According to statistics, about 80% of all women expecting a baby experience an unpleasant symptom such as swelling. Moreover, in most cases, puffiness is considered as a natural physiological phenomenon characteristic of the state of pregnancy and does not require special medical treatment. Despite this, doctors pay special attention to this condition. When and what is the danger of edema during pregnancy? How to deal with them and what are the causes of this condition, we will consider in this article.
Reasons for the appearance
In order to better understand the nature of the appearance of swelling of various parts of the body, as well as to understand the danger of edema during pregnancy, we will consider the main causes of their appearance. It is also important to note that not all women experience these symptoms.
Edema associated with the physiology of a pregnant woman
The majority of expectant mothers suffer from a similar ailment, being in the last weeks of pregnancy. As a rule, swelling is observed in the area of the hands and feet of a woman, and the manifestation of this condition occurs at the end of the day as a result of inactivity (for example, from long sitting or standing). As a rule, it subsides after rest and is not observed in a relaxed state.
The accumulation of fluid in the body is considered a natural process, a kind of preparation for the upcoming woman's birth. Fluid reserves are needed for subsequent compensation for blood loss. Ideally, the fluid in the body of a pregnant woman should be evenly distributed over organs and tissues, which is facilitated by motor activity. However, during pregnancy, most women, especially in the later stages, lead a sedentary lifestyle. As a result of this regimen, fluid accumulates in certain parts of the body and causes their swelling.
Pathological swelling
In certain categories of women, the appearance of an ailment is associated with a state of health. If, before conception, the expectant mother is diagnosed with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems, the risk of edema during pregnancy increases significantly.
During gestation, the heart muscle operates in a mode of increased stress. With a woman diagnosed with heart failure, the heart can hardly cope with the function of fluid circulation, and additional loads with this pathology lead to the appearance of edema. As a result, fluid builds up in some parts of the body (legs or lower back).
Women with chronic kidney disease are usually under special supervision from the very beginning of pregnancy. They are prescribed special drugs that help to remove excess fluid from the body and prevent the transition of a chronic disease to the acute phase. Often with such pathologies, facial edema is observed during pregnancy, which manifests itself in the form of sacs under the eyes in the morning after waking up. Regular medication helps avoid this condition on other parts of the body.
Vascular problems, in particular varicose veins, are a chronic disease that can be another cause of edema during pregnancy. Through the damaged walls of the vessels, the liquid penetrates into the tissues and accumulates in the intercellular space. In addition to damaged vessels, hormonal imbalance, as well as compression of the inferior vena cava due to an increase in the size of the uterus, contributes to excessive fluid accumulation in the body. With such pathologies, it is recommended to increase the duration of rest, lie mainly on the left side, engage in swimming.
Edema as a manifestation of gestosis
Swelling and high blood pressure are the main symptoms of toxicosis in the second half of pregnancy. The first manifestations of gestosis can be observed as early as 22 weeks of gestation. The appearance of such serious signs of late intoxication becomes the cause of close monitoring of the condition of the woman, and in severe forms of gestosis - the reason for emergency hospitalization.
Characteristic signs of late toxicosis are visually defined edema, as well as an increased protein content in the urine of a pregnant woman.
The mechanism for the formation of such a deviation during pregnancy is as follows:
- Through the refined and damaged walls of the vascular system, the fluid flows outside the vessels, which leads to an increase in blood viscosity.
- Due to thickening of the blood, its circulation in the blood vessels worsens. To increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, the placenta, exerting a certain pressure on the vessels, contributes to their narrowing.
- Reducing the cross section of the vessel really speeds up the circulation. However, due to an increase in the speed of movement of blood through the vessels, their walls are subjected to increased pressure, which inevitably leads to damage to the circulatory system.
- In places of damage to the walls of blood vessels, platelets are retained, resulting in a blood clot, and with a large number of problem areas, multiple blood clots.
- As a result of a violation of blood circulation, blood pressure rises, and excessive accumulation of fluid leads to the appearance of edema during pregnancy.
