How to eliminate foot edema during pregnancy

Edema during pregnancy is a normal phenomenon, which mainly occurs after 28 weeks. The reason is that when the pregnant woman's uterus is compressed, venous reflux will occur, and lower limb edema is more likely to occur at this stage. Some pregnant women suffer from increased hormone secretion from the placenta and aldosterone from the adrenal glands. The method of eliminating it is what pregnant women are most concerned about. So, how can pregnant women eliminate foot edema?

The first prescription: small movements to reduce swelling

Don't ignore some small details in life, they can solve your edema problems inadvertently.

Lie flat on your back with your feet elevated

It is difficult for venous blood from the lower body to return to the heart because the human heart is too far from the feet. Venous blood is sent back to the heart through muscle contraction and certain "valves" in the blood vessels. Therefore, lying down and slightly raising your feet can make it easier for blood to return to the heart, and swelling will be easier to eliminate.

When sitting, raise your feet slightly

In order to allow the venous blood accumulated in the legs to return to the heart, you can put your feet on a small platform when sitting on a chair; when sitting on the floor, use cushions to raise your feet.

Lie in bed, preferably on your left side

Pregnant mothers should pay attention to rest and rest in bed for at least 9-10 hours a day. It is best to rest for 1 hour at noon. Lying on the left side is conducive to the reduction of edema.

The second good recipe: exercise to reduce swelling

Although expectant mothers cannot be as active as they were before pregnancy, proper exercise can promote the health of the fetus and pregnant women and effectively improve the edema problem of expectant mothers.

Take a walk

The contraction of the calf muscles can make venous blood return to the heart smoothly, so walking is very effective in preventing edema.

swim

Swimming is also a good exercise for your legs. So after getting your doctor's permission, try swimming!

Step Movement

Using steps and moving your feet up and down can strengthen the calf muscles, which helps prevent edema. It is easy for pregnant mothers to lose balance as their belly grows, so they must hold on to pillars, walls, tables, etc. when exercising.

Massage (Let Dad help)

Promoting blood circulation through massage is also very effective in preventing edema. Remember to massage from the calf upwards to help blood return to the heart. Massage before going to bed can relieve leg pain and help you sleep. Massage while taking a bath is also a good choice!

The third recipe: Diet to reduce swelling

Expectant mothers who suffer from edema during pregnancy should pay more attention to their diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, and eat less high-salt foods, which will help reduce swelling.

Winter melon

Fruits such as winter melon and watermelon juice are rich in potassium and fructose that cannot be quickly used by the body. They can reduce water in the body, have a diuretic and detoxifying effect, and are very effective in preventing and reducing edema during pregnancy.

duck

Eating old duck in early autumn is the best way to nourish yin, clear away heat, promote diuresis and reduce swelling. It is very suitable for pregnant mothers with dry constitution and prone to edema. Duck soup can also be used to cook rice noodles, stew cabbage, and cook porridge. Different varieties of duck meat have different therapeutic effects. Among them, green-headed duck meat has the best effect.

Rice wine dumplings

Fermented glutinous rice is sweet, spicy and warm, and contains sugar, organic acids, vitamins B1 and B2, etc. It can invigorate qi, promote blood circulation, disperse stagnation and reduce swelling. Using this for breakfast can minimize sodium intake. Fermented rice is not only beneficial for pregnant mothers to reduce swelling, but also suitable for breastfeeding mothers to promote milk secretion.

Water Chestnut

Water chestnuts have the effects of clearing the heart and purging fire, moistening the lungs and cooling the liver, digesting food and resolving phlegm, and promoting diuresis and improving eyesight. Pregnant women can prevent and treat pregnancy edema by eating water chestnuts regularly. Boiling water chestnuts and kelp in appropriate amounts into soup is called "Erxian Drink", which can prevent and treat edema, iodine deficiency, pregnancy-induced hypertension, hemorrhoids, and bloody stools during pregnancy.