Pregnancy brings a lot of physical changes. Apart from baby bump, you will notice that you no longer fit into your old clothes and old shoes. The reason being the swollen feet. Yes, swollen feet and ankles are one of the common problems during pregnancy. You can notice swelling on your feet around week 22 to week 27, and this won’t leave you until you give birth to your precious baby. So, how to reduce swelling during pregnancy? Well, do not worry we have brought some researched home remedies for you which will help to relax the swollen feet.
Check out the blog-
What causes swelling to occur?
Before heading to the cure for swollen feet, let’s understand the reason for the swelling in feet.
First Trimester- The most important and crucial trimester. In this trimester, your body starts changing for good. Your digestion slows down, and you will have morning sickness. Since your body is adapting to the new change in the body, you can see slight puffiness around your hands, feet, and face, but it won’t be that noticeable.
Second Trimester- The second trimester begins with week 13 or the fourth month of pregnancy. At this time, if you stand on your feet for long and do not give it proper rest, you may see swollen feet till the fifth month. This swelling is caused due to an increased volume of blood and fluids in the body. As your baby grows, the blood in the body of the mother increases by 50%, which is the reason for swelling.
Third Trimester- The third trimester starts with week 28 of pregnancy. Up until this time, you might be familiar with the swollen feet. As you move forward in Pregnancy, you will notice the swelling in your feet increases, this is natural as the baby is growing, your uterus is becoming much heavier and the increased supply of blood and fluids contributes to the swelling.
So, all in all following are the reasons for swelling during pregnancy-
- Increased fluid and blood
- Heavy Uterus
Where and When will I get Swelling?
The main swelling occurs in your feet and ankles. You may feel your hand fingers to be a little larger, than any ring you are wearing, you may feel it to be tight. In your later Pregnancy, your feet and ankles are swelled up. The main reason for the swelling is gravity, yes, any extra fluid and blood in your body will be pulled down towards your feet.
But don’t worry, with the right care and proper rest, you can handle the swelling. The swelling happens gradually, which does not harm your baby. And the swelling starts around week 22 to week 27.
Home Remedies for Swollen Feet during Pregnancy
If you all feel prevention is better than cure, it is true. So, how to prevent swelling during pregnancy? Well, the following are some of the home remedies which can help in preventing the swollen feet during Pregnancy.
1. Keep yourself Hydrated-
Yes, this is a counterintuitive therapy, to flush out fluids from the body by drinking fluids. When your body is well hydrated, it keeps the sodium level at the limit. Water helps to get rid of excess sodium and minimize swelling in the feet.
See More- Benefits of drinking water during Pregnancy
2. Reduce Sugar Intake-
When you limit your sugar intake, the water retention also gets decreased. Since your body remains well hydrated, the excess sodium and toxins are flushed out from the body. Some of the foods which should be avoided are-
- Rice
- Pasta
- Bread
- Grains
- Dessert
3. Compression Stocking can also help-
Use compression stockings in the morning, when the swelling in the leg is reduced. These stockings help to keep the pressure on your legs and improve the blood circulation in the veins. Try to wear a high- waist compression stocking, knee-high compression stockings may feel tight around the middle leg and can make swelling worst.
4. Massage Therapy-
Massaging your feet helps to increase the blood circulation. Circulation returns the fluid, which gets excreted through the kidneys. As soon as the excess fluid is lost, swelling in the feet reduces. Massaging with Arnica oil helps to relieve the sore and aching muscles. Let the oil penetrate in the feet, this will relax the muscles and reduce swelling.
5. Decrease your Caffeine Intake-
If you have a habit of drinking coffee; it is good to decrease the caffeine intake. Caffeine is diuretic, which means it increases urination, which leads to fluid loss hence dehydration. You can try drinking chamomile or peppermint tea, both the tea contains potassium and minerals which are good for health.
6. Elevate your Feet-
Whenever you are resting or even working, try to keep your feet in a relaxed position. You can also elevate your feet for 20 minutes. Do this 3-4 times a day. Elevating your feet will help the blood and fluid return to the heart, decreasing the swelling.
7. Lie on Your Left Side-
Sleeping on your left side is recommended and preferred in Pregnancy. Lying on the left side helps in the proper working of Kidneys, which removes the waste from the body and reduces swelling.
See more- Best and worst sleeping position during pregnancy
8. Do not forget to Exercise-
Exercising is very important during pregnancy. It helps to keep the blood circulation good and also keeps the stress away. Exercise like yoga, swimming is good during pregnancy. It keeps the fluids and blood circulating throughout the body.
9. Take Epsom Salt to Soak Foot-
Epsom salt is very beneficial for our body. It draws out toxins from the body and gives body relaxation. It is well known to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the body. This is one of the amazing swellings during pregnancy remedy.
How to use:
- Take warm water
- Add ½ cup Epsom salt in it
- Soak your swelled feet in the warm water
- Let your feet be soaked for 15 minutes
- This will give you relaxation and will also help in reducing swelling.
10. Drink Nettle and Dandelion Tea-
Drinking 1-2 cups of Nettle and Dandelion Tea helps improve blood circulation in the body and balance electrolytes.
Foods to reduce swelling during Pregnancy
Foods that are rich in potassium, helps to maintain salt to water ratio in the body. Foods which should be consumed, in order to reduce swelling are-
- Bananas
- Avocados
- Watercress
- Papayas
- Parsley
- Rhubarb
- Carob
- Kiwi
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Endives
- Arugula
So, these are some of the natural ways of how to reduce swelling during pregnancy. Swelling during pregnancy is a common thing, it is caused due to increased fluid in your body. If the swelling does not go away by trying the above home remedies, you should consult a doctor.
Do not worry! Enjoy your Pregnancy!
FAQ
1. When should I be concerned about Swelling during Pregnancy?
Swelling is a common thing in pregnancy, but you should be worried about it if any of the following things happen-
- Sudden swelling in hands and legs
- Swelling along with shortness of breath and chest pains
- More swelling in one leg during pregnancy.