Diagnose gestosis and a blood test. A similar condition is characterized by an increase in the level of hemoglobin in the woman’s blood, which is not typical for the female body during normal pregnancy.
Degrees of gestosis
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, several degrees are distinguished:
- For the first degree of late toxicosis, in addition to swelling, an increase in the weight of a pregnant woman is characteristic, as well as poor health, manifested in increased fatigue and general weakness.
- In the second degree of preeclampsia, in addition to the already existing symptoms, a pregnant woman has an uncontrolled increase in blood pressure, and a urinalysis shows high protein levels.
- The third degree is complicated by changes in the fundus and brain tissues of the future mother.
- At the stage of the fourth degree, the complex of complications during pregnancy is supplemented by the appearance of seizures. The last degree of gestosis carries a real threat to the life and health of the mother and child.
Diagnosis of latent edema
Swelling during pregnancy can be hidden and not have noticeable manifestations. It is expressed in the form of edema of the internal organs and tissues of the body of a woman carrying a child. It is impossible to independently identify pathology. Deviation from the norm can only be established by a gynecologist. Diagnosed internal swelling in the following ways:
- Pregnant weight control . Latent edema, as a rule, is accompanied by a significant increase in weight (from 300 or more grams per week).
- Measurement of the outer diameter of the leg in the lower leg. In the presence of internal edema during pregnancy, an increase in the circumference of the woman's lower leg by one centimeter per week is observed (a more significant change in size is possible).
- Change in the volume of urine excreted from a woman’s body over a control period of time. Such a study involves establishing the ratio of the amount of fluid consumed to the amount of urine excreted from the body. Normally, three parts out of four should be the volume of excretion products. When determining the amount of fluid consumed, any food containing liquid is taken into account.
Swelling of different parts of the body
Swelling can indicate the presence of possible deviations in the health of a pregnant woman or be considered as a condition concomitant with the bearing of the fetus.
Depending on their location, it is possible to prevent the appearance of more serious complications during the period of gestation.
Swelling in the lower extremities is the most common form of the disease of the second half of pregnancy. The appearance of a similar symptom in the later stages is not always a threat. More often this condition indicates fatigue and inactivity during the day. As a rule, late pregnancy edema subsides after rest or relaxing baths.
If the symptoms do not subside even after a long rest, but, on the contrary, increase and spread to other parts of the body, such an organism signal should be taken into account and an urgent medical attention is needed.
Swelling of the fingers during pregnancy is often accompanied by pain, tingling and numbness. Such symptoms rarely indicate the presence of serious pathological conditions. Most often, swelling of the fingers during pregnancy indicates that the woman was in the same position for a long time and was engaged in the same thing (for example, knitting or working at the computer). To eliminate symptoms and discomfort in the hands, rest should be given to the limbs. Small gymnastics of hands, kneading of stiff fingers helps a lot. Due to the slight fluid retention in the body, swelling is often observed around jewelry adhering closely to the fingers and wrists. An accumulation of fluid in the body with the manifestation of edema in the hands can be caused by the use by a pregnant woman of unwanted foods, for example, drinks with gases, spicy spices, and too salty foods.
Swelling on the face in the nose can indicate the presence of allergies or cold symptoms in a pregnant woman, while swelling under the eyes can indicate the presence of chronic kidney disease.
In any case, the sudden onset of symptoms is the reason for an additional examination of the expectant mother.
How to identify edema on your own?
A special examination is required to diagnose latent symptoms. External manifestations are easily determined visually. To do this, it is enough to conduct simple tests for the presence of edema:
- If with pressure you observe a long non-disappearing dent on the surface of the skin - this is a clear sign of swelling of the limbs. In addition, in the presence of edema, it becomes more difficult for a pregnant woman to wear shoes that used to be fit.
- The change in the circumference of the fingers is visually determined by the swelling around the jewelry (for example, rings on the finger). Such a signal also indicates the presence of an ailment.
