Relieve severe swelling of the legs during pregnancy. What should a pregnant woman do if her legs swell

According to statistics, 7 out of 10 women complain of swelling during pregnancy. Often, swelling is accompanied by heaviness and redness of the skin caused by eclampsia or preeclampsia. This is the name of a sharp increase in pressure during late toxicosis due to excess fluid retained in the body. If such swelling occurs, it is indicated to immediately consult a doctor.

Most often, severe swelling of the feet occurs at the end of the day and after physical activity. Edema of the legs during pregnancy is formed in the area calf muscle, thighs and lower legs. Edema mostly appears in the heat for no particular reason. When pressed, dents appear that do not disappear within 3-5 seconds.

Be careful if swelling occurs in late pregnancy. main reason appearance - a dangerous increase in pressure, as a result, the fetus ceases to receive nutrients due to decreased blood flow to the placenta. Contact your doctor for treatment.

This condition causes temporary oxygen starvation, can lead to fetal death, monitor the condition female body especially in late pregnancy.

The main causes of swelling of the legs

The main causes of leg swelling are:

  1. High blood pressure - dangerous reason edema experienced by pregnant women.
  2. Reducing the lumen of the pelvic veins of the expectant mother due to the constant growth of the fetus.

In addition to the listed causes dangerous for the fetus, edema appears due to:

  • Hypertension that appeared long before pregnancy;
  • Overweight before pregnancy;
  • Chronic kidney disease, bladder.

Removal of edema at home

If swelling occurs during pregnancy, follow these simple recommendations:

Prevention of edema

To prevent the effects of leg swelling (pain and hypersensitivity), prevention is indicated.

The main measure to prevent swelling - proper nutrition, the habit of drinking plenty of water. Excess weight causes serious difficulties during pregnancy. Limit your intake of salt, smoked meats, spices, sweets and fatty foods. Such a diet helps in the functioning of the renal system. Don't forget to have enough mineral water. Excess fluid will begin to be excreted from the body. Include more fluid-promoting foods in your diet, such as citrus fruits, herbs, and garlic.

Forget about fast food and convenience foods in excess harmful substances. Replace snacks with citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes, melons, strawberries, and cabbage varieties. Eat nuts vegetable oil with vitamin E.

Smoking is a serious hazard. The habit negatively affects the health of the unborn child, provokes serious swelling of the legs.

Alternative medicine against edema

Helps with swelling Alternative medicine. On the advice or consent of a doctor, try herbal decoctions, compresses from cabbage leaves.

External and internal edema

Sometimes it is difficult to understand whether puffiness is present or not. If in doubt:

  1. Look at a wedding or other ring. If the jewelry is difficult to remove or the ring is tight, there is swelling.
  2. Pay attention to weight. At normal a woman gains no more than 300 g every week.

The presence of these signs in the first place signals a violation in the removal of fluid from the body. Hidden puffiness is also known - it appears in the late afternoon, mainly on the legs, it happens on the hands, stomach, face and lips.

Diagnosis of swelling of the legs

To detect swelling in the body, use several methods:

  1. Note the weight gain. If more than 300 g is added per week, the weight becomes the reason for the examination.
  2. Count the amount of fluid you drink per day, compare with the amount of urine for the same period. With the normal functioning of the body, the output of water is ¾ of the total amount drunk. If the amount is much less, the fluid is retained in the soft tissues.
  3. Try taking measurements of your right and left legs in several places over a number of days. If the legs are very different, the measurement indicates the presence of puffiness.

The most dangerous swelling in late pregnancy.

What is dangerous swelling of the legs

Many do not see a reason for concern when edema appears over time, if there is no protein in the urine, blood pressure is normal. In this case, there is no need for emergency treatment or prevention.

With swelling of the feet or other parts of the legs on recent weeks pregnancy, get tested to identify the cause. Dangerous for the life of the child and mother is the swelling of the placenta and fetal tissues.

Comfort and rest are important for prevention

Theraline pillow is considered an ideal assistant in preventing puffiness. It helps keep the legs slightly elevated. With the help of a pillow, a pregnant woman will always be in a comfortable comfortable position, thanks to the filler made of hypoallergenic material, she is absolutely safe. Application is necessary for swelling of the legs in late pregnancy!

Most pregnant women are prone to edema. But before proceeding with treatment, it is necessary to find out what is the cause of constant swelling. Why pregnant women have swollen legs and how to deal with this problem, we will tell in this article.

