Edema before childbirth: causes, prevention methods and advice from gynecologists

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Swelling before childbirth worries most women. Most often, all this is caused by physiological reasons and does not pose a threat to either the expectant mother or the baby. But sometimes edema can accompany serious pathologies that require urgent treatment. In some cases, even an emergency delivery is required.

Physiological edema during pregnancy

At the end of the second - third trimesters, most expectant mothers develop swelling. Only 20% of women do not face this problem. The accumulation of fluid in the tissues is common over long periods, but the situation must be carefully monitored. The volume of amniotic fluid and blood circulating in the mother's body increases, sodium, which retains water, is excreted more slowly due to increased production of the hormone progesterone, the water-s alt metabolism changes, and changes in the hormonal background cause a constant feeling of thirst. This causes swelling.

Risk factors and causes of edema

Provoke the appearance of edema before childbirth canthe use of s alty foods in large quantities, high ambient temperature, the situation when the third trimester fell on the hot season, excessive physical activity. Physiological swelling usually resolves on its own after the elimination of the causes that provoked it. This phenomenon does not require treatment. In practice, it turns out that short women with increased body weight most often experience edema.

Thirty-two weeks are considered a critical period, when the likelihood of developing a severe complication of pregnancy - preeclampsia, one of the symptoms of which is precisely the pathological accumulation of fluid in the tissues, increases. Significant edema not only looks unaesthetic, but is also quite dangerous to he alth. Due to swelling, oxygen starvation may occur in a child, and the expectant mother herself may suffer from disruption of the internal organs.

Swelling of the legs in the third trimester of pregnancy

Most often, swelling of the legs occurs during pregnancy. Before childbirth, excess fluid is usually excreted from the body on its own, and swelling disappears, so that the expectant mother can feel a surge of energy and improve well-being. But up to this point, the symptom can greatly disturb the woman. Especially concerned about the swelling of those who walk a lot or spend a lot of time on their feet. At the same time, the usual shoes become small or press heavily. It is important to choose a pair that will not cause discomfort.

Be sure to give uphigh heels, preferring stable shoes. It is advisable to give up long walks, do not stand on your feet for a long time, take a horizontal position more often. Regular foot massage will be useful, at home you need to periodically raise your legs up (you can put a pillow) or stand in a knee-elbow position to facilitate the work of the kidneys and excretory system.

What swelling of the fingers and hands looks like

Hands swell before childbirth, usually in those women who do needlework, work at a computer or do some kind of monotonous work. You can observe swelling that disappears after a while, traces of jewelry. Fluid stagnation is formed due to monotonous movements. Gymnastics for the fingers will help to normalize the situation. Also, from the second half of pregnancy, some doctors advise to abandon the rings, so that later there will be no problems in order to remove jewelry when necessary.

Swelling of the face and nose in the third trimester

Edema of the face is the easiest to notice - the oval of the face is rounded, bags under the eyes appear, a runny nose, which is not associated with a cold. The nose may swell due to allergic reactions, which worsen during childbearing. Due to breathing problems, the oxygen supply to the child is disrupted. Edema can be eliminated with the help of special drops, but the doctor must prescribe the medicine, because pregnant women are forbidden to take a number of medications. Most often, everything is limited only by the appearance of bags under the eyes, whichassociated with the anatomical features of the eyelids. In this area under the skin there is loose fiber, which actively absorbs liquid. You can reduce swelling on the face by following general recommendations.

What is the danger of edema

If your legs are very swollen before childbirth (in the third trimester of pregnancy), you should definitely consult a doctor as soon as possible, because this may indicate the development of a very serious complication - late toxicosis. Preeclampsia during pregnancy is practically not treated, but only controlled by physicians. Severe forms threaten premature delivery, the well-being of mother and baby will improve only after childbirth. Without medical attention, death is possible.

