Swelling

A certain amount of swelling (called edema) is normal during pregnancy. It occurs most often in the legs-it is least in the morning and most prominent in the evening. Elevating the legs above the heart (propping them up while laying down) usually makes the swelling less by the next morning. Swelling increases during the last few months of pregnancy, and often occurs more in the hot summer months. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have swelling in your face, because this may be a sign of another problem. A clue that your hands are swollen is that your rings are too tight. Never take medications (water pills) for swelling unless they have been prescribed for you during the pregnancy.

Things you can do to help with swelling:

• Elevate you legs when possible
• Rest in bed on your side
• Don’t wear stockings or socks that have a tight band of elastic around the legs.
• If you must sit a lot on the job, stand up and move around from time to time.
• Try not to stand still for long periods of time.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in the Contemporary Women’s Care website should be relied upon for medical education purposes only. It is not intended to replace the independent judgment of a health care provider. The appropriateness of a course of treatment for a patient may vary from the medical information provided herein due to individual conditions and/or complications.