Why do pregnant women have swollen legs?

Most often, puffiness is associated with increased water needs. Gradually increasing volume amniotic fluid need more blood. changed hormonal background, often provokes intense thirst. As a result, a woman breaks her head, deciding how to get rid of swelling in her legs during pregnancy. As a rule, the body itself retains water, storing it for future use. This is the normal state. But there are other reasons for which it is necessary to undergo an examination:

  • edema can be caused varicose veins veins. The uterus grows, putting pressure on large vessels. Therefore, the outflow of blood from the legs is significantly disturbed. Overflow of blood in the veins in the legs leads to severe swelling of the feet;
  • kidney disease also leads to edema. In this case, swelling of the legs can occur at any time. Throughout pregnancy, the kidneys continue to work in an enhanced mode and do not always cope with the task;
  • severe swelling of the legs during pregnancy in the later stages can serve as signs of preeclampsia. Usually, swelling is accompanied by the presence of protein in the urine and high blood pressure;
  • sometimes, during pregnancy, the right or left leg. This happens if the uterus compresses the iliac vein more on the right or left side, causing blood to stagnate in the corresponding leg. You should lie more on the opposite side and the swelling will become uniform.

How to remove swelling on the legs during pregnancy?

The question of how to get rid of swelling in the legs during pregnancy should definitely be asked to your gynecologist. Only he can determine whether puffiness is the norm or pathology. If a woman is not subject chronic diseases, you can significantly reduce discomfort by using standard recommendations that are useful for any pregnant woman. So, what should be done during pregnancy so that the legs do not swell so much.

Edema during late pregnancy is a common occurrence. Last months gestation is considered the most difficult for a woman: body weight increases, a growing baby requires space in the abdomen, so there may be compression of some nerves and blood vessels, as well as the intestines.

By itself, the pastosity of the limbs does not pose a threat, but then why are doctors so afraid of its appearance and carefully monitor the condition of the pregnant woman? The fact is that edema can be one of the signs - late toxicosis, which threatens the life of both the mother and the child.

Edema on the face

The less time left before the birth of the baby, the more often women experience swelling of the face, especially in the morning. Initially, swelling of the eyelids appears, in more severe cases, the contour of the face changes.

Often, expectant mothers complain about it for no apparent reason. This is due to the fact that the fluid is retained in the tissues, the vessels of the turbinates expand, which makes it difficult for air to pass through.

For a mother, this condition is practically harmless, but it is better to seek treatment from a doctor, as this can cause disturbances in the supply of oxygen to the child, which negatively affects its development.

Swelling of the legs

First of all, they arise. Particularly pronounced pastosity occurs in evening time, since the fluid accumulates in the body and, under the influence of gravity, descends into the lower limbs.

When in a horizontal position, the water is again evenly distributed throughout the body, so in the morning a woman wakes up without strong signs pastiness. If this happens, then there is no reason for concern - this is a normal condition for the expectant mother.

When swelling of the legs is constantly present during late pregnancy, this may indicate a violation in the work of the whole organism. In this case, a mandatory consultation with a therapist is required.

With an intensive increase in swelling, if the legs, arms, back, stomach and face swell during late pregnancy, the woman needs urgent hospitalization, as this is one of the first symptoms of preeclampsia.

Edema of the fingers

Women are especially concerned about swelling of the hands and fingers during late pregnancy. . There is a slight tingling and numbness, it becomes difficult to squeeze the palm tightly, and the rings cannot be removed - they stick into the fingers.

If only the hands are swollen, while pastosity is not determined anywhere else, then this may be individual feature or the imprint of the profession. During monotonous work at the computer, while embroidering or knitting, the brushes are in a sedentary state, which causes them to swell.

If the legs swell first, then the arms, and the woman notices that the edema rises higher and higher during pregnancy in the later stages, this must be immediately reported to the gynecologist.

Hidden swelling

While carrying a child, the doctor constantly monitors weight gain, not only to track how many extra pounds the pregnant woman has gained. A sharp jump in body weight may indicate the accumulation of water in the internal organs.

The greatest danger is borne by latent edema during pregnancy, which appears in the later stages: a woman may not even suspect that she has accumulated excess fluid.

