Edema
I finally have edema as well. It’s only in my ankles and Laura said not to be concerned unless I notice my face swelling because then it would be a sign of blood pressure issues caused by preclampsia. I feel better about it knowing I have my blood pressure checked once a week. I can push on the skin around my ankles and the indention will actually stay for a few seconds along with the change in coloration. Considering how close I am to delivery and that I made it to full term single pregnancy weight and size before getting edema, I feel very lucky!
Edema is excess fluid that collects in the body’s tissues. It’s normal to have a certain amount of swelling during pregnancy because of increased water retention. Changes in blood chemistry also cause some fluid to shift into tissue. In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on pelvic veins and the vena cava (the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from the lower limbs back to the heart). The pressure slows the return of blood from the legs, causing it to pool, which forces fluid from the veins into the tissues of the feet and ankles. I understand that staying hydrated should help with this as well as keeping my feet up.
Taking a shower has become a complete chore. Standing in one place is difficult because of the weight pressure on my feet. My feet and legs just start to hurt because of it. I wish I had a chair for the shower but at this point I don’t think I’m completely ready to invest in one of those yet. I’m planning to try and vote early at the local grocery store and see if they will let me sit in a chair while in line, otherwise I don’t think I could stand in the 10 minute line.
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