There are two types of edema:
- Obvious swelling.
They are immediately noticeable, no additional examination is required for their diagnosis;
- Hidden edema.
Characterized by fluid retention in the body. They are difficult to detect. Usually, hidden swelling associated with a strong and uneven weight gain. Pay attention to what you gain in a week. If it is more than 300 grams, there is cause for concern.
When there is swelling during pregnancy?
If a woman before pregnancy did not suffer from heart, kidney and vessel diseases, the pathological fluid retention in the body appears most often at the end of the second and third trimester of pregnancy. At this time, swelling of the face, abdomen, arms and legs can be observed.
How do you detect swelling in your pregnancy?
As a rule, during the night the accumulated liquid manages to spread evenly throughout the body. Because of this, swelling in the morning is often not so noticeable. During the day, all excess fluid descends to the legs and accumulates in the legs, ankles and feet. The skin in these places acquires a pale shade and strongly strains.
In order to detect swelling, pregnant women need to constantly monitor their weight . To control the appearance of swelling within a week, measure the circumference of the leg. An increase in this parameter by at least 1 centimeter suggests that the legs swell.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the amount of fluid withdrawn . In a healthy person, the volume of fluid withdrawn should be about 34 of the total volume of liquid drunk per day. The remaining 14 part of the liquid is released by breathing and sweat. For example, if a woman drank 1 liter of water per day, then about 750 ml should be excreted in the urine. The number of liquids consumed includes not only drinking, but also soup, and juicy berries and fruits.
The presence of edema in the body can be detected using a "blister" test . For this procedure, physiological saline is used, which is injected into the inner surface area of the forearm. If there is no swelling, the blister that appears is completely gone within an hour.
If during pregnancy swelling of the hands, legs, or other parts of the body, it is still quite dangerous. If the appearance of edema is not accompanied by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine, foreign doctors do not prescribe treatment for such pathological fluid retention. In our country obstetrician-gynecologists believe that the onset of edema requires immediate treatment. The consequence of edema can be dropsy of the pregnant, which is the initial stage of gestosis. In some cases, swelling can provoke the formation of hypertension and protein in the urine.
What to take during pregnancy for the prevention of edema?
In order to avoid the appearance of edema, first, you should limit the use of salt . The allowed norm per day is no more than 8 grams. During pregnancy, it is recommended to exclude from the menu spicy and spicy dishes. Categorically prohibited are various smoked products. Cooking is best for a couple, and fried foods are very harmful.
In addition to control over the diet, it is necessary to strengthen the vascular wall, as well as improve the flow of blood through the vessels. Your doctor can prescribe medications and vitamins to strengthen blood vessels , which prevent the appearance of edema.
With the permission of the doctor, you can take various phyto-teas that have an excellent diuretic effect on the body. For example, it can be medicines in the form of kidney tea, infusions of field cartilage, bear ears and bearberry leaf. Such teas are drunk 50-100 ml several times a day for a month.
What should I do if I have swelling?
If the legs or other parts of the body are still swollen, you should immediately consult a doctor and take a survey.
If swelling appeared in the first trimester of pregnancy in a period of up to 20 weeks, this may indicate a serious illness . Even if there were no manifestations of the disease before the pregnancy. Most likely, a significant restructuring of the body had a strong burden on the diseased organ. In this case, a thorough examination of the heart and kidneys is required.
Pathological fluid retention in the legs can mean varicose veins . Usually the symptoms of this disease are a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs. During a long walk, fatigue is rapidly occurring. When these symptoms appear, avoid moments when there is a need to sit or stand for a long time. Try not to stay long in stuffy and hot places. When at home, rest more often, in a lying position, lift your legs above your head.