- Changes on the face are visible to the naked eye. A woman can feel some types of edema. For example, swelling in the nasopharynx in the presence of allergic reactions of the body causes difficulty in swallowing.
As a rule, puffiness, not complicated by pathological conditions of the female body, manifests itself in the evening after a day of exercise. Symptoms arising from health problems do not subside even after prolonged rest.
Many women often ask themselves: "What to do with swelling of the legs during pregnancy?" According to experts, minor symptoms appearing in the extremities are considered quite normal if the swelling that appeared by the end of the day without any problems subsides in the morning. In this condition, it is not recommended to resort to cardinal methods of eliminating puffiness. For example, without special instructions from a doctor to reduce the daily amount of fluid consumed, completely abandon the use of salt in food. Swelling caused by fatigue, in contrast to swelling, accompanying severe forms of gestosis, does not pose a danger to a pregnant woman and her child.
Prevention and treatment
There are many ways to relieve swelling during pregnancy. But you must understand that not every woman has a similar condition. The likelihood of this phenomenon is associated with the physiological characteristics of the body of a single woman, a kind of predisposition to the onset of symptoms. Based on this theory, it is not so difficult to prevent the occurrence of edema with the help of means and methods of prevention. How to deal with edema during pregnancy? Instructions for expectant mothers:
- Proper and healthy nutrition.
- Exclusion of bad habits.
- Active lifestyle.
- Adequate rest.
- Maximum convenience and comfort when choosing clothes and shoes.
- Mandatory intake of medicines prescribed by a doctor in the presence of chronic diseases.
- Systematic control and supervision of a specialist.
Prevention measures should be applied in a complex and strictly observed throughout the entire period of pregnancy.
Despite the tendency of the body of a pregnant woman to accumulate fluid in reserve, the daily diet should include a sufficient amount of water (at least one and a half liters per day). It is not recommended to completely abandon the use of salt, however, you should limit the consumption of highly salted foods. Compliance with the main rules on how to deal with edema during pregnancy, described above will help to avoid complications.
Judging by the reviews, traditional medicine in the fight against this ailment is ineffective. But still it helps some from edema during pregnancy lingonberry. As a rule, the effect is seen by those women whose manifesting symptoms are not associated with health problems. Morse during pregnancy from edema can be prepared as follows: 80-100 g of mashed cranberries pour boiling water, cool and let it brew. It is recommended to use no more than 1-2 glasses per day. Tea has similar properties during pregnancy from edema. In any case, folk remedies should be used only with permission and on the recommendation of a doctor after establishing the cause of the disease.
What to do with swelling of the legs during pregnancy? To reduce swelling in the lower extremities will help wrapping them with cabbage leaves. Such compresses can be done at night. Well relaxing edema during pregnancy in the later stages of relaxing water procedures.
If you have already been diagnosed with symptoms of late toxicosis, in no case do not try to cope with the disease yourself. Such a complication requires mandatory medical treatment under the guidance of an experienced specialist.
Particular attention must be paid to the prevention of internal edema during pregnancy. This type of abnormality is not diagnosed by eye, but proceeds in a latent form, which greatly complicates the process of identifying and treating symptoms.
Prevention of gestosis
If you can control the appearance of edema during pregnancy yourself, then it is possible to establish the presence of late toxicosis only under the direct supervision of a doctor.
In order to recognize complications during pregnancy in time, a systematic monitoring of the gynecologist by the following indicators is required:
- Weight change of a pregnant woman.
- The presence of swelling in the limbs (mainly in the legs).
- Protein and hemoglobin levels in urine and blood, respectively.
- The presence of changes in the blood pressure of a woman (upward).
Conclusion
To prevent possible complications, it is important to constantly adhere to the recommended methods, such as removing swelling during pregnancy, and apply preventive measures for this condition during the period of gestation: monitor the quantity and quality of food consumed, lead an active lifestyle, alternating with long rest, regularly visit a qualified specialist gynecologist and time to take tests.