One of the most unpleasant moments during pregnancy is swelling. They overcome each woman to a greater or lesser extent. If for the normal development of the fetus it is allowed to gain up to 12 kilograms in weight over the entire period, then of these, about 6 kg are liquid. A very large role in the degree of swelling of a woman is played by her genetics. If all women in the family suffered from severe edema, then you should expect the same.
The cause of edema can be hidden in the constitution of the female body. For example, ladies of short stature are more prone to swelling, as well as those who are overweight. The second reason can be dealt with using a diet prescribed by a nutritionist individually.
With a normal pregnancy, swelling appears in the legs and only in the third trimester. If other parts of the body begin to swell, especially before the sixth month, then you should make an appointment with your doctor, as this indicates the presence of any abnormalities. If a dent appears on pressing the skin that cannot quickly take its previous shape, then it means swelling during pregnancy. Treatment should be carried out and it is advisable not to start it.
Edema during pregnancy: treatment
First of all, edema during pregnancy depends on the nutrition and the amount of water . Their treatment begins with the regulation of their own diet. It is necessary to refuse salty food, as it prevents the removal of water from the body. Pregnant women, especially in the later stages, should strictly control the amount of fluid consumed per day. As a rule, up to 2 liters is allowed, and this volume includes not only water, but also soups, juices and more.
Edema in pregnant women requires a special attitude, therefore it is necessary to clearly organize the daily routine so that you go to bed no later than 11 o’clock in the evening and walk a lot in the fresh air. It will be useful to lie down several times during the day with your legs raised up. It is advisable to sleep on your side. You should completely abandon soda, it is not very good for the body, and especially during pregnancy. The best cure for edema during pregnancy is a balanced diet, which is prescribed by a doctor. And once a week, you can arrange days during which to eat only cottage cheese, fruits and water.
If thirst is tormenting, and water cannot be consumed in sufficient quantities, then it is worth replacing it with fruit and vegetable juices. Only juices should be freshly squeezed, because the store product is not natural and contains a large amount of sugar. Natural juice also contains water, but this liquid has a special structure, due to which it is absorbed by the body faster.
If edema has appeared throughout the body during pregnancy, treatment should begin with an explanation of the causes. A urinalysis should be taken, according to the results of which it can be said about the existing pathologies and abnormalities. For example, if protein is detected in the urine, then gestosis is diagnosed. At the same time, a pregnant woman feels a feeling of heaviness in her legs in the morning , quickly gets tired and overworkes. Most gestosis occurs as early as week 20. In order to determine how well pregnancy is proceeding and how moderately edema appears, changes in body weight should be monitored. As a norm, an indicator of about 400 grams per week is established, that is, weight gain should not exceed this value.
To determine the degree of puffiness, many use the McClure-Aldrich test. A solution of 0.25 is injected under the skin and the reaction is monitored. As practice shows, 45 minutes are enough to completely remove the edema obtained by artificial means. In those cases when it falls longer than the established limit, the presence of latent edema is noted.