What causes swelling in late pregnancy?

As we all know, pregnancy is a special period. The body will react as the pregnancy changes. Since each pregnant woman has a different physique, the reactions will naturally be different. Common symptoms include vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and inability to eat, but some women may also experience edema, especially in the late stages of pregnancy, when the feet, legs, and entire body may be swollen. So what is the reason for this?

What causes swelling in late pregnancy?

The same goes for edema for expectant mothers. The reason why in the late pregnancy, especially around 28 weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers should carefully observe whether their bodies have symptoms of edema. Because the expectant mother's belly is getting bigger and bigger at this time, it may be because of the compression of venous return. Therefore, pregnant women with poor venous return are more likely to experience edema at this stage, and as the number of weeks of pregnancy increases, the edema of pregnant women will become increasingly obvious. However, this is not the only cause of swelling in late pregnancy.

Edema in the late pregnancy may also be caused by increased hormone secretion from the placenta and aldosterone from the adrenal glands, which cause 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. In particular, fluid stagnation in the hands, ankles, calves and other parts increases, and blood return is blocked, causing edema in the expectant mother. The general measure taken is to go to the hospital for examination and monitoring.

How to prevent edema in late pregnancy

If the expectant mother's edema is too severe in the late pregnancy, it will affect the fetus's breathing. If it is diagnosed that a natural birth is not suitable, a caesarean section will be required in advance. However, if the swelling is within controllable range, the expectant mother can give birth naturally.

However, in order to prevent adverse reactions caused by edema, it is recommended to take precautions in advance. Try to avoid gaining too much weight, eat a balanced diet, and avoid high-fat foods. Drink plenty of water to ensure your kidneys are functioning properly so that excess water can be effectively excreted through the urinary system. Eat more foods that help maintain normal kidney function and have a diuretic effect, including celery, watercress, apples, and citrus fruits. If preventive measures are taken, the severity of edema can be reduced.

How to reduce swelling in late pregnancy

If expectant mothers find edema in the late pregnancy, they should take some relief measures to eliminate the edema and help improve their living and sleeping quality.

1. Ensure adequate rest and avoid overwork. Especially for expectant mothers who sit for long periods of time in the workplace, they should avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time, and walk around appropriately during breaks. When sitting, you can put a small stool or cardboard box under your feet to raise your feet a little, and move your legs and feet frequently. You can also try elevating your feet at night to allow blood flow to flow more freely, or try massage to relieve the pain.

2. Do not wear socks that are too tight and do not let them press on your ankles and calves to avoid affecting blood circulation. Likewise, be careful not to wear tight clothing.

3. Pay attention to controlling salt intake in daily life, and the daily intake should not exceed 10g. At the same time, we must also ensure the intake of high-quality protein foods such as meat, fish, shrimp, eggs, and milk. In daily life, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, which contain various vitamins and trace elements necessary for the human body, and also have a detoxifying and diuretic effect.

I would like to advise expectant mothers to pay attention to their bodies, because the late pregnancy is close to the delivery period. If there is any discomfort or severe edema, you should go to the hospital for treatment. During the diagnosis process, if the doctor does not mention any dietary precautions, it is best to ask clearly what is suitable to eat.