Pregnancy is one of life’s biggest blessings but it comes with many challenges. It would be best if you prepared yourself mentally and physically to battle all the challenges about to come your way. One of the biggest issues pregnant women have to deal with is joint inflammation and swollen feet.
Swollen ankles, knees, feet, and wrists are common in pregnancy but can cause discomfort. The growing fetus in your uterus has quite a few effects on your body, which you can sometimes control by taking good care. Dive right into the article to know why pregnant women deal with inflammation and how to avoid it!
What Causes Inflammation During Pregnancy?
Most people wonder what causes inflammation during pregnancy and how to avoid it. Usually, women in their third-trimester experience a lot of bloating, swelling, and discomfort. There can be several reasons for inflammation in a pregnant woman’s body.
One of the major reasons is that when a fetus grows, it pushes on your nerves to accommodate itself. The pressure on your nerves can accumulate blood in your joints, causing inflammation and swelling. The swelling can be quite uncomfortable for most women, hindering them from doing daily tasks easily.
One of the major issues you can deal with is feeling pain in your feet and discomfort when standing for too long. A high sodium diet can also cause heartburn, inflammation, and water retention. Hence, it is essential to take a well-balanced diet and avoid salty foods, especially at night.
How to Avoid Inflammation When Pregnant?
Your pregnancy can be quite difficult if you keep your health at stake. Maintaining good habits when pregnant is important to avoid difficulties and make the delivery process smoother. If you deal with a lot of inflammation during pregnancy, here are some effective tips:
1. Make Compression Socks Your Best Friend
Compression socks will be your best friend during pregnancy if you have swollen feet. They help maintain healthy blood flow in your legs, causing the swelling to go down faster. Tight or compression leggings also help provide good blood circulation to your legs.
However, you need to know the difference between acute vs chronic inflammation to avoid it. Sometimes, if the inflammation is severe and due to some health complications, it is essential to consult a doctor. Leggings help a lot in maintaining good blood flow and reducing swelling.
2. Don’t Stand for Too Long
When you are pregnant, your legs are not only carrying your weight but your baby’s weight too. Hence, you can get swollen feet when standing for too long or in one position. Try to sit down after standing for a few minutes to give your legs a break.
When you are standing, you are putting too much pressure on your legs, getting swollen feet. If you are going to stand for too long, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes. You can also lean on a wall for support to distribute weight.
3. Cut Down Sodium Intake
One of the biggest reasons pregnant women experience bloating and inflammation is their sodium intake. Sodium causes water retention making you feel super bloated and uncomfortable throughout your pregnancy.
Hence, it is essential to cut down your salt intake and have a healthy balanced diet. Always try to have a low-sodium diet with lots of veggies and protein. If you crave salty foods, have them in moderation and try to avoid them at night. You will feel a huge difference in your swelling after cutting out salt.
4. Go For a Swim
Swimming is underrated when pregnant; however, it is a great cure for swelling. Most pregnant women feel their best when they are in a pool. The water pressure helps in relieving muscles stress from the legs compressing them moderately.
You can enroll in swimming classes dealing with swelling or inflammation. It will not only help manage inflammation but also keep you active. Ensure warm swimming pool water releases muscle pressure and reduces back aches.
5. Hydration and Cold Compress
When pregnant, taking care of your diet and water intake is important. It is essential to drink at least 2-3 liters of water every day to boost your hydration level. The more hydrated you are, the less water retention you will experience. Swelling happens because of fluid retention causing discomfort; hence, hydration is the key to tackling it.
On the other hand, you can also try cold compress as it helps in reducing swelling. A cold compress helps drop body temperature, effectively reducing pain and swelling. You can use an ice pack as a cold compress twice a day. However, it would be best if you did not do it frequently as you could catch a cold.
Final Verdict
Pregnancy is one of life’s most challenging journeys, requiring much care. Inflammation and swelling are a part of pregnancy; however, you can control them with a few easy tips. Avoid standing too long and prop up your feet while sitting to avoid swelling.
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