down with warm water.
3. Phytotea with diuretic effect. Typically, these teas include kidney tea, field horsetail, bearberry leaves. During the day it is recommended to drink a glass of this drink.

In addition to these simple recipes, doctors often recommend taking vitamins and useful elements( vitamin E, lipoic acid, magneroth) that strengthen the vessels, and also follow the diet described below.

Preventing edema during pregnancy

The first recommendation you can come across is to reduce the amount of fluid consumed.

However, recent studies have shown that limiting fluid intake can not avoid edema, because the body, feeling a lack of fluid, begins to accumulate it even more.

Therefore, a day is recommended to consume a half or two liters of liquid( given various beverages and liquid foods).

It is very useful to drink fresh and milk, such liquids do not go into the tissues.

It is also recommended to give up sweet soda. If thirst is strong, you can quench it by eating an apple or cucumber. In general, it is recommended to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits, to switch to a more balanced diet.

This contributes to the overall improvement of the body, facilitating many processes, as well as normalizing the circulation of the liquid.

Motor activity also prevents fluid accumulation, so pay attention to walking, easy exercise. It is also good to prevent swelling of foot massage, cool foot baths.

If you notice any anxious symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a doctor once again. Perhaps this will save you from undesirable consequences. Be more attentive to yourself, because now you are responsible for one more life.