What to do if your ankles swell during late pregnancy

In the late stages of pregnancy, women's abdomens become larger and larger. Some pregnant women even have difficulty moving due to excessive weight gain. Therefore, weight must be strictly controlled in the late stages of pregnancy. But what should you do if your ankles swell in the late stages of pregnancy? Although this situation is relatively common, it is caused by the increase in hormones secreted by the placenta and substances secreted by the adrenal glands, which leads to water retention in the body. Massage and acupressure can be performed at this time.

What causes edema in the ankles and insteps during late pregnancy?

The increase in hormones secreted by the placenta and aldosterone secreted by the adrenal glands causes sodium and water retention in the body; in addition, the blood vessels in the lower body of the expectant mother are compressed by the uterus, which affects the smooth circulation of blood, especially in the hands, ankles, calves and other parts, where fluid stagnation increases and blood return is blocked, leading to symptoms of edema.

What to do if your ankles and insteps swell during late pregnancy

1. Massage. Before going to bed every night, the husband can give the pregnant mother a leg massage to reduce the swelling of the legs and greatly reduce the soreness of the pregnant woman's feet. You can also raise your feet a little when sleeping, which is also very helpful in relieving swelling.

2. Soak your feet in hot water. Pregnant mothers can soak their feet in hot water every day. Hot water can promote blood circulation in the feet, which is also very effective in relieving foot fatigue.

3. Appropriate exercise. Although it is not advisable to exercise in the later stages of pregnancy, simple exercises such as walking are possible. Walking has a very obvious effect in relieving and preventing leg swelling.

4. Adjust your mindset. The swelling of many women's feet is related to their mood. It is recommended that pregnant women must know how to adjust their mentality at this time to avoid being in an anxious state.

In fact, many pregnant women will experience edema in the late stages of pregnancy, and there are many reasons for edema. When edema occurs in the body, you can massage more and take more walks to increase blood circulation to reduce edema. The above is an introduction to edema in late pregnancy. I hope it can help pregnant women in late pregnancy relieve edema.