What should I do if my lower body is swollen during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a very important thing for women. When a woman becomes pregnant, there will be many adverse reactions in her body, such as nausea, insomnia, tiredness, etc. Some pregnant women will have swelling down there. In this case, you should understand the cause in detail and then take measures to treat it to prevent it from causing a bigger situation. Now let’s introduce what to do if you have swelling down there during pregnancy.

Causes of lower limb edema during pregnancy

1. After pregnancy, blood volume begins to increase gradually from the 6th week, reaches a peak at the 34th week, and remains at this level until two weeks after delivery, when it returns to the pre-pregnancy level. Blood volume can increase by about 40% compared to the non-pregnant period, so as blood volume increases, interstitial fluid will also increase.

2. Because the increase in plasma is greater than the increase in blood cells when blood increases, the blood components will be relatively diluted and the relative concentration of plasma albumin will be lower than that in the non-pregnant period. Plasma albumin is the main component that maintains plasma osmotic pressure. Plasma osmolality is lower during pregnancy than during non-pregnancy. This makes it easy for water in the blood to penetrate into the interstitial fluid, causing lower limb edema.

3. After pregnancy, the uterus enlarges, which increases the pressure in the pelvis, thereby affecting the venous blood flow in the lower limbs. This is also one of the important reasons for lower limb edema. If the swelling during pregnancy is relieved after rest or sleep, it is physiological and there is no need to worry.

How to eliminate edema during pregnancy

1. Get enough rest. The best way to eliminate edema is to rest quietly. Studies have shown that when people rest quietly, the burden on the heart, liver, kidneys, etc. will be reduced, and edema will naturally decrease or disappear.

2. Keep warm to prevent edema, which is water accumulation. In order to eliminate edema, it is necessary to ensure smooth blood circulation and breathing. In order to achieve these two points, in addition to careful and intensive care, you must also pay attention to keeping warm.

3. Wear appropriate clothes. Wearing tight clothes will cause poor blood circulation, thus causing swelling of the body. Therefore, pregnant mothers should try to avoid wearing tight clothes during pregnancy.

4. Eat a low-salt meal. The body's ability to regulate salt and water decreases after pregnancy. Therefore, in daily life, you should try to control salt intake and keep the daily intake below 10g.

5. Wear elastic (pantyhose) to reduce excessive blood accumulation in the lower limbs. It is recommended that mothers wear elastic (pantyhose) before going out in the early morning, especially pregnant mothers who stand or sit for a long time. You can choose socks specially designed for pregnant women, which can keep you warm when worn in autumn and winter.

6. Raise your legs. It is recommended that pregnant mothers raise their legs for 15 to 20 minutes before going to bed (or during lunch break). This can play a dual role of accelerating blood return and reducing intravenous pressure. It can not only relieve edema during pregnancy, but also prevent the occurrence of diseases such as varicose veins in the lower limbs.

7. Pregnant mothers can sleep on their left side. This can avoid compression of the lower limb veins and reduce the resistance to blood return. This can also reduce pressure on the heart.