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Pregnancy is a magical moment in your life. With every passing day, you see your baby bump growing and the eagerness to hold your little one in your arms also grows. However alongside this happiness to meet your cuddling little one. You might undergo several changes in your body and mind due to your soaring pregnancy hormones. You might have a queasy feeling, tiredness, you feel like visiting the bathroom quite often, etc. Amongst these swelling of your feet (edema) is also common during pregnancy.
Let’s understand why your feet swell during pregnancy and what are the home remedies to treat the condition.
Why Do Your Feet Swell During Pregnancy?
Here are some of the reasons why your feet swell during pregnancy:
- The soaring pregnancy hormones in the first trimester
- The increasing volume of blood and fluids in your body in the second and third trimester
- contributes to the swelling of your feet during your pregnancy
- Additionally, as your baby bump grows, the pressure on the uterus and bladder increases. This further slows down blood flow from the legs to the heart.
Besides, there are other reasons too:
- Dietary imbalances
- Excessive Caffeine intake
- Not drinking enough water are the contributing factors behind the pregnancy swollen feet and ankles
Home Remedies To Get Relief From Swollen Feet In Pregnancy
We understand that pregnancy swollen feet may really be bothersome for you, but you can definitely try out these easy home remedies.
Eat Potassium-Rich Foods
Since potassium helps in balancing your body fluids, not having enough potassium might worsen the swollen feet and ankles. Therefore, while you keep a nutritious balance in your diet during your pregnancy, including.
- potassium-rich potatoes
- bananas
- spinach
- beans
- some fruit juices like prunes, yoghurt, beets, etc. in your pregnancy platter are necessary.
Reduce the Caffeine Intake
Excessive caffeine intake during your pregnancy is not safe. In fact, consuming caffeine-rich Tea, coffee or aerated drinks may increase your tendency to visit the bathroom. These are also not good for the developing baby inside you. (The placenta that helps in the baby’s development inside you does not filter the caffeine you have and causes birth defects in the developing baby). Additionally, caffeine intake can make pregnancy swelling worse. Try to have herbal tea or decaf as an healthy alternative for your foot swelling.
Add Magnesium to Your Pregnancy Diet
Magnesium plays an important role in helping your nerves and muscles work during pregnancy. It also helps in keeping your blood pressure normal during your pregnancy. So, keep up with your magnesium intake by having foods like almonds, broccoli, etc. as a treatment for your pregnancy swollen feet.
Add Cabbage Leaves to Your Foot
Simply put some fresh cabbage leaves over your swollen feet and cover that part up with a cotton cloth. You’ll be able to see the swelling reducing magically! After all, cabbage leaves have anti-inflammatory properties in it. Cabbage leaves also have the potential to absorb the extra fluids from your feet.
Have More Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds are rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc. It also has Vitamin C and B complex in it. So, take 2 or 3 tablespoons of coriander seeds. Soak them in water and then boil them. Allow the seeds to simmer till such time that the water decreases in quantity. Having coriander seeds in this way will help prevent the accumulation of fluids at your feet, thus working as a swollen feet pregnancy remedy.
Stay Active
Yes! Staying active is an easy way to treat swollen feet and ankles during pregnancy. So, look for pregnancy-friendly exercises or consult a professional yoga trainer and exercise regularly.
Take a Foot Bath in Saltwater
Choose Epsom salt. Epsom salt is a good source of magnesium sulphate. If you take a foot bath in this saltwater, you get relief from leg pain and swelling during pregnancy.
Include Your Partner
You might sometimes want to include your partner to support you during your pregnancy in every possible way. Since you’re mentally and physically tired during these times, it’s quite natural that you might want your partner to:
- Visit the doctor along with you
- Take the antenatal classes together
- Work on a birth plan together and so on and so forth.
Get a Massage
Moreover, this is best time to get a massage. You can either go to the spa, where you have pregnancy-trained experts to help you out, or ask your partner to gently massage your swollen ankles and feet. Don’t forget to use peppermint or lavender essential oil while you get a foot massage. After all, essential oils can benefit you during your pregnancy in several ways.
Lie On Your Left Side
Lie on your left side so that your uterus does not press on the inferior vena cava, a large blood vessel leading back to your heart. Additionally, lying on your left-hand side can improve your blood flow and reduces the swelling of your feet while you’re pregnant.
Try to Keep Your Feet Elevated
We know that sitting or standing for long hours, while you’re carrying your baby in the womb is difficult. It is not good for blood circulation and can increase the pain and swelling in your leg and feet. So, try to put up your feet whenever possible. Keeping your feet elevated – especially at the end of the day – can help drain the fluid that’s collected in your legs during the day.
Go For a Brisk-walk
Just wear well-fitting shoes and go for at least 5 or 10 minutes of walk to improve your blood circulation and reduce swelling. A morning walk is definitely a good idea, but you can also walk post-lunch or go for an evening walk with your partner.
Stay Hydrated
If your body feels you’re not drinking enough water, it might hold fluid to compensate for it. Therefore drink at least 10 glasses of water in a day. This will keep your kidneys flush out waste products, thus reducing swelling and keeping you hydrated.
Pregnancy swollen feet is a common side effect. Don’t let this mar the joy of your pregnancy journey. Follow the above-mentioned treatment methods. Well, if you feel that the swelling of your feet is severe, you must consult the doctor immediately.
Also, follow our blog page to get some more information on pregnancy and cord blood banking.