Swelling - feet

holley79 wrote: I am getting on up in the prego stages. I noticed early yesterday morning my feet were really swollen. I haven't been swelling till just recently. I try and keep my feet propped at work but it's kind of hard to type and prop them at the same time. Is it normal just to one day swell up???

I can't put my shoes or my sandals on. They haven't gone down since I have kept them propped since I got off work Wed early morning. I went to Wal Mart last night and bought some slipper that kind of look like shoes. Guess I am retiring to those for a bit.

I'm just wondering if I need to call Dr. When I was in her office Tuesday all was well.

moped replied: That is about when my feet started swelling - Dr. wasn't concerned about it but if you are uneasy you should get it checked - when is your next appt?

holley79 replied: I have an appointment on the 6th. Maybe it's just because. I'm just not use to it is all.

kimberley replied: i would call in just to make sure. doesn't pre-eclampsia start with sudden swelling? better to be safe than sorry . only foot swelling i have experienced was after the epidural. talk about elephant feet!

Regina replied: I feel your pain! I had extreme swelling from about 7months pregnant until about 2 weeks ago (my son is nearly 6 weeks old!). I couldn't get my foot inside of any shoe I had, not even slippers or sandals. sounds sily but I was scared to look at them, as they literally looked like they were about to burst open.

I told my doc about it and she suggested to obviously keep legs elevated as much as possible and to take baths filled as high as you could get the water and to let your legs float, one a day if you can. She explained that the toxins in your body will get trapped in your feet and that you need to get them back out into yur system so that you can urinate them out so that you don't end up with Toxemia (sp?) or anything else that comes along with the toxins. by this logic, I began drinking loads of water to try to urinate more... it was really annoying at times seeing as how I felt like I had to urinate constantly anyhow from the baby

Anyhow, this helped enough for me to deal with the swelling. It decreased a bit, enough to get some sandals on. I am sure that if I had followed the directions more closely, I wouldn't have ran into problems later, so I urge you to try to rid yourself of the swelling as much as possible before you actually give birth.

After I gave birth, the swelling got quite out of control. Don't be frightened as my doc told me that my amount of swelling was really uncommon, particularly after the birth, but I just want to tell you, to show how extreme my case got. My feet were incredibly swollen but then my ankles and legs became really swollen also -- all the way up past my knees. I couldn't even poke my finger into my leg.. completely swollen solid from my foot to my thigh. Couldn't bend my legs really and it was so hard and painful to walk around for weeks with the newborn. My doctor then gave me some water pills, can't remember the name, but they made me urinate about 10 times per day more than I would, and by the time the week's prescription was up, my swelling had gone down significantly. Wish she had told me about this medicine before, it would have helped a lot -- ask your doc about it and see if they suggest it for you too.

I can only hope for you that your case of swelling is nothing like mine! I am sorry for the long post but I wanted to share my experience on the topic. Try the bath thing and drinking more water and if that fails, definitely ask about the pills. I don't know if I can help you, but I hope so, so that it wont' get like mine did (although I was an extreme case!). Good luck.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I had swelling with Madison - so bad I bought shoes 2 sizes larger than my normal because we have to be dressy for work. I wore my slippers everywhere else - even the grocery store!

I would put them up on a box at work - just the little bit of elevation would help. At home every time I sat down they would be up as high as I could get them.

Good luck to you!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I didn't have any swelling until 3 or 4 weeks before I was due either, and it seemed to happen overnight. Luckily it was summer time by then and I could just wear flip flops because I couldn't fit into my shoes.

holley79 replied: Well yesterday when I got up out of bed my feet were almost normal. I did call the Dr though and she said to give it another over night and see if that would help. I had to work last night and because I was so busy they were down all night. They were hurting by the time I got home this (friday) morning. I have them up right now and typing. It's a little tough but dealing with it. I did the cold water soak and stuff and am able to wear my sandals.

Dr did mention that if after birth they were still swelling she would put me on the water pills. Thanks for sharing your story because that makes me feel better.

