How Long Does Swelling Last During Pregnancy? - Aljazeera Medical Center (2023)

FAQs

How long does it take for pregnancy swelling to go down? ›

It is usually your body's way of getting rid of some of the excess fluid accumulated during pregnancy. Swelling may take up to two weeks to resolve.

The combination of extra weight and hormones during pregnancy can cause your feet not only to widen but also flatten and lengthen. Leg or ankle swelling likely will decrease a week or two after your baby is born, but your feet may never be the same again.

Abnormal and Dangerous Swelling in Pregnancy

Here are abnormal swelling symptoms to be aware of: Swelling in your face and/or puffiness around your eyes. Extreme swelling or sudden swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.

Significant swelling in your hands, face, or around your eyes that comes on suddenly or gradually becomes worse should alert you to call your OB-GYN.

Take walks, ride a stationary bike or swim laps in a pool. Stand or walk in the pool. Although there's little research on the use of water pressure for foot and ankle swelling, standing or walking in a pool seems to help compress tissues in the legs and might provide temporary relief from swelling during pregnancy.

What Can You do to Relieve Swelling in Pregnancy? Hydration is key. It seems counterintuitive but more water intake reduces swelling (also called edema). The more hydrated you are, the less fluid your body will store in your tissues.

It's normal to get some swelling in pregnancy, particularly in your legs, ankles, feet and fingers. It's often worse at the end of the day and further into your pregnancy. Swelling that comes on gradually is not usually harmful to you or your baby, but it can be uncomfortable.

Contact your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately if: swelling is there at the start of the day or doesn't go down when you rest. your face or hands are swollen. the swelling is more than you have had before.

If swelling is sudden or severe it might be a cause of pre-eclampsia. Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms. Swelling is a normal part of pregnancy and as your baby bump grows, you may find that your fingers, hands, legs, ankles and feet are growing too.

While some swelling is normal during pregnancy, large amounts of swelling in your face, around your eyes, or in your hands can be a sign of preeclampsia. Nausea or vomiting. Some women experience nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancy.

When should I go to the hospital for swollen legs and feet? ›

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.

If the swelling does not go away or it occurs repeatedly, it is essential to make an appointment with a doctor to determine whether there is an underlying cause. If swollen feet occur alongside shortness of breath, chest pain, or pressure in the chest, call the emergency services immediately.

With preeclampsia, you might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in urine that indicate kidney damage (proteinuria), or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.

With your first baby, this usually occurs 2-3 days before your due date. After it occurs, you might experience frequent urination, pelvic pressure, or increased swelling or cramps in your legs, often in one leg more than the other.

Recent data suggest that in some women, preeclampsia and even eclampsia may develop in the absence of hypertension or proteinuria.

This position improves blood flow. See Full Reference to the uterus, and helps deliver nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. The improved circulation and kidney function also reduces swelling, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins in your legs. Women with severe swelling may try propping the legs up higher than the belly.

Rest: Make sure you rest your swollen feet by elevating them often to get the blood flowing again. Raise them 8-10 inches above the heart for 10-15 minutes at a time. Sleep on your side and avoid sleeping on your back to improve circulation.

One of the easiest ways to manage swelling is to elevate (raise) the swollen limb. The goal is to elevate the swollen limb slightly above the level of the heart. This helps the extra fluid move back towards the heart for circulation to the rest of the body.

Foods That Reduce Swelling

Also, foods high in potassium may help reduce swelling by keeping your body chemically balanced. Potassium is found in foods, including bananas, sweet potatoes, kidney beans and avocado.

Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to serious pregnancy complications, including neural tube defects, low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk production, and even premature labor. These risks, in turn, can lead to birth defects due to lack of water and nutritional support for your baby.

Does ice help pregnancy swelling? ›

Put a cold compress on swollen areas

An ice pack or cold compress on the affected area can lower your temperature while reducing pain and swelling.

Starting with week 28 of pregnancy, the third trimester is by far the most common time to experience swollen feet. Especially as the weeks go on and you get closer to week 40, your toes are more likely to resemble little sausages than anything else (yes, becoming a parent is glamorous).

If pregnant women notice a sudden increase in swelling in the feet, hands, or face, or around the eyes, they should contact a doctor straight away. Sudden swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia, a condition that will require medical treatment.

The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs. Start with 20 minutes twice a day. This might do the trick. If not, go to 30 minutes or even an hour.

When to Seek Care for Swelling. You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch.