You can identify hidden puffiness yourself. To do this, it is necessary to compare the amount of fluid consumed and excreted. If less than 75% of the water drunk is excreted, this indicates that it accumulates in the tissues.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

If swelling appears on the legs, you must inform your gynecologist at scheduled inspection. If you notice that the swelling is getting worse and worse, you should immediately visit a doctor. During pregnancy, excessive vigilance is only beneficial for both the mother and the baby.

Which doctor should I contact?

With the accumulation of fluid in the tissues of pregnant women, an examination by a therapist is required. If he cannot independently identify the cause of such a condition, then the doctor prescribes consultations with narrow specialists (phlebologist, endocrinologist, urologist).

Survey

External swelling of the extremities in late pregnancy is quite simple to determine, moreover, they are less dangerous than hidden ones. Pastosity of soft tissues is determined by pressure on the skin - if an indentation remains, which persists for some time, this indicates the accumulation of fluid.

If latent edema is suspected, an analysis of the protein content in the urine is mandatory, as well as monitoring blood pressure, daily diuresis is controlled.

Treatment

Before you try to relieve swelling in late pregnancy on your own, you need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of this condition.

Medical

Drug therapy can only be prescribed by a doctor according to indications.

To reduce swelling of the extremities, the following drugs are usually recommended:

  • Kanefron. Medicine, consisting of phytocomponents - extract of rosemary and lovage. It has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antiseptic effects.
  • Eufillin. Has a diuretic effect. It is unacceptable to use for heart disease and low blood pressure.
  • Phytolysin. Phytopreparation that allows you to cope with mild edema.
  • Lipoic acid and vitamin E. This complex improves the condition of a pregnant woman, restores violations placental blood flow, prevents the occurrence of hidden edema.

ethnoscience

To eliminate edema that occurs during late pregnancy, you can not only follow a salt-free diet, but also do relaxing foot baths, after which you should position yourself so that your legs are elevated. Foot massage with ice cubes will help to alleviate the condition. Diuretic decoctions (bearberry, field horsetail, kidney collection), cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks are effective.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of edema during late pregnancy, you must follow simple rules:

  • to live an active lifestyle;
  • eat right and limit salt intake;
  • drink enough water;
  • alternate periods of activity and rest;
  • avoid overheating.

Swelling of the arms and legs during the period of bearing a child causes considerable discomfort. During the occurrence of edema during pregnancy in the later stages, a visit to the doctor should not be postponed, as they timely treatment will prevent the development of gestosis.

Useful video about swelling during pregnancy

Answers

The fact that during the period of bearing a child, legs, arms, face can swell, many newly-made pregnant women know. And it seems to be considered normal, because this happens often. But why then do doctors watch so diligently and certainly pay attention to whether their ward is edematous? Can "pregnant" edema be something dangerous?

Puffiness is a condition when excess fluid collects in the tissues. We notice this in the form of swelling, which primarily appears on the face and legs, but also during pregnancy, the arms, abdomen, and lower back may swell.

In fact, swelling during pregnancy is a common phenomenon and has its own explanations. Firstly, the body's needs for fluid are constantly increasing, so the farther, the more woman want to drink. A significant part of the weight gained during pregnancy is just liquid. Secondly, sodium accumulates in the woman's body - in the vessels and in all tissues except bone. And sodium, as you know, attracts to itself and, thus, retains water in the body. This is how edema appears.

Swollen nose during pregnancy

First of all, fluid retention in the tissues manifests itself on the face of a woman: it is rounded, the eyelids swell and visually the eyes become narrower and smaller. Often, with swelling on the face, renal edema begins, requiring treatment, which is a little lower.

Among other things, the nose swells. But it is not at all excluded that such a symptom has a different nature. Problems with nasal breathing are a fairly common phenomenon among pregnant women. Often we are talking about the "runny nose of pregnant women", which is caused by hormonal changes. At the same time, the nasal mucosa swells, breathing through the nose becomes difficult, itching and dryness in the nose appear - the woman experiences severe discomfort.

Rhinitis of pregnancy can manifest itself in different time days (for example, only in the evening and at night or throughout the day), on different terms and in some cases accompany the entire pregnancy. But after childbirth, this unpleasant companion will disappear. Now the main thing is to find an effective safe remedy from runny nose and stuffy nose. By itself, the runny nose of pregnant women is not dangerous, but it can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus, which is very undesirable.

Swelling of the nose during pregnancy may well be an allergic manifestation. Analyze all your recent activities and assess the likelihood that you may need to find an allergen source (new washing powder, flowering plants, etc.)

