Edema during late pregnancy: causes, treatment

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

The last months of pregnancy are always considered the most difficult for a woman. Difficulties are caused not only by an increase in the mass of the fetus, but also by the body's reaction to a new life inside the womb. The most common problem is swelling during late pregnancy. In most cases, the cause of their appearance is physiological in nature, but exceptions are possible. When to sound the alarm and consult a doctor, you will learn from the materials of this article.

Edema in late pregnancy - normal or pathological?

Not every clinical case of edema during pregnancy indicates the presence of complications. The third trimester is characterized by an increase in the size of the uterus, which increases pressure on the ureters. The woman has problems with urination and swelling occurs.

Also thisthe problem is diagnosed against the background of weight gain. For this reason, weight control of a pregnant woman is mandatory. To avoid swelling or reduce its severity, doctors recommend a dairy-vegetarian diet.

Limiting the amount of liquid, on the contrary, is not worth it. Doctors advise to drink up to two liters of water per day, but at the same time maintain strict control over the amount of urine. Its volume should be at least 60% of the amount of fluid consumed.

The situations described above are a prime example of physiological edema. You can reduce their manifestation by adjusting the diet and mode. When this approach does not bring the desired results, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Edema is dangerous not only for physical or aesthetic discomfort. Often they are a symptom of serious pathologies (varicose veins, renal failure, preeclampsia).

Late preeclampsia is considered the most common and at the same time dangerous disorder. If the general condition of the woman is satisfactory, but severe edema is observed, the gynecologist should be informed about this. If this is not done in a timely manner, such neglect of one's own he alth and well-being of the baby can affect the mother-placenta-fetus system. Violation of this scheme often leads to oxygen starvation of the child, which affects its development.

Why does swelling appear?

Edema during late pregnancy appears gradually. First of all, the legs swell, then this process "rises" through the body, affecting the lower backand hands. In especially serious cases - the face.

If we exclude physiological, there are a great many reasons for the development of pathological edema.

1. Protein deficiency.
2. Kidney disease (impaired outflow of fluid from the body).
3. Pathologies of the thyroid gland (changes in water-s alt balance).
4. Cardiovascular disease (impaired blood circulation).
5. Varicose veins.
6. Overweight.

Only a doctor can determine the nature of edema. After a complete diagnostic examination and identification of the cause of the pathology, the woman is prescribed treatment.

Swelling on the face in late pregnancy

Swelling of the face during pregnancy is a fairly common problem. First of all, the eyelids swell, and the face takes on a rounded shape.

A special case is swelling of the nose. Among the causes of its occurrence can be noted the accumulation of fluid in the vessels, as well as problems with the respiratory tract. A swollen nose is usually accompanied by a runny nose, dryness, or itching.

Rhinitis and swelling at 38 weeks of gestation are quite common phenomena that complement each other. In this case, it is recommended to consult a doctor who will select the medicine. After the birth of the baby, this problem is resolved by itself. Rhinitis for a pregnant woman is completely safe, but can affect the development of the fetus. With nasal congestion, the baby inside the womb experiences a lack of oxygen, which leads to negative consequences.

Edemalegs in late pregnancy

The process of fluid retention is carried out in the direction from the bottom up. That is why, first of all, the legs of a pregnant woman suffer. The manifestation of this pathology is more noticeable in the evening. During the day, the accumulated fluid descends, concentrating in the limbs. At night, it is distributed throughout the body, so the swelling of the legs is not so noticeable. If symptoms disappear after resting, there is no reason to worry.

When do I need to consult a doctor? It is necessary to seek qualified help when the swelling in the legs does not subside even in the morning. The causes of the pathological condition are usually hidden in late preeclampsia.

At the initial stage, in addition to swelling in the legs, women complain of malaise, fatigue and poor he alth. An alarming symptom is uneven or excessively large weight gain (more than 500 g per week). It can also increase blood pressure, appear protein in the urine, convulsions. If, after a diagnostic examination, the diagnosis of preeclampsia is confirmed, the woman is hospitalized. The expectant mother and her baby require comprehensive treatment and constant monitoring.

Swelling of the fingers during pregnancy

If your fingers start to swell, it's time to sound the alarm. The first sign of a problem is the inability to remove the ring. In addition, there is numbness and tingling in the fingers.

This problem should not be ignored. The higher the swelling rises through the body, the moredanger to the child. Do not hesitate and postpone the visit to the doctor. The sooner you report a problem, the more likely it is to be successfully treated.