This complication is diagnosed in 10-15% of expectant mothers, most often manifested during the first pregnancy. In the second pregnancy, the risk of experiencing late toxicosis decreases. Risk factors are unfavorable heredity (if mother or sisters suffered from preeclampsia during pregnancy, then the risks are higher), the age of the expectant mother is less than 20 and over 35 years old, a history of chronic diseases (kidney problems, high blood pressure), overweight, pregnancy with twins or triplets.

Pathological edema before childbirth (those that are a manifestation of gestosis) can be determined by three signs: fluid retention in the tissues itself, the appearance of protein in the urine and increased blood pressure. Normally, protein in the urine should be absent, but in the third trimester it is alloweda small amount (up to 0.033 g/l). Elevated values in combination with high blood pressure (more than 140/90 units) almost always indicate preeclampsia.

How can I identify hidden swelling

Do your legs swell before giving birth? As the expected date of delivery approaches, the edema may subside, but the visible picture does not always correspond to the actual one. So, fluid retention in tissues can be hidden. This is indicated by the weight, which is increasing at a rapid pace. If a woman is gaining more than 300 g per week, the gynecologist may refer the McClure-Aldrich test. During the procedure, sodium chloride is injected under the patient's skin, resulting in a noticeable blister. If swelling does not appear, then this indicates a latent puffiness. The diagnosis is also confirmed if the blister clears up in less than an hour.

Latent edema can be diagnosed in other ways. For example, it is recommended to regularly measure the circumference of the legs. An increase in indicators by 1 cm per week or more indicates a complication of pregnancy. A study of daily diuresis, that is, the volume of urine, is shown. The amount of urine excreted per day is compared with the amount drunk (water, other liquids, soups, fruits, and vegetables must be taken into account). Normally, 3/4 of the volume of fluid consumed is excreted per day.

Edema before childbirth and other precursors

Shortly before giving birth, a woman may notice a change in how she feels. The approaching date of the birth of the baby is indicated by the cessation of weight gain oreven losing weight by a few kilograms (usually a woman loses about 2-3 kg), lowering the abdomen, reducing the activity of the child, the appearance of training contractions. Often, swelling subsides before childbirth, because the body gets rid of excess fluid on its own. But this is not an exact sign, because every woman is different.

How to deal with swelling during pregnancy

If swelling appears before childbirth, what should I do? It is important to normalize nutrition. Smoked meats and fried foods should be excluded from the diet, and meat and vegetables should be boiled, steamed or baked. It is better to give up sweets and muffins, marinades and spices. Low-fat broths, fruits and vegetables, cereals are very useful. For prevention, it is useful to spend fasting days, but this is allowed only after agreement with the supervising doctor.

S alt intake should be limited to 1-1.5 grams per day. S alt contains sodium, so it retains fluid in the body. It is necessary not only not to s alt food during cooking, but also to refuse herring, chips, pickles, sausages and sausages, canned foods, sauerkraut. Normalizes water-s alt metabolism, the use of fluid in sufficient quantities. On the day you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of pure water (not counting liquid food and vegetables). It is better to drink often, but little by little. Fruit drinks, freshly squeezed juices are useful, but you should not get carried away with coffee and tea, carbonated drinks.

Moderate physical activity will benefit. You can do yoga for pregnant women, attend special classes in the pool,to walk outside. But do not be zealous, because only the load that is dosed and uniform is useful. It is not recommended to stand in one place or walk, sit, throwing one leg over the other. It is advisable to do cool foot baths, light foot massage, put a pillow under your feet during rest. Swelling of the legs may be accompanied by varicose veins. With such a problem, wearing special compression garments may be recommended.

Prevention of puffiness during pregnancy

The causes of edema before childbirth can be physiological. The load on the body increases, so that excess fluid begins to accumulate in the tissues. 80% of expectant mothers face such an unpleasant symptom, but in some cases edema can be avoided. Prevention includes regular physical activity (as far as possible), the normalization of the diet, the optimal mode of work and rest, the rejection of s alt and the use of a sufficient amount of fluid. It is also necessary to regularly take tests and monitor the general condition in order to seek medical help in time in case of pathology.