Pregnancy and swollen feet, two things that always seem to come hand-in-hand. Being pregnant can be turbulent enough, but the added discomfort of swollen feet can drive any woman up a wall. But fear not- we've compiled some top tips on how you can soothe your swelling feet during pregnancy.
Why do women feel swollen during pregnancy?
Swelling is common during pregnancy due to increased blood volume and pressure from the growing uterus. Hormonal changes also relax blood vessels which contribute to fluid retention in tissues of the body (1).
When is it time for medical intervention?
It's essential that when dealing with anything out of the ordinary during your pregnancy period, you consult with your health care provider immediately. It's important not to assume everything will go smoothly, especially if swelling becomes severe or comes on very quickly as this may indicate preeclampsia (2).
Top Tips for Keeping Those Feet Comfortable
Invest in comfortable supportive footwear
While heels might look fantastic, they're unlikely going to cut it when you are carrying excess baby weight on an ever-changing center of gravity. Instead, invest in flat shoes or sandals with proper arch support; otherwise known as orthotic sandals – avoiding those wobbling stilettos! As widespread walking causes tired legs and soreness over long periods: use compression socks because they boost circulation - lessening the likelihood of edema development (3).
Exercise Regularly
Although being active regularly might sound like hard work; light exercise has been demonstrated by incorporating foot stretches into daily activities such as yoga practising sitting cross-legged position (Sukhasana) - this helps stretch muscles easing discomfort while increasing fitness levels indirectly reducing full body swelling through these low intense movements (4).
Keep yourself hydrated all day long!
Drinking water helps to flush the toxins in your body, hence relieving swelling. Dehydration leads directly to decreased blood flow, resulting in more pooling of fluids lower down the legs.
Relax!
Elevating feet while resting reduces fluid built up caused by gravity essential for enhancing lymphatic drainage and decreasing undesirable inflammation - so kick back (put feet up,) relax and watch TV or read a good book, Specially when you feel exhausted after a long day (5).
Unorthodox home remedies that soothe swollen pregnancy feet
Every piece of advice is worth trying out when it comes to methods capable of reducing foot & leg discomforts. Slumping on your favorite couch-after implementing some of these bizarre techniques will give you feeling blessed – It's all about being comfortable at this point!
1) Roll Bottles under Your Feet
An incredible remedy getting things going instantly; use water bottles or rolling pins roll them gently below each foot either separately or together for effective relief- other women prefer switching between hot & cold rolls (6).
| Steps | Advantages |
|---|---|
| Use frozen bottles | Helps reduce pain quickly because ice has analgesic effects calming irritated skin particles giving an all-round soothing effect also reduces swelling due to vasoconstriction |
| Run warm water before massage | Improves circulation from warmth increases production capabilities of endorphins and oxytocin crucial hormone-like chemicals having a relaxing impact |
We think bottle massaging is one crazy solution if properly done - proven useful amongst pregnant ladies dealing with femoral vein pressing against iliac muscle leading to restricted movement within the hip region- These standing poses cause tension buildup in uterus muscles and bring Cramps too often. Expecting mothers must care about their comfort during extended working days providing proper relaxation time whenever possible.
2) Soap Suds Relief
This wacky solution often dismissed as mere hearsay, Could it offer assistance to pregnant women having swollen feet? These simple steps have proven quite useful in several instances
| Steps | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Use lukewarm water | Hot water may be detrimental and lead to further stasis buildup. |
| Dissolve a tablespoon of Epsom salt | Eases fatigue-reducing edema by integrating magnesium substance within the affected area while rejuvenating local nerves- but requested not to stay longer than twenty minutes (7) |
| Add pieces of antibacterial soap (Ivory) or Castile soap | Soap helps loosen up dirt from our skin layer; this combination can assist in breaking down extra fluids ensuring full relaxation |
WARNING: Every individual's skin is different. Try out this bizarre method only if you are sure about using soaps on your gentle skin surface.
3) Cucumber Treats
Cucumber, The delicious vegetable that feels fresh when consumed could prove beneficial even outside the gut region. Most chemists claim cucumbers have soothing properties helpful amongst pregnancy muscle swells; use these easy step for maximum effect;
Select fresh green cucumbers
Wash them with warm water;
Slice each cucumber into thin slices.
Place each slice carefully onto swelling parts such all-around foot regions
Leave these sliced items for fifteen minutes before removing Picking cucumber over serum seems much better suited unique technique for people who want natural alternative treatments-rather apply vacuum-type therapy which suctions blood after disinfecting topical layer via healthy bacteria fermentative action boosting firm muscle activities.
To Conclude:
One beautiful attribute relating to Pregnant women/human beings - capability remain calm amidst stressful & discomfort conditions - They must prepare themselves Mentally/physically, able tackle daily issues effectively- Finding comfortable methods to reduce swollen feet occurrences leads to less worrying problems. We hope this article has provided enough information on how they can work towards process improving their quality of life/fitness levels without too forcing anything else – Following every piece of advice meant for pregnant women might come in handy for non-pregnant ladies dealing with excess leg swelling caused by never-ending standing/sitting activities needing lower body relaxation (8).
Got any more tips? Feel free to leave them below!
References
1) "Swollen Ankles, Feet + Fingers During Pregnancy." What To Expect. Retrieved from https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/swollen-ankles-and-feet/ 2) "Swelling During Pregnancy". HealthDirect. Retrieved From https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/swelling-during-pregnancy 3) "Orthotic Sandals: A Guide." Vionic Shoes. Retrieved from https://vionicshoes.co.uk/blog/orthotic-sandals-a-guide 4) Cleland CL, Hunter RF, Kee F et al (2016). Footstep: a randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a CBT-based intervention to prevent recurrence of falls in fall-prone older adults.." Health Technology Assessment 20(19). 5)"Edema relief during pregnancy.". Acupuncture Albuquerque NM | Alma Acupuncture. Retrieved from http://alma-acupuncture.com/acupuncture-blog/albuquerque-summer-health-tips-part-one-edema-relief-during-pregnancy/ 6)"How To Massage Your Feet At Home And Relieve Swelling (It's Easy!)". Mind Body Green.Retrieved From https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-massage-your-feet-for-swelling 7)"You Asked Not recommended: soap under the sheets or feet.Gloucester Daily Times -(MA)". NewsBank.Communications Inc (August 23, 2014).Retrieved from https://www.newsbank.com 8)"Pregnancy Swelling: What's Normal and What's Not.". Healthline. Retrieved From https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/swollen-feet-treatment#self-care