It just seems to have happened over night. All my vitals are good though so she isn't too worried about it but told me if I got to worrying about it too much then to come see her. I think I will survive till my appointment on Tuesday.

MyLuvBugs replied: I think I read that you start to get the swelled feet at the end b/c the baby is so large it's pressing on the blood vessels that go to your legs, so the circulation isn't as good. Try getting your Hubby or significant other to rub your feet and ankles at night while you lay on the couch. I know that's asking a lot (at least that's probably what he'll say), but it's for you and the baby.

When I was at work (computer job UGH), I'd prop my feet up on the trash can or the tower to my Computer, and put the keyboard on my belly. lol It was pretty comfy, but everyone needs to find what works for them.

Good luck.

holley79 replied:

This is what I do. They laugh at me in here. The only thing is, DH is at work when I am at home able to relax. LOL. When we are home together he is very good about giving me rubs.

Anyone know anything about "being rubbed the wrong way"? They said that if you rub certain spots on the feet and hands that it can start contractions.

MommyToAshley replied: Glad the doc was able to reassure you. My feet and fingers swelled about two weeks before I had Ashley. And, it happened overnight. I was paranoid and called my doc as well. He checked me out but said my BP was fine. He suggested that I prop my feet up and watch the salt intake.

Glad you're feeling better. I can imagine how excited you are to be in the home stretch...

MyLuvBugs replied:
Yep. There's some good articles about it online. Do a google search for Pressure point massage and contractions. I believe the area of the foot is between the big toe and the toe right next to it. It's not a problem to rub that area, but don't let him press and hold too long on that area.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
Yes there are pressure points that are supposed to be able to start labor, but you have to press and hold on them for way longer than during a foot massage.

holley79 replied:
So does this mean those pedicures I have been putting off have been for nothing. LOL. I have been so worried about that stuff. Well guess what I'm getting my next day off.

jacobsmama replied: haaha you deserve it but if your have the swelling and it is associated with headache, dizziness or anything like that orseeing spots you should call in b /c that can be from preclampsia and or bloodpressure.. Good luck girl your almost there.

MyLuvBugs replied:
Yeah pretty much. Go have fun, and get a pedicure. Pamper yourself while you can.

holley79 replied: Ihad my BP checked and everything is good to go. I have been lucky and not had BP problems. The only thing I have it the swelling.

I have my trash can turned over under my desk, a pillow on it, a lap tray on my lap with my keyboard on it. I also have my slippers and my sandals next to my desk. Sandals if I have to go to another department and slippers for within our office area. Hope the Sheriff doesn't walk in. LOL

I am off Mon and Tue. One of those days it is off to the salon. Getting hair trimmed and pedicure.

MyLuvBugs replied: Good for you sweetie!! Have fun, and if the sheriff has a problem with it, tell him/her to try carrying around an extra 30-60 lbs of weight for 9 months. lol Definately pamper yourself though. I now wish I'd done the hair and pedi before Lorelei made her way into the world. I think it would have helped with some of the depressed feelings I had about how I looked.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Me too ~ next time I'm going to get a hair cut right before I'm due because my hair looked so awful and I felt so gross. I wanted to paint my toenails but I couldn't reach ~ so next time I am going to have Dh do it for me. I'll just have to pick a light color so the splotches won't show.

holley79 replied:
I am defiantly getting that hair trimmed. All the help I can get in the looks department will be worth it.

After my last pedi DH had to help me get the toenail polish off. I couldn't reach them. It was horrible.

CAMSMOM1 replied: I had the worst swollen feet when I was pg. Every appt. I would tell my doctor, and he would just laugh and said it was normal. Well I looked anything but normal! I also had to wear 2 sizes bigger shoe. I looked like a freak show for awhile, but I also got some extra pampering from DH.
Glad you went to the doctor and everything turned out fine.
Best wishes with your LO.
Ann

A&A'smommy replied: Make sure you are drinking enough water I know when i was pregnant with Alyssa my feet were HUGE but I think it was just because I wasn't drinking nearly enough water Its almost over!! I'm glad your bp was okay!!