SOLUTIONS
Swollen Ankles In Pregnancy
Are your ankles suddenly looking like, ughhh, cankles? A little bit of swelling is normal during the second half of pregnancy. This condition, aka edema, is due to your body retaining excess amounts of water. How does this happen? Your growing uterus is putting pressure on your veins, which slows circulation and causes blood to pool in your legs. This pressure also forces fluid from your veins into the body’s tissues. If you feel the swelling seems more significant, contact your caregiver. But in most cases, you can find relief simply by staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet.
Jump To Full Article Below
Firm Support Maternity Pantyhose
see additional colors
Firm Support Maternity Tights
see additional colors
Moderate Support Maternity Pantyhose
see additional colors
Moderate Support Anti-Cellulite Maternity Pantyhose
see additional colors
SWOLLEN ANKLES DURING PREGNANCY
From 28 to 41 weeks, you may notice more swelling in your ankles at the end of a long day. Your shoes might even seem tight. While you might feel like a marshmallow, all of this puffiness is completely normal. In fact, pregnancy causes an increase in body fluids, which leads to swelling.
What’s happening? Your body is creating more fluid than ever. Your uterus, which is growing by leaps and bounds, is putting pressure on your pelvic veins and something called the inferior vena cava. This large vein has an important job - it returns blood from your calves to your heart. When there’s pressure on the inferior vena cava, it slows your circulation and blood begins to pool in your legs. The result? The fluid from your veins is forced into the tissue around your lower limbs. Increased amounts of progesterone - a hormone secreted by the ovaries - also causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax, making swelling even more predominant.
While swelling during pregnancy may seem out of your control, there are quick and easy things you can do to prevent it. Drinking water, taking time out to relax and keeping tabs on your diet can make all the difference.
How do I prevent swollen ankles during pregnancy?
- Break your routine: It’s okay to take some time to put your feet up if you’ve been standing awhile. Similarly, if you’ve been sitting for a long time, take a brisk walk to encourage circulation. Either way, you’ll be giving your body a needed boost.
- Pick a side: Are you traditionally a back sleeper? Try sleeping on your side. By doing so, your kidneys will be better at eliminating waste, and ultimately, reducing swelling.
- Go for comfort: You can still be fashionable and wear comfortable shoes. Temporarily retire your favorite heels. Choose cute flats for during the day, and cozy slippers for when you arrive home.
- Exercise your rights: It’s important to keep an exercise routine, even when you’re pregnant. Walking or swimming are great ways to keep your ankles from swelling during pregnancy.
- Wash your cares away: Drinking plenty of fluids actually helps you retain less water. If your bladder can handle it, try to drink up to ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day. By doing so, you’ll be flushing waste out of your system.
- Shake that salt: Believe it or not, adding salt (in moderation) can actually limit swelling.
- Find support: Support hose can help relieve swollen feet during pregnancy. In fact, there are a lot of great styles out there - from sheer pantyhose to tights.
RECOMMENDED SOLIDEA SOLUTIONS:
Support pantyhose with graduated compression, such as the styles sold by Solidea, can help prevent swollen ankles during pregnancy. Also look for maternity support products, like specially designed pillows, to encourage sleeping on one side. Our pregnancy comforts, like relaxing foot socks and massage treatments, also provide extra pampering.