Swelling of the fingers during pregnancy is usually due to the woman's professional activities. Similar phenomena occur with repeated manipulations of the same type of brushes. It can be computer work, knitting or embroidery. Edema is often accompanied by characteristic pain in the wrist, which in medical practice is otherwise referred to as tunnel syndrome. If you are engaged in such work, it is better to give it up for a while and do special gymnastics for the hands.

What is hidden swelling?

Excessive weight gain in a woman (more than 300 g per week) may indicate such a problem. For the entire duration of pregnancy, weight gain should not exceed 12 kg. Otherwise, the doctor prescribes control of the consumed fluid and excreted urine. The McClure-Aldrich test is also particularly informative. A woman is injected subcutaneously with sodium chloride. After a large blister forms at the injection site, which persists for an hour. With hidden edema, it does not appear at all or disappears very quickly. According to the results of the examination, the woman is prescribed a course of treatment.

Medical examination

Every appointment of a pregnant woman at the gynecologist is accompanied by a physical examination. This is especially true of the legs and face, as it allows diagnosing pastosity in the early stages. Another mandatory step at the reception at the gynecologist is weighing. This is the best waydefinition of excessive weight gain. Edema during late pregnancy is a certain phenomenon that is often caused by an increase in the body weight of a woman.

Before each appointment, a future woman in labor must take urine tests. With this test, the doctor can check the functioning of the kidneys and differentiate the physiological variant of the swelling.

It is very difficult to establish why swelling occurs during late pregnancy. To make a diagnosis, the gynecologist requires the results of additional examinations of the body (ultrasound of the kidneys, blood tests, etc.). After that, the specialist can judge the presence of pathologies and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Edema in late pregnancy. What to do?

For prevention purposes, as well as for physiological edema, doctors advise expectant mothers to follow fairly simple recommendations.

Be active, spend as little time sitting as possible. Sports and fitness activities designed specifically for pregnant women are considered useful.

To reduce swelling in the legs, the causes of which are often hidden in the accumulation of fluid in the lower extremities, you can do special baths. The water must not be hot. You can add some essential oil to it. Such baths give a positive effect with regular repetition of the procedure.

Try to avoid overheating, stay less in stuffy rooms and in direct sunlight. Wear only high-quality and comfortable shoes, preferably without heels.

As for the issue of nutrition, it is necessary to exclude s alty, spicy, smoked and fried foods. All of them directly affect fluid retention in the body. You should also limit the consumption of sweets and pastries.

Excessive consumption of table s alt leads to fluid retention in the body, resulting in swelling during pregnancy. The testimonials of many women who followed this recommendation really prove this statement. One has only to give up the use of s alt, as the edema begins to pass on its own. But the amount of liquid should not be reduced. It is recommended to consume up to two liters of the most ordinary non-carbonated water per day.

Drug treatment of edema

Treatment recommendations for the fight against swelling are most often limited to those outlined above. Some women are advised to wear compression stockings and use special anti-edema products (gels, ointments). In the event of complications and preeclampsia of the second degree, drug treatment is indispensable. It is important to understand that gestosis poses a threat not only to the future woman in labor, but also to her baby in the womb.

Usually, women with this diagnosis are prescribed diuretics ("Canephron", "Fitolizin"). These funds normalize the work of the kidneys, have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. Also shown is the intake of multivitamin complexes to improve uteroplacental blood flow. With the help of droppersthe deficiency of protein and fluid in the body of a woman is restored. With high blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed.

Help of traditional medicine

In specialized sources you can find many recipes of traditional medicine. Before resorting to the help of one or another remedy for edema, you should consult a doctor.

Many believe in the miraculous properties of lingonberries. This berry is rich in vitamins and really helps with puffiness. It should be understood that each organism is individual, therefore, a doctor's consultation is required before use. Lingonberry improves the tone of the body. Without that, a constantly tense uterus can receive a double dose of this tone. This kind of carelessness can lead to a threatened abortion.

Treatment with folk remedies involves the use of various herbal tinctures. Usually choose plants that have the greatest diuretic effect (bear's ears, kidney tea, bearberry leaves, horsetail). It is recommended to drink no more than one glass of any of the listed infusions per day. Treatment time is usually about a month.

As a rule, such recommendations are suitable for women with physiological edema. In the case of pathologies in the body, complex medical treatment is indispensable, and traditional medicine recipes can be used as a supplement.

Conclusion

Now you know why swelling during pregnancy should not be ignored, in whichcases, a doctor's consultation is required. Carrying a baby for all nine months is a rather responsible period in the life of every woman. While the child is developing, his life and he alth are in your hands. If you follow the diet and rest, following the doctor's instructions, motherhood brings only positive emotions.