[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/is-swelling-during-pregnancy-normal\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/is-swelling-during-pregnancy-normal\/","headline":"Is Swelling During Pregnancy Normal?","name":"Is Swelling During Pregnancy Normal?","description":"It's normal to have some swelling during pregnancy. Here's what causes it, how you can minimize it, and when it might be a sign of something more serious.","datePublished":"2022-03-03","dateModified":"2024-06-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1318627878.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GettyImages-1318627878.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/is-swelling-during-pregnancy-normal\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Pregnancy and Childbirth"],"wordCount":1164,"articleBody":"Weight gain and an expanding belly are what you expect with pregnancy. Swollen ankles and feet, however, are less desirable. Rest assured, some swelling in pregnancy (also called edema) is normal and rarely cause for concern.Here is why swelling happens in pregnancy, how to reduce it, and when it might be a sign of something more serious.What Causes Swollen Feet During Pregnancy?One significant change during pregnancy is an increase in your fluid volume. Swelling occurs when some of that extra fluid leaks out of your blood vessels. During pregnancy, blood vessels become leakier than normal, and it is difficult for them to get all of the extra fluid back to your heart. The extra fluid then collects in your body tissues, including your feet, ankles, and fingers.Your body holds onto about 50% more fluid when you\u2019re pregnant. This change in fluid volume is necessary to grow a healthy baby and stay healthy yourself.Extra fluid during pregnancy:Helps create the amniotic fluid that surrounds and cushions your unborn baby.Prepares your body for a safe childbirth.Supplies nutrients to your baby.When Does Swelling Start in Pregnancy?Swelling can happen anytime during your pregnancy. Most often, swelling starts around the fifth month of pregnancy, when your fluid volume begins to dramatically increase. Swelling can worsen in the third trimester when your growing baby and expanding uterus put pressure on your veins.Pressure on your veins impairs the blood flow back to your heart. Impaired blood flow causes fluid to leak out of tiny blood vessels called capillaries.It is not unusual to notice that your shoes feel tighter and your rings are harder to remove as you get closer to delivery. It is also more common to feel carpal tunnel (numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrists) during pregnancy. Swelling in the hands and feet tends to worsen as the day goes on. Your feet, ankles, fingers, or face may look puffy by nighttime.Your swelling might also be worse:If you drink too much coffee.In warmer weather.When you eat very salty foods, like pizza or Chinese food.When you stand for a long time.What Can You Do to Manage Swelling in Pregnancy? Most of the time, the extra fluid you retain during pregnancy is annoying and uncomfortable, but not harmful. It should go away on its own overnight, but there\u2019s always a chance it will return.Try these tips if you have frequent swelling:Do some walking, swimming, or stretches each day to keep your blood moving.Drink eight to 10 cups of water each day to help flush extra sodium out of your body.Take a break and get off your feet. Sit or lie down periodically and elevate your feet.Limit salty foods like packaged snack foods, fast foods, and canned soups.Sleep on your left side to relieve pressure on the large vein that returns blood to your heart.Stand, swim, or float in a pool. If you don\u2019t have access to a pool, try a bathtub. The water pressure can help compress tissues in your feet and legs.Wear elastic compression stockings. They gently squeeze your legs to reduce the fluid buildup.Wear wrist braces at night if you are having carpal tunnel symptoms.Wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn\u2019t restrict circulation around your waist or calves.You may still retain some fluid despite your best efforts. As long as it is mild and not painful, it is a normal part of pregnancy.When Should You Be Concerned About Swelling in Pregnancy? You should be concerned about swelling in pregnancy if you have numbness in your hands or feet. These symptoms can be signs of a heart problem, high blood pressure, or a blood clot.Painful swelling that comes on suddenly, or swelling in only one leg, is not normal and could be serious. The same is true if you notice more severe face or hand swelling that doesn\u2019t go away overnight.Other concerning symptoms include:Breathing problems.Chest pain.Confusion.High blood pressure (over 140\/90).Shaking or a seizure.Sudden abdominal pain.Sudden severe headache.Vision changes.These are warning signs of a pregnancy complication called preeclampsia.What Is Preeclampsia?Preeclampsia is a combination of high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, such as protein in the urine. It occurs most often after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.Preeclampsia can harm you or your baby and lead to dangerous seizures (eclampsia) if it is not well-managed.What causes preeclampsia?Experts don’t know the exact cause of preeclampsia. It appears to start because the placenta doesn’t grow the usual network of blood vessels deep in the uterine wall.This leads to poor blood flow in the placenta. It is not clear what causes the placenta to develop this way or why high blood pressure develops, but some health conditions can predispose you to develop it, such as prepregnancy hypertension or diabetes.How do you know if you have preeclampsia?Preeclampsia is usually found during a routine prenatal visit. That is one reason why going to prenatal visits is important.An increase in blood pressure is often the first sign of a problem. If you are at high risk for preeclampsia, you may have other tests, such as blood tests and a test to check for protein in your urine.You will be carefully checked for the rest of your pregnancy if tests suggest that you have preeclampsia. Your baby’s health also will be closely monitored. The more severe your condition is, the more often you will need testing.How is preeclampsia treated?You will have frequent office visits and testing to check you and your baby if you have mild preeclampsia. The doctor may want you to take your blood pressure at home. They will likely recommend that you have your delivery by 37 weeks of pregnancy, because preeclampsia does not go away on its own.You will also need to watch for signs of worsening preeclampsia, including a severe headache or vision changes.You may need to be in the hospital if your preeclampsia is severe or getting worse. You may get medicines to lower your blood pressure and prevent seizures.An early delivery can help protect your health and\/or your baby’s health if you have severe preeclampsia.Preeclampsia most often goes away on its own after delivery. But sometimes symptoms appear or get worse after delivery, which is why close follow-up in the postpartum period is essential. You may need to be on blood pressure medication after delivery while your body transitions, but it is rare to continue to need this medication long-term. Make sure you talk to your health care provider about any concerns you may have.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 3, 2022, and was last reviewed on June 11, 2024.SourcesMerck Manual. Swelling During Late Pregnancy. LINKAmerican Pregnancy Association. Swelling During Pregnancy. LINK"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Is Swelling During Pregnancy Normal?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/is-swelling-during-pregnancy-normal\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]