Pregnant and Swelling

I would tell her to keep very close track of her blood pressures (multiple times per day) if she's worried about pre-e. Also - the other women are right - if the swelling never subsides even with complete rest (like overnight), or it is present all over the body, not just the feet/ankles, then definitely get checked out. Some other warning signs of pre-e are visual disturbances (flashy lights in your line of vision, black spots, gray haze, etc), severe headaches that don't go away with rest, quiet, dark and Tylenol, and a pain under the ribcage. If the last three signs are noticed, the person should call their dr IMMEDIATELY.

I had pre-eclampsia from week 36 on, and it was missed until I had labored for 24 hours at 41.5 weeks. My blood pressures were never higher than "borderline" (140/80) until my labor. I also wasn't spilling more than trace amounts of protein, nor did I have the severe symptoms (headache, pain, and visual).

For more information about pre-eclampsia, check out www.preeclampsia.org

Swelling does go along with preeclampsia, but the swelling of the face and hands is more telling than swelling in the feet and ankles. I have swelling now, because of the heat. My doctor said to drink plenty of fluids and stay away from salt to reduce the water retention. It's also important to put the feet up. Sitting or standing for long periods can make the swelling worse. The swelling should go down overnight, or she should call her doctor. If she's concerned about preeclampsia she should stop in her doctor's office or go somewhere like Target to have her blood pressure checked more often than at her regular doctor's visits. Her doctor needs to know that she's having swelling, so he/she can watch for other signs of preeclampsia like protein in the urine.

Hi...
If her blood pressure is fine, then it most likely isn't pre-eclampsia and just weather related swelling. One thing that you can do to help keep preeclampsia at bay is to make sure you are getting plenty of protein and stay away from refined carbs. If it is just weather related, remember to drink tons of water, not juice or anything like that. And to put your feet up whenever you can. Wear loose fitting clothing and walking also helps with the swelling in your feet. Also stay away from salty foods. :) I am due in about 10 days and all those things have worked wonders for me. Good Luck!...

A.

I had my first in September and would swell like a balloon especially in my feet. I would rest and it would go away. My advise if it is not going down, have her call the dr's office just to make sure it is nothing.
C.

My son was born in November, so I spent a lot of last summer very pregnant. I was very swollen the entire time I was pregnant. My BP was also fine, and so was everything else, I was just very swollen. My advice for her would to be off of her feet as much as possible, making sure they are elevated from time to time, and to wear flip flops or Birkinstocks- she's lucky it's summer.
She should also avoid salt as much as she can, and just make sure her BP stays fine.

To be on the safe side, I would have your friend go to the doctor to be checked out because it is far better to be safe than worry!! When I was pregnant with my daughter (born 7-14-03) I started swelling at 9 WEEKS, and although my blood pressure was in the safe numbers for the general public, I was pre-eclamptic with many complications by 15 weeks. I am not saying this is what is happening with your friend, just that for her piece of mind a trip to the doctor would be my suggestion!!

Good Luck!!

Swelling definitely goes with preeclampsia. I started swelling in my feet, ankles and hands very early in my first pregnancy and started getting high blood pressure around 33 weeks. I did 2 non stress tests and then was put on bedrest for 2 weeks before I delivered 5 weeks early. I would tell your friend to keep an eye on it and be sure to communicate her concerns with her doctor.

I had extream swelling with my August baby. Get her in a pool!
The only thing that helped me was soaking. The water pressure on your body forces the extra fluids back into the blood stream. That is why you have to pee so bad after being in the water for a while.
Best of Luck to her!
A.

This is nothing to fool around with. I had swelling 3 months before my due date, and when I called my doctor's office they asked if I'd had starry vision or bad headaches. I'd had neither. I had also had terrific blood pressure at all my pre-natal check-ups and no elevated protein in my urine. I wasn't swelling in my face, just my legs and feet. The doctor's office wasn't alarmed, and about 2 weeks later at my next scheduled pre-natal visit I was spilling protein in my urine, my blood pressure was up, and I went directly to the hospital from the doctor's office. That very morning was the first facial swelling I'd had. I had pre-eclampsia and delivered 10 weeks early. I also had a seizure AFTER my son was safely born and in the NICU. If your friend is concerned, request a check-up. The "extreme" symptoms do not necessarily have to occur for there to be a problem forming. Be the ruler of your own body, I say. Late term swelling is very common, but by then you're about to deliver, and that's the only cure for pre-eclampsia. Wish your friend good luck.

Make sure they check good for potential PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension).

I felt like I was really swelling too with my second child and my doctor kept telling me I was fine...swelling happens in the last trimester, especially in the summer months. Finally, the week before we were due...I went for my last appt and the doctor looked at me and really actually took a good look at me. And she agreed...I did not look good. She said my blood pressure was really great though...one of the things they mainly look at to decide upon PIH. But with how I looked, she decided to finally play it safe and sent me to the hospital right away for more testing to check for other things that the clinic just couldn't test for there. The testing concluded it was PIH...they ordered a C-section immediately. Guess PIH is something the Mom and the baby definitely does not want to mess with when you're pregnant. Sure hope its not this... So, I'm only relaying my experience as 'better safe than sorry' is what I always say.

Best of Luck!

Tell her to call her OB. I had pre-eclampsia, however didn't get it until the middle of the 8th mth with my first pg. There are lots of things that can cause swelling in the heat anyway let alone being pg makes it worse. Heat (obviously) standing for long periods of time, caffine, alocohol, soda, salt and I am sure many more I am not naming. I know I am in my 8th mth now and my feet have started to swell in this heat and there is some relief and these are a few of the things he just threw out there. But because I've completely changed my health habits from the first pg as well as have been exercising the heat seems more bareable. Also sitting in cool water or taking cool showers at night before bed can also help.
Hope it helps. But if the swelling continues and goes to other areas of ther body she should call her OB office could be a sign of a problem

Swelling just goes w/ pregnancy and the heat. I had my first in Sep and I had Fred Flintstone feet for the entire summer. I had really good blood pressure so it wasn't related to pre-eclampsia. I kept my feet up all day, but it didn't help. I have had swelling off and on w/ my current pregnancy (due mid August) and it is usually due to sitting too long (like in a car) and eating too much salt. As long as the BP is OK, nothing to worry about other than the discomfort.