Sometimes swelling of the nose and lips manifests itself from the first weeks of pregnancy as the most early sign, although much more often such nasal swelling occurs already in the last weeks of pregnancy. In general, everything is quite individual: many expectant mothers do not experience anything like this at all.

Hands and fingers swell during pregnancy

Hands and fingers swell more often during pregnancy. The woman feels tingling in the fingers, burning in the wrists, numbness of the hands. a clear sign puffiness can be considered swelling of the fingers to the point that it becomes impossible to remove the ring. Another way to check for swelling is to press your finger on the skin of your hand: if there is a dent left, then you can talk about swelling.

The formation of swelling of the hands during pregnancy is more prone to women who work a lot with a computer mouse and keyboard or do other things that require repeated repetition of the same actions, for example, knitting or modeling. In this case, the so-called tunnel syndrome develops: the fluid accumulating in the wrist puts pressure on the nerve passing here, which causes pain.

Gymnastics for the hands and more rest will not interfere with you at all.

If the swelling of the hands and fingers during pregnancy is combined with other swelling - back, sacrum, lower abdomen - then you should notify your doctor about this.

swollen legs during pregnancy

However, most often the legs swell during pregnancy. They visibly swell old shoes becomes incredibly difficult, especially if you have walked a lot before and took off your shoes. The first sign of swelling of the legs may be a mark on the ankle from the gum of the socks.

In most cases, swelling of the legs during pregnancy appears in the third trimester and is not dangerous. Swelling of the legs varying degrees almost every pregnant woman is going through, so you should not worry too much about this. But they can also be one of the signs late toxicosis- a condition that is definitely dangerous for both the child and the woman. Therefore, this fact should not be left without attention either, and in no case. Talk to your doctor about how to prevent and treat swollen feet - it's really easy to do at home.

If by morning the swelling of the legs does not go away, and the hands, face, stomach and lower back swell along with the legs, then a visit to the doctor should be made immediately.

Edema during pregnancy: folk remedies

Usually, if the cause of edema in a pregnant woman is eliminated, they disappear on their own within a few days. To do this, it is necessary to significantly reduce the consumption of table salt, not overwork, ensure normal rest and exclude exposure to the sun.

It is a mistake to think that you need to drink as little as possible. Today, doctors no longer advise pregnant women to reduce fluid intake in case of swelling. After all, now it’s impossible to live without liquid, it is simply necessary for normal development pregnancy, moreover, a sharp reduction in its quantity will lead to the opposite effect: the body will begin to accumulate water in reserve. So you still have to drink enough - at least one and a half liters, excluding soups and fruits. Best to drink clean water, it is possible with the addition of lemon, cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks are also very useful (they have a diuretic effect). Now give up coffee.

Eliminate all provoking factors. Eat less salty food (first of all, eliminate sauerkraut, pickles, herring, black bread, salted nuts, olives), spices, carbonated drinks, foods containing a large amount of sodium (tomatoes, seeds, nuts), give up fried, smoked. Instead, increase the amount of protein in your diet. Once a week, you can spend a fasting day on apples and juice.

Do not walk in the heat, do not overwork, do not sit for a long time in one position, do physical education (if there are no contraindications, of course). Great importance It has good rest and walks on fresh air. Keep your feet elevated while you sleep. To alleviate the condition will help the adoption of the knee-elbow position for 5-10 minutes.

IN folk medicine There are many different recipes for dealing with edema:

  • Diuretic herbs help well - bear ears, bearberry or lingonberry leaf, horsetail, cherry stalks, hawthorn flowers and berries, kidney fees - no more than one glass of decoction or infusion per day and no more than 1 month.
  • A decoction of dried apricots: pour boiling water over dried apricots and leave overnight, and in the morning drink this compote 30-40 minutes before meals.

There are many others folk recipes against puffiness. Just do not resort to the treatment of edema with medical preparations, for example, diuretic tablets. However, any action should be coordinated with a doctor, and phytotherapy is no exception.

Cool foot baths also help: the water should not be icy, but not warm either. Hold your feet in the bath for 10-15 minutes, then lie on your left side and rest a little, lifting your legs above the level of your heart. Try not to lie on your back at all. If there is someone to give you a foot massage, then generally wonderful! After the procedures done, the swelling should go away.

