The cause of swollen feet during pregnancy is often not something to worry about. But if accompanied by other symptoms, complaints could be swollen feet are caused by a medical condition that needs to be seen by a doctor.
A pregnant woman's body will naturally adjust to support the growth and development of the fetus, and prepare for birth. These changes can cause various complaints, one of which is swelling (edema) in the legs.
What are the causes of swollen feet during pregnancy?
Complaints of swollen feet experienced by many pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy. However, this condition can also occur in pregnant women in the earlier trimester of pregnancy.
Depending on the age of the pregnancy, here are some possible causes of swollen feet that occur in pregnant women:
First Trimester
Early in pregnancy, the hormone progesterone will increase rapidly. This condition results in the appearance of slight swelling in some parts of the body, such as the feet. Swelling due to hormonal changes in pregnancy is a normal thing to happen.
However, if the swollen feet are accompanied by dizziness, headaches, severe pain in the legs, or bleeding in the first trimester, consult a gynecologist immediately. These symptoms may indicate health problems.
Second trimester
The second trimester of pregnancy is the period of time when pregnancy reaches the age of 13-28 weeks. In the second trimester, many pregnant women feel swollen feet when they are 20 weeks pregnant.
The reason is the increased volume of blood and fluid in the body. Increased blood volume and body fluids are the body's mechanism to support fetal growth, as well as preparing joints and pelvic tissue to be more open for labor.
Third trimester
Swollen feet are more common in the third trimester (pregnancies that have entered the age of 28 weeks). Usually, this is realized when shoes that are usually worn feel narrower or even not enough anymore.
In addition to increasing body fluids, the cause of swollen legs during pregnancy in the final trimester is the uterus that continues to grow as the fetus develops. An enlarged uterine condition can compress venous blood vessels in the pelvis.
This pressure slows the return of blood from the legs to the heart, so that blood collects in the leg veins and causes swelling.
Apart from some of the above, swollen feet experienced by pregnant women can also be caused by the following things:
- Stand for too long.
- Exhausted or doing too much activity.
- Excess amniotic fluid.
- Pregnant twins.
- Hot weather.
- Drink less water.
- Consuming less potassium foods.
- Many consume foods that contain high salt or caffeinated drinks.
When should pregnant women be wary of swollen feet?
Swollen feet that appear without other symptoms are likely to be normal during pregnancy. However, swollen feet should be aware of if accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Swelling also appears on other body parts, such as in the hands, face, and around the eyes.
- Dizziness or headache.
- Dizzy eyes.
- Vision loss.
- Stomach ache.
- Hard to breathe.
If pregnant women experience the above symptoms, immediately consult a gynecologist for pregnancy. To evaluate the condition of pregnant women, the doctor will conduct a physical examination and support, such as urine tests, blood tests, and pregnancy ultrasound.
If the results of the examination show that there is an increase in blood or the amount of urine protein that increases in pregnant women, it could be that this indicates the condition of preeclampsia.
In addition, if swelling only occurs in one leg and is accompanied by pain, redness, and pain in the calf and leg, then this condition indicates a blockage of blood vessels in the leg or deep vein thrombosis.
Complaints of swollen feet during pregnancy will usually subside after the baby is born. If you feel disturbed by this complaint, pregnant women can try to deal with swollen feet during pregnancy with light exercise routine, such as relaxing walking or swimming, and not sitting or standing for too long.
To ensure that the swollen feet that a pregnant woman experiences are not caused by a medical condition that requires caution, check with your doctor. In addition, do regular pregnancy checks to the obstetrician to monitor the health condition of pregnant women themselves and fetuses in the womb of pregnant women.
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