Why does a pregnant woman's body swell?

Many people will experience swollen feet, legs, and even whole body edema in the later stages of pregnancy. Generally, there is no need to worry too much if there is no discomfort. This is because the body's endocrine system changes after pregnancy, which leads to edema. This is a normal phenomenon. Just rest more in normal times. However, if your weight gain is very fast and your blood pressure is high, you should go to the hospital to check whether you have pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Causes of swelling of the whole body or legs

1. Blood return to the lower limbs is obstructed, causing lower limb edema.

2. Reasons for 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 lactation. However, 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 edema and latent edema. Overt edema manifests as tight and shiny skin with reduced elasticity and depression when pressed with fingers. It starts from the ankles and spreads to the calves, thighs and even abdomen. Latent water retention 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 calf swelling, she generally does not need treatment. As long as you get more rest, avoid standing for too long, do appropriate exercises such as raising your lower limbs, and eat less salt, the edema will be reduced or even disappear. However, diuretics should not be abused because they excrete potassium and may cause hypokalemia.

If the edema is severe and spreads to the part above the thighs, the weight gain is rapid, 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.