In this case, we are talking about physiological, that is, “normal” edema for pregnant women, which affects approximately 75-80% of expectant mothers. They do not pose a threat to the fetus, although such manifestations should be eliminated. But swelling during pregnancy is not always so harmless. If time does not pay attention to them and do not take necessary measures then the problems will start.

Edema with gestosis

In general, edema during pregnancy is one of the three most bright symptoms(late toxicosis). Therefore, most often they appear in the third trimester. The more you run puffiness, the greater the risks will await you and the unborn baby.

There are 4 degrees of preeclampsia, in which puffiness manifests itself in different ways:

  • I - dropsy of pregnant women. In addition to edema, there is a general weight gain, weakness, fatigue.
  • II - nephropathy of pregnant women. In addition to edema, protein in the urine or increased blood pressure may also appear. If all three symptoms are noted at the same time, the condition is considered as threatening for the woman.
  • III - preeclampsia. In this case, changes in the fundus and brain adjoin nephropathy.
  • IV - eclampsia. Convulsions begin - the condition itself is extremely dangerous for both the woman and the child.

However, this is not all. In addition to gestational edema, cardiac and renal edema can also develop during pregnancy, which often appear earlier than in the third trimester.

Cardiac edema can occur if a woman has heart problems. Moreover, they are always located below: from the waist and below. On physical examination, the liver is found to be enlarged. And before the appearance of edema, a woman has shortness of breath and an increased heartbeat, her lips may turn blue.

Unlike cardiac, renal edema begins with the face, bags under the eyes are characteristic, and later hands and feet may swell. The reason is the kidney disease of a woman in the past or developed now, against the background of pregnancy, which must be treated.

When is edema a threat?

If you are dealing with physiological edema that disappears after the elimination of the provoking factor, as we wrote about above, there is no reason to worry. But as soon as you notice that the edema does not go away on its own (you wake up edematous in the morning), and also that, in addition to the legs, the arms, legs, hips, abdomen, lower back also swell, then immediately tell your gynecologist about this.

Rapid weight gain (more than 20 kg in total or more than 300 g per week) is also a serious cause for concern, so you need to weigh yourself regularly.

The degree of swelling at home can be checked as follows: press your finger in the shin area, where the bone is covered only by skin (without muscles) - in front of the bottom of the leg. If the skin immediately returns to its place, everything is in order. If a dent remains there for a while, swelling is evident, or rather on the leg.

On an outpatient basis, you can do necessary tests or do a McClure-Aldrich puffiness test.

What is the danger of swelling during pregnancy?

In most cases, it is physiological swelling that is observed in pregnant women. It does not pose a threat, in fact, like dropsy of pregnant women. But such manifestations should not be left without attention.

If there is a problem, that is, we are talking about the second and further degree of preeclampsia, then it must be solved. Even if at the same time the pregnant woman feels normal, swelling, along with other symptoms, is alarm signal. Ignoring threatens you with a violation of communication in the "mother - placenta - fetus" system. This primarily promises oxygen starvation of the child with all the ensuing consequences. In the event of serious complications, it may even be necessary to terminate the pregnancy.

Treatment of edema during pregnancy

Treatment of edema during pregnancy, as a rule, begins with the above recommendations, mainly with the normalization of sleep and rest and diet. The attending physician will certainly monitor weight gain, and will also recommend that you monitor the amount of fluid consumed and excreted by the body.

Much will depend on the results of the analysis. If protein is found in the urine, especially against the background of high blood pressure and shortness of breath, then the woman will be offered inpatient treatment. It is aimed at eliminating the cause of the formation of edema, improving the functioning of the kidneys and heart, and uteroplacental blood flow. Vitamin preparations are usually prescribed - magnesium, vitamin E, lipoic acid.

Drug treatment of edema during pregnancy is required only when they are accompanied by a violation of the functions of important organs (liver, kidneys, heart), since diuretics during pregnancy can only be used in extreme cases due to a large number contraindications and side effects, as well as possible toxic effects on the fetus.

In each individual case, the appointments will be different, so the treatment of edema during pregnancy can and should be prescribed only by a specialist and only based on the results of a complete examination! Do not worry about appointments, because during treatment they are necessarily compared potential risk and likely benefits.

Be healthy!

