What to do if your legs are swollen during pregnancy

If your legs are swollen during pregnancy, you need to pay attention to relieving it through certain methods. First of all, you need to rest more, supplement enough protein, eat less food that is difficult to digest and easy to cause bloating, and you cannot stand for a long time. If the condition is serious, seek medical attention immediately.

(1) Blood return to the lower limbs is obstructed . In the later stages of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, obstructing blood return to the lower body, increasing venous pressure and causing edema in the lower limbs.

(2) Endocrine changes. After pregnancy, endocrine function changes, the secretion of estrogen and aldosterone increases, and more water and sodium are retained in the body, which can cause edema.

(3)Hemodilution . Blood volume increases during pregnancy, but the increase in red blood cells is not as great as that in plasma, and there is little increase in plasma protein. The blood becomes relatively thinner, the plasma colloidal osmotic pressure decreases, and water moves to the tissue spaces, causing edema. Edema in pregnant women can be divided into overt water retention and latent edema. Overt edema manifests as tight and shiny skin with reduced elasticity, and concave sensation when pressed with fingers. It starts from the ankles and spreads upward to the calves, thighs and even the abdomen. Hidden edema is characterized by no obvious edema on the body surface, water retention in the interstitial spaces between organs and deep connective tissues, and rapid weight gain, exceeding 0.5 kg per week. If a pregnant woman only has swollen calves, generally no treatment is required. As long as you pay attention to rest, avoid standing for long periods of time, raise your lower limbs frequently, and eat less salt, the edema will be reduced or disappear. It is worth mentioning that diuretics should not be abused because they excrete potassium and may cause hypokalemia. If the edema is severe and spreads above the thighs, the weight gain is rapid (more than 0.5kg per week), the blood pressure is high, and protein is found in the urine, you should be alert to the possibility of pregnancy-induced hypertension and obtain timely diagnosis and treatment.

It is abnormal for pregnant women to have swelling in their lower limbs or even all over their body, accompanied by various discomforts such as palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness in the limbs, oliguria, etc. Malnutrition-induced hypoproteinemia, anemia, and preeclampsia are also common causes of edema in pregnant women. Therefore, when severe edema occurs, you should go to the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible. At the same time, you should pay attention to dietary conditioning: 1. Eat enough protein. 2. Eat enough fruits. 3. Eat less salty food. 4. Eat less or no food that is difficult to digest and easy to cause bloating, such as fried glutinous rice cakes, sweet potatoes, onions, potatoes, etc. So as to avoid causing abdominal distension, poor blood circulation and aggravating edema.