Immediately after pregnancy, large changes begin to occur in the woman’s body, the load on the body becomes several times greater.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy always indicates that a malfunction has occurred in the body, or a disease is developing.
The doctor should not leave such a symptom unattended.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy - causes
Many pregnant women are faced with the fact that their legs suddenly swell, in fact there are many reasons for this condition.
Increase in bcc
With the onset of pregnancy, the volume of circulating fluid rises. This mechanism is necessary in order for the baby to be able to fully eat, especially this applies to the early stages.
Abdominal pressure rises
This process is easy to explain, with an increase in pregnancy, the uterus increases, while it gradually compresses the internal organs. An increase in pressure occurs, blood cannot fully overcome the path from the legs to the heart. A woman can hardly take a full breath, her legs swell.
Vein Compression Syndrome
This syndrome is characteristic of pregnant women in the later stages. Compression of the inferior genital vein occurs, which is located between the spine and the enlarged uterus. This happens at the moment when the woman begins to lie on the right side or on her back. If the vein is compressed at night during sleep, while the blood circulation of the brain is at the right level, and the blood from the legs does not flow well enough, then in the morning a woman wakes up with swollen legs.
Gestosis
Complications occur in late pregnancy. Until now, specialists can not figure out the exact cause of the development of pathology, but it is known that the key point is allergies or inflammation in the microvascular bed. A symptom of gestosis is not only swelling of the legs, but also an increase in blood pressure. The legs always swell in different ways and this directly depends on the severity of the course of the disease.
Kidney pathology
If previously a woman was already faced with the fact that her urinary system was malfunctioning, then after the conception occurs, everything only becomes more complicated. The legs will begin to swell due to the fact that the kidneys are not functioning properly. Not all of the accumulated water leaves the body, it begins to accumulate in the tissues. Moreover, edema appears not only on the legs, but also around the eyes.
Pathology of the cardiovascular system
After a child begins to live and develop under the heart of a woman, the load on the organ will increase. A healthy heart can safely endure the entire load, and there will not be any complications. But in the event that a heart disease was detected even before conception, then with the onset of pregnancy it will only manifest itself more. In addition to swelling of the legs, internal edema can develop, which is quite dangerous.
Quincke's edema
Many pregnant women are at risk for a disease such as Quincke's edema. Especially if any allergies have been noticed before pregnancy. During the Quincke reaction, legs, hands, lips, eyes, cheeks, and also mucous membranes will begin to swell.
Hypothyroidism
A disease such as hypothyroidism should be treated before pregnancy. But, unfortunately, pregnant women may also experience a malfunction of the thyroid gland.
Venous insufficiency
Unlike the occurrence of edema from other causes, venous edema can be accompanied by severe pain. In this case, the legs swell asymmetrically, or only one leg swells. The pain will constantly increase, as vein failure can progress.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy - types and consequences
Quite rarely, puffiness occurs in the first trimester. Closer to the second, mom begins to notice that her legs are swollen. There are several types of swelling of the legs:
1. Physiological. The body has a tendency to retain water and sodium. This predisposition is due to the fact that the expectant mother eats a lot of salty food. Edema can also occur in very hot weather. An increase in body weight can lead to edema, respectively, and the load on the legs increases. But this is a completely natural process and does not require any treatment.
2. Pathological. First of all, these are symptoms of diseases. For example, dropsy of pregnant women - a woman’s weight is added by more than 20 kg, limbs, face, swelling greatly. This is the initial stage of gestosis. It is necessary to treat dropsy, as it can go into a more severe form, in which both the baby and mother will suffer.
Surely many women are concerned about the question, what consequences can be from swelling of the legs. It is also alarming that doctors constantly say that you need to monitor your weight, and when the first appearance of edema, they are sent to the pathology department.
Many European doctors believe that swelling of the legs during pregnancy is the norm. So why are our doctors compelling us to be so attentive to this and conduct treatment?
The thing is that at different stages of pregnancy, heart or kidney diseases can occur, and after 20 weeks gestosis. If proper treatment is not provided, nothing good can happen to either mom or baby.
Every day, the load on the mother’s internal organs increases, the dysfunction of any of them can lead to subsequent disability of the woman. Even if this does not happen at the time of pregnancy, this does not mean that it will not happen later. That is why, treatment of leg edema caused by any systemic disease is necessary as soon as possible.
Gestosis is perhaps the most dangerous disease. First of all, the pathology is reflected in the vessels. If the desired therapy is not selected, gestosis can lead to seizures, and in some cases even fetal death. And to identify this pathology in the first months of pregnancy is possible precisely on the occurrence of edema.
But how to get rid of edema, so that both the baby and the expectant mother remain completely safe?
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy - what to do
The doctor should be solely involved in the detection of leg edema and treatment. Many experts believe that a slight swelling of the feet and legs is a common occurrence in pregnant women, and no treatment is required at all. All you need to do is follow a diet, relax more, and often keep your legs in a slightly elevated state.
Other gynecologists believe that even a slight manifestation of edema should in no case be ignored. Therefore, a pregnant woman needs to listen to her gynecologist and try to do everything that he advises and says.
In order to get rid of leg swelling during pregnancy, doctors may recommend the following:
1. Wear underwear made from compression hosiery. This is really important, especially if there are problems with blood vessels. Thanks to special tights or stockings, you can remove swelling from the legs. Also, a specialist will tell you which gel or ointment should be used to combat varicose veins.
2. The course of B vitamins. Under their influence, the walls of the vessels become stronger, water will not be able to penetrate from the blood into the surrounding tissues.
3. Medicines - Cyston, Kanefron. The drugs will improve kidney function, and also have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects. In no case should you take the medicine yourself, as some of them can negatively affect the condition of your child.
4. Essential or riboxin.
5. Diuretic drugs. Assign for a short period, but only if the swelling is strong.
It is not enough to have information on which drugs to remove swelling from the legs. It is important to choose them so that the blood flow in the placenta improves, and at the same time, fetal hypoxia does not occur. What funds should be taken by a future woman in labor, as well as in what quantities, can only be decided by a doctor.
Eat right
It is necessary to adhere to a balanced diet so that the situation could not worsen. Of course, it’s not worth it yourself to develop proper nutrition for yourself, ask your doctor about this.
1. At each meal, you need to eat at least a small amount of lean protein, for example, eggs, poultry, meat.
2. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits or vegetables every day.
3. If the swelling of the legs is severe, try to drink less fluid that contains sugar or salt.
4. Pickled or canned foods are best discarded temporarily.
5. When eating certain foods, you can support the work of the kidneys, in particular this applies to natural diuretics - parsley, celery apples, garlic.
6. Drink about 2.5 liters of water per day. Nutritionists say that this way you can get rid of toxins.
7. Be sure to give up bad habits, if you have them.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy: prognosis for childbirth
Each pregnant woman develops edema, but to varying degrees. That is why there is no particular reason for concern. But, on the other hand, edema can lead to late toxicosis, and this will become a danger to the child. That is why in no case should one leave this pathology without attention. Be sure to consult a gynecologist and, if necessary, undergo appropriate treatment.
At birth, puffiness of the legs is not practical. The danger can arise only if this condition is critical and there has not been any treatment before.
In the event of a threat, specialists can perform an emergency caesarean section.
According to statistics, not a single case was recorded when due to swelling of the legs, childbirth was difficult, or eventually led to the death of the baby.