Especially for- Elena Kichak

From Guest

I had terrible edema from 6 months of pregnancy. All arms, legs, stomach, face swelled. Gained 2-3kg in 1-2 weeks. The doctor answered only one thing "eat and drink less." Even though I ate and drank so little. My legs hurt terribly, I went to bed and woke up with pain. Walking was hard and painful. I read a lot of information about edema, I came across interesting article about the benefits of lemons. I started drinking water with lemon. I completely refused plain water, I drink it only with the addition of lemon. After a while, the swelling went away, the legs do not hurt. I advise everyone.

From Guest

I also used Venolgon 911 gel, after work, when I simply didn’t feel my legs, I took a contrast shower and smeared it with this gel, such a pleasant chill goes down my legs. Puffiness and fatigue disappear very quickly.

From Guest

I’ve been saving myself from edema for more than a year now with the venolgon 911 pharmacy balm, it relieves puffiness in 25 minutes, improves blood circulation, I feel light in my legs, I used to take baths, they helped, but usually in such situations there is no time, and the gel quickly applied, rested a little and legs came in order. And during pregnancy she smeared them in the last months.

Edema - common occurrence during the period of bearing children. The fluid is retained in all tissues, but most intensively in the connective and adipose tissue. Future mom notices that her lower limbs swell in the third trimester. What threatens her and how to save herself?

How edema appears

Water in the body of a pregnant woman begins to linger gradually. This usually does not happen in the first trimester. Puffiness is more characteristic late dates. The legs become loose, the skin loses its elasticity. Pressing on the skin of the lower leg leaves a hole, it does not fill immediately - this is a symptom of swelling of the legs.

During the entire pregnancy, a woman normally gains up to 12 kg of weight. Of these, 4-5 account for an increase in the volume of fluid - amniotic and the one that is localized in the tissues. If a woman is prone to edema, she has diseased kidneys, she consumes a lot of salt, she has sharply added excess weight, then a lot of fluid is retained in the tissues.

Sodium in the blood attracts water. And even if from time to time a woman pampers herself with salt, she develops physiological edema. They are characteristic of 80% healthy women. But pathological swelling is already the so-called dropsy of pregnant women. Doctors also call it the initial form of preeclampsia, which is accompanied by the appearance of protein in the urine, an increase, intrauterine suffering of the fetus.

Swelling of the legs: how to avoid

First of all, a woman should pay attention to her diet, in particular, the use of table salt and fluids. At normal course pregnancy per day, a pregnant woman should drink one and a half to two liters of liquid, taking into account first courses, fruits, juices, and other drinks. In the absence, when the consumption and release of water is balanced, nothing needs to be changed.

If the edema does not disappear overnight, the woman has an uneven weight gain, then it is strongly recommended to reduce the daily fluid intake to one liter. You can’t drink less, because water is the basis of metabolism.

However, an attempt to reduce swelling solely by reducing fluid intake is doomed to failure if salt intake is not reduced. Be sure to exclude salted nuts, cucumbers, herring, sauerkraut, black bread from the diet. The food must not be salted. And do not be afraid that sodium will not enter the body at all. This substance is found in many foods, vegetables, so the body will not feel its deficiency.

Moderately pronounced dropsy, and in particular swelling of the legs, is eliminated exclusively with the help of a diet. But when within 3-5 days there is no result of such a correction, then it is necessary to resort to the help of diuretics. It should be noted that physicians last years they are not often prescribed because the sodium excreted in the urine can reduce the volume of circulating blood, which will lead to an increase in blood pressure. If we are talking about a severe form of dropsy and gestosis, then obstetrician-gynecologists still prescribe such drugs, but under supervision. In this case, the woman is hospitalized and the treatment process is strictly controlled.

It is worth noting that in addition to the usual edema during pregnancy, cardiac edema can also be observed. For example, with heart disease, they are a consequence of heart failure. By the way, cardiac edema manifests itself precisely on the lower extremities: hands, face, stomach do not swell.

Doctors determine the cause of edema by the size of the liver. With cardiac, this organ first increases, then symptoms of swelling are observed. With dropsy, the size of the liver remains normal. And in case of heart failure, swelling is preceded by shortness of breath, palpitations, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, which are absent in preeclampsia.

If the legs of a pregnant woman swell due to kidney problems, then specialized treatment of the underlying disease is necessary. It is prescribed by a therapist or nephrologist. In this case, therapy is carried out in a hospital setting.

So, with swelling of the legs, a woman should, first of all, contact the attending gynecologist. Only he will be able to accurately determine the cause of the pathology and give competent recommendations, prescribe treatment.