Pregnancy edema is a very common situation. Many women will have edema during pregnancy, and their hands and feet will start to swell. Then how can the later edema of pregnant women be relieved? Let's learn about it.
What is the cause of the hand swelling of pregnant women
1. Increased blood volume of pregnant women
Because after pregnancy, the blood volume of pregnant women will continue to increase with the increase of gestational weeks, reaching the peak at 32-34 weeks, about 35% more than before pregnancy, with an average increase of 1500 ml. Because of the change of vascular permeability and the increase of circulating blood volume, the blood volume discharged from the heart will increase.
2. Increased venous pressure of lower extremity
Because after pregnancy, a large amount of blood will flow from the 'living' uterus of the fetus to the inferior vena cava, which will cause the pressure of inferior vena cava to rise. In addition, after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus will compress the pelvic vein and inferior vena cava, which will block the venous blood flow, so the venous pressure of the lower extremity will further increase.
3. other
In addition, there are many reasons for edema. Endocrine function changes, such as hormones secreted by the placenta and increased aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands, resulting in sodium and water retention in the body, accumulation of water in the body, and a corresponding decrease in urine volume. * this is also the cause of edema.
How to relieve the edema during pregnancy
1. Have a good rest
Expectant mothers with edema during pregnancy should ensure sufficient rest and sleep time, avoid over tension and tiredness, and avoid standing or walking for a long time. Mild swelling should be relieved by a short rest in the daytime, and the lower limbs should be raised properly. It is suggested to take left lying position during rest, which can effectively improve blood supply of placenta and reduce edema. You can raise your feet when you are resting, or you can put a bench under your feet when you are sitting. Local massage can also help reduce swelling.
2. Pay attention to diet
Every day to ensure the intake of animal food and legume food, which is rich in high-quality protein. Especially for the pregnant women with anemia, the iron supplement should be guaranteed, because anemia and malnutrition are one of the causes of pathological edema. We should also add more vitamins and microelements, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition, pregnancy edema is not caused by drinking too much water, but by uterine pressure or intake of too much salt, resulting in water retention in the body. Therefore, mothers to be still need to drink a proper amount of water.
3. Keep warm
Edema is the accumulation of water. In order to eliminate edema, we must ensure the smooth blood circulation and breath. In order to achieve these two points, we should pay attention to keeping warm in addition to reassuring and nourishing.
4. Stick to sports
Expectant mothers usually insist on doing some simple exercises, such as walking. Walking can adjust the muscles of the lower leg and change the phenomenon of vein compression. You can also do some health exercises for pregnant women.
5. More massage
Massage has a good effect on promoting blood circulation, but also can effectively prevent edema. The technique for massage is to gradually move up from the feet to the calves, thus helping the blood return to the heart. Before going to bed, it can relieve leg soreness, which is helpful for sleep, and massage is also a good choice when bathing.