Get medical care as soon as possible if: You have unexplained, painful swelling of your feet or legs, particularly if it's only in one leg. The swollen area becomes warm, red or inflamed. The swelling is accompanied by a fever.

Oftentimes doctors and healthcare professionals mistake signs and symptoms of preeclampsia for regular symptoms related to pregnancy, which can appear to be similar (especially symptoms such as headaches, shortness of breath, and weight gain/swelling).

If you're between 20 weeks and 35 weeks pregnant and your doctors think you may have pre-eclampsia, they may offer you a blood test to help rule out pre-eclampsia. It measures levels of a protein called placental growth factor (PIGF). If your PIGF levels are high, it's highly likely that you do not have pre-eclampsia.

As preeclampsia progresses, people may experience fluid retention, with swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, and face. Swelling, or edema, can be a common part of pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. It tends to occur in the lower parts of the body, such as the ankles and feet.

What triggers preeclampsia? ›

Many experts think preeclampsia and eclampsia happen when a woman's placenta doesn't work the way it should, but they don't know exactly why. Some think poor nutrition or high body fat might contribute. A lack of blood flow to the uterus could play a role. Genes are also a factor.

Swelling in the ankles, feet or legs often goes away on its own. See a GP if it does not get better in a few days.

If left untreated, leg swelling can lead to associated infections, wounds and the development of permanent swelling. Any leg swelling associated with chest pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty or confusion warrants an emergency medical evaluation.

The first thing your doctor may try are diuretics, or water pills. This may not be the best treatment particularly if the swelling is not due to too much volume. “Often, using counter pressure, or wearing compression stockings, to help push fluid out of the legs is the most effective treatment,” says Dr. Bartholomew.

After you suffer an injury, swelling usually worsens over the first two to four days. It can then last for as long as three months as the body attempts to heal itself. If the swelling lasts longer than this, your physical therapist or doctor may need to take a closer look to determine the cause of the delayed healing.

You can use ice packs, cold therapy systems, ice baths, or cryotherapy chambers to deliver cold to the affected area. Apply cold several times a day for 20-30 minutes at a time to help keep swelling down, especially in the first several days after an injury.

Preeclampsia can develop gradually, or come on quite suddenly, even flaring up in a matter of hours, though the signs and symptoms may have gone undetected for weeks or months.

“If your preeclampsia isn't severe, your provider will watch you closely and most likely deliver at around 37 weeks,” says Dr. Taylor. “If your preeclampsia is more severe, your delivery will be closer to 34 weeks.”

What does preeclampsia pain feel like? ›

An often overlooked but widely reported symptom of preeclampsia is epigastric pain. This type of pain will usually present in the right upper quadrant under the ribs and may feel like indigestion. However, other women have reported the pain is sharper and more “stabbing” like.

Swelling develops usually later in the second and third trimester because the uterus is bigger as you progress in the pregnancy.” Aside from these changes and processes, there are other factors that result in swelling, including: Sitting or standing for long periods. Diet.

You have a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. The high blood pressure first happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy. You had normal blood pressure before pregnancy.

Irritability. Decreased urine output, not urinating very often. Nausea and vomiting (worrisome sign)

Are gestational hypertension and preeclampsia the same? No. Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that occurs in the latter half of pregnancy but doesn't affect your kidneys or cause protein in your pee. This condition can advance to preeclampsia, so your provider will monitor your pregnancy more frequently.

The swelling occurs in the feet, legs and fingers. Usually, it becomes significant towards the end of the day, but goes away by the next morning. Although normal, it can be uncomfortable, and for pregnant individuals who experience it, this may cause alarm.

When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet and legs? ›

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.

Move Around. Light exercise and moving around stimulates blood circulation and can reduce swelling. If you had a vaginal birth without complications, you should be able to begin exercising lightly relatively soon – be sure to check with your doctor to find out when you may be cleared to begin a light exercise routine.

Try to eat more lean proteins like fish, poultry, turkey, or beef. You can also pair these proteins with lots of fresh or frozen vegetables. Increase your potassium by eating bananas, sweet potatoes, avocado, and kidney beans. Potassium helps to reduce swelling by keeping your body chemically balanced.

Inflammation can become more noticeable at night when you are trying to sleep. If you are finding that falling asleep is difficult due to pain or you're waking throughout the night, it is worth considering how to improve your sleep situation.

Applying a cold compress to the perineal area can help ease pain and reduce swelling, while applying a warm compress can soothe the area while assisting in repairing any damage caused by labor.