Friday, October 17, 2008

A Few Answers To Cope With Swollen Ankles And Feet During Pregnancy

Coping With Swollen Ankles And Feet During Pregnancy

There is many exciting things to consider when you are pregnant.There is also, unfortunately, many facets of pregnancy which we hope we do not develop, and if we do we try to blank out about as soon as possible.Swollen ankles and feet are not the image that most of us take in when we first discover we are pregnant.  We think of ourselves looking good and feeling positive. 

When To Be Concerned About Swollen Ankles And Feet

There's a condition, during pregnancy, called pre-eclampsia.This occurs during the final trimester and symptoms are monitored and looked for at every checkup during the danger period.One of the conspicuous symptoms is swollen ankles and feet, yet, it is quite possible to have swollen ankles and feet without developing pre-eclampsia.If you have got any concerns you should immediately book an appointment with your doctor or midwife, but do not panic.

Managing With Swollen Ankles And Feet

During pregnancy, the circulation system of the mother is integrated with her unborn baby.  This puts huge pressure on the whole of a woman’s body.This increases circulation and the extra weight being carried can cause feet to become uncomfortable and to swell.It is a good idea to go shoe shopping during the first trimester of pregnancy and to search some wide, comfortable flat shoes.Endeavour to find shoes which are a bit fun as you may be wearing them throughout the pregnancy and as you observe other items of clothing getting too small, or uncomfortable it is nice to be able to put on comfortable shoes which will get you to feel better.Remember that if you select shoes with a strap that the strap needs to be adjustable and should not be too near the ankle as this may get uncomfortable during the later stages of pregnancy.

What To Do With Swollen Ankles And Feet

There's one great piece of advice – rest.If you touch your feet they can feel hot.  This is where the pain pads come into their own.It would be nice to think that you can have a foot massage every time you sat and put your feet up, but that is unfortunately not all of the time possible.Equally rubbing your own feet during pregnancy gets truly difficult when your bump gets bigger.  Heat and water massagers are not great for hot feet – they just seem to make you feel more uncomfortable.  So the solution is these little pain pads which you pop in the fridge.They are great, you are able to either put your feet on top of them or cool your soles or you could place them under, or on top, of your ankles.This produces a lovely cooling effect which will quickly become a nightly ritual.If you are in a hot climate, or planning to visit hot climes during pregnancy, then these are indispensable packing as they will help to keep you comfortable.They can also be used to alleviate the itch of mosquito bites, which is useful as antihistamines are not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women any more.

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