During pregnancy, a woman experiences many changes in her body that are not always pleasant. The hormones and the enormous physical transformation that we undergo, causes some discomforts to manifest during pregnancy.
For example, an area where we can begin to feel discomfort -especially when we enter the third trimester- are the legs, since at this stage it is common to have cramps, swelling or heaviness.
Today we are going to address the issue of swollen legs during pregnancy : why it occurs and how we can alleviate it.
Leg swelling in pregnancy
As I mentioned, noticing swollen legs is usually common in pregnancy, especially when we are already in the third trimester. The increase in blood volume is responsible for this (and many other discomforts), since it causes excess fluid to accumulate in the tissues of the pregnant woman , causing swelling in the legs.
In addition, as the pregnancy progresses, the pressure of the uterus causes the blood returning from the legs to the heart to circulate more slowly , and this causes the fluid from the veins to be retained in the tissues of the feet and ankles. This also explains why most pregnant women will see their shoes start to squeeze.
Although having swollen legs in pregnancy is not usually serious , it can be very uncomfortable, so there are some things you can do to prevent and alleviate this discomfort.
How to relieve swollen legs in pregnancy
One of the reasons why the blood that returns from the legs circulates slower is to stand or sit for a long time without moving, so this is one of the main aspects that we will have to take care of:
- If we must spend many hours standing , we must do everything possible to take breaks every hour, sitting with the legs supported higher than the hips, to facilitate venous return.
- If we spend many hours sitting , we have to do the same and give the body the opportunity to move, getting up every few hours and walking a little.
Other measures we can take to prevent and relieve leg swelling are the following:
- When sleeping, remember to lift your feet off the bed about four to six inches.
- Avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes and socks that squeeze the calf with the rubber band.
- Watch your diet: avoid salt in food, avoiding cold cuts, smoked meats, cheeses and prepared foods that have too much sodium.
- Eat fruit.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, which is also very beneficial and necessary at this stage.
- Get moderate exercise to help improve blood circulation. Swimming, yoga, walking and cycling can help us in this regard and also improve our mood.
- Take care of your weight, avoiding gaining more kilos than recommended.
- When showering, alternate cold and warm water on your legs.
By following these recommendations you can usually relieve swelling in the legs during pregnancy, although in some cases it continues and disappears until the baby is born. In any case, it is important to discuss it with your doctor , who will recommend the best for your case, especially if the problem persists or other symptoms appear.
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