Swelling and joint pains are a part and parcel of pregnancy. Most women experience different degrees of swelling/joint pains during pregnancy. This condition is referred to as 'Edema' in medical terms.
During pregnancy the amount of body fluids increase by almost fifty percent. And most of this fluid is concentrated around the baby which causes swelling mostly in the lower part of the body. The increasing weight of the baby also contributes to building up pressure in the vein, especially in the legs. But quite a few women experience swelling in their fingers too. Water retention only makes the problem worse.
The joints pains are nature way of softening/loosening the joints to allow easy passage of the baby during labor. However the secreted hormones (mainly relaxin) do not discriminate among the different joints present in the human body. They affect all other joints along with the pelvic joints and hence the pains.
But watch out for any sudden swelling (especially in the third trimester) as it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
One can follow the points mentioned below for some relief ( the symptoms will not go away altogether) :
1. Drink lots of water. It helps to rid the body of excess fluids and toxins.
2. Reduce caffeine intake.
3. Sleep with your feet up. This helps reduce ankles and feet swellings.
4. Run cold water over your fingers if they are swollen and throbbing. This really worked in my case.
5. Increase potassium intake and cut back on the sodium. Avoid packaged stuff that is high on added salt and sugar.
6. Avoid standing for long periods of time. And do not cross your legs while sitting down. If possible, use a foot stool to keep them up.
7. Consume foods that are high on water content and natural diuretics.
Note - Remove any finger rings and bangles before it gets too snug ( usually in the 6th or 7th month). This is especially true for Indian women who love putting on these accessories. Try buying some bracelets/bangles/rings which open from the middle/have screws.
During pregnancy the amount of body fluids increase by almost fifty percent. And most of this fluid is concentrated around the baby which causes swelling mostly in the lower part of the body. The increasing weight of the baby also contributes to building up pressure in the vein, especially in the legs. But quite a few women experience swelling in their fingers too. Water retention only makes the problem worse.
The joints pains are nature way of softening/loosening the joints to allow easy passage of the baby during labor. However the secreted hormones (mainly relaxin) do not discriminate among the different joints present in the human body. They affect all other joints along with the pelvic joints and hence the pains.
But watch out for any sudden swelling (especially in the third trimester) as it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
One can follow the points mentioned below for some relief ( the symptoms will not go away altogether) :
1. Drink lots of water. It helps to rid the body of excess fluids and toxins.
2. Reduce caffeine intake.
3. Sleep with your feet up. This helps reduce ankles and feet swellings.
4. Run cold water over your fingers if they are swollen and throbbing. This really worked in my case.
5. Increase potassium intake and cut back on the sodium. Avoid packaged stuff that is high on added salt and sugar.
6. Avoid standing for long periods of time. And do not cross your legs while sitting down. If possible, use a foot stool to keep them up.
7. Consume foods that are high on water content and natural diuretics.
Note - Remove any finger rings and bangles before it gets too snug ( usually in the 6th or 7th month). This is especially true for Indian women who love putting on these accessories. Try buying some bracelets/bangles/rings which open from the middle/have screws.
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