Towards the end of pregnancy or especially in the summer months, pregnant women are often plagued by water retention. However, this water retention is hormonally induced – this is where so-called edema occurs. These deposits make the legs feel heavy, the ankles swell, and rings suddenly no longer fit. However, there is no reason to panic, because this water retention is normal and almost every pregnant woman has to deal with it. The body is simply preparing for the upcoming birth and gearing up for the blood loss that occurs during delivery. To compensate for the blood loss, the body takes water from the tissue, thereby stabilizing the circulation.
Preventing water retention during pregnancy
Despite all precautions, water retention can always occur, whether you like it or not. This varies from woman to woman and can also be weather-dependent and hormonally induced. On hotter days, some expectant mothers are more prone to edema than on winter days. Nevertheless, you can do your best to fight water retention; here are a few tips:
Plenty of Fluids
Drink plenty of water, unsweetened tea, or diluted juices (juice spritzers), which means at least 2 liters daily.
Diuretic foods
Eat plenty of diuretic fruits and vegetables, e.g., pineapple and sauerkraut, but eat a varied and healthy diet. Listen to your cravings – these are often a sign of missing nutrients. For example, a craving for strawberries can boost your vitamin levels, while sour herring leaves no chance for protein deficiency.
Put your feet up
Put your feet up as often as possible and avoid standing for long periods; instead, take walks in the fresh air.
Exercise
If nothing else helps, movement is always good. The circulation gets going, the excess fluid can drain and does not remain trapped in the hands and feet.
Swimming
Swimming [Bathe] every now and then extensively. The warm water gets the circulation going and prevents congestion.
Full bath
A nice full bath at approx. 37° Celsius is useful. Pay attention to the correct bath temperature here – you really shouldn't bathe too hot because this increases blood pressure, the heart has to beat faster, and the circulation gets out of control. Add sea salt or another appropriate bath essence to the well-tempered full bath. Your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist will be able to inform you best.
or directly during or after
If it is too hot for a full bath or a bathtub is simply not available, a foot bath with salt water is also a treat. For this, fill a suitable container with lukewarm water and also add sea salt. It will not only do you good but also let the feet swell down.
Alternating Hot and Cold Showers
If the feeling of tension in the legs is too overwhelming, daily alternating showers for the legs followed by a massage is recommended. For this, treat the legs with lukewarm and cold jets in alternation and stroke them from top to bottom with a dry brush massage. If no dry brush is available, a massage glove or a simple stroking massage with massage oil can achieve equally good results.
Avoid stress
Avoid stress and exertion. Treat yourself to sufficient rest; do not strain your body too much.
Support stockings
Also wear support stockings occasionally. These are a good help against edema.
Attention: Rice days for drainage are out and also outdated. Why? Anyone who only eats rice provides themselves and the unborn child with insufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals. Although an improvement seems to occur at first because the edema decreases, the missing nutrients are more worrying. In addition, the body works against the rice day: due to the lack of vitamins, edema is formed again, blood pressure rises, the circulation has to work at full speed to pump the pooled blood back. Anyone who wants to spare themselves should avoid this procedure!!!!
Read also:Â Folic acid during pregnancy
Photo by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
