need some advice about swollen feet/ankles...

[allisoninfl]

I'm 24 weeks, and my feet are really starting to swell--especially the left one. When I was pregnant with DD, the OB said that it could be because my uterus was tilted that more blood was pooling on the left side. Anyway, I was also able to rest/put my feet up a lot more while pg with DD, but now that I'm pg and have a 2 year old, it just seems like I'm busy all day...and my feet just keep getting bigger.

Also, usually the swelling goes down over night, but the last few nights, my feet don't really look any better in the am. I'm wondering if that's something I should be concerned about. I mean, I know swelling is totally normal in pregnancy...it just seems more severe this time around.

My DH suggested wearing socks and tennis shoes around the house, and I did that today, and it seemed to reduce swelling in my feet, but then my ankles were huge. It's also July in FL...so I'm not super excited about wearing high socks or compression socks.

So, what works? Is there anything I should be doing to reduce or minimize the swelling?

[mapleleaf88]

Make sure youre drinking enough water and try to cut down on sodium.
Also, make sure your OB or MW keeps an eye on your blood pressure and proteins... and if your hands/face suddenly swell up, get to emerg... those are indicators of pre-e.
I feel your pain! I cant bend my ankles some days.

[lemon_parade]

Lots and Lots and Lots of water. Sounds counterproductive, but it works. I can tell when I'm not drinking enough because my feet start to retain water and my ankles swell to elephant size.

[aubreyaks]

Do not reduce your sodium unless directed to by a doctor! You actually need sodium in your diet and reducing could cause you to not have enough which can make swelling worse. Some moms have had some good luck with lemon essential oil in their drinking water. You might want to do some research on that. Swelling in and of itself can be uncomfortable but is not necessarily a cause for concern. Your care provider does regular screenings at every visit to check for potential problems. Swimming is awesome for swelling for two reasons, it will help improve circulation and you also will actually absorb some water when you and will keep you very cool!

[tygr2410]

I had the same thing and it was related to veracose veins. The compression stocking from the store were a joke, so my ob had me go and get fitted for medical grade ones... Hated wearing them, but they really did help.

[veveland]

Drink lots of water and keep your feet elevated as much as possible. Do try to REDUCE your sodium (don't cut it completely)...i.e. Frozen and restaurant foods and sauces, etc. that are very high in concentration. Also avoid Gatorade and those types of drinks unless okay with your doc for the same reason. Keep an eye on your BP too.

Compression socks work, but they are miserable in the summer. Swimming or a lukewarm bath can help too.

[CASMama711]

I had the same thing with my DD and my OB said it was just caused by the heat. I would definitely discuss it with your doctor, but it's probably not a sign of a problem.

[eliz7]

The best way to get the swelling to go down is to drink lots of eater and lay on your left side with a pillow between your knees. It's also the best position for circulation and blood pressure. Good luck!

[kateroc]

swimming, baths and drinking lemon water all help a little. Also, I have found, with this pregnancy, that frozen watermelon works wonders. I freeze cubes of watermelon and use it to make a smoothie in the morning. 36 weeks and no swelling yet (even in 100 degree heat!). I think that eating watermelon in general is good, but for some reason, I feel like it works better when it's frozen first...

[allisoninfl]

Thanks for the ideas ladies!