So it seems like my feet want to swell if I want for more than 30 seconds. I've been propping them up under my desk at work, and they're still swollen. (Blood pressure has been fine at all check-ups.)
Question is: should I avoid walking around too much during lunch break? There are lots of nice places to walk to where I work. I also hear exercise is good for swelling. I'd go to the gym, but I don't think these babies will fit in my sneakers. I do have crocs. Elliptical? Will it make it worse?
eggplant / 11716 posts
The exercise thing is the only trick I found to reduce swelling. One night (after flying) my feet were SO HUGE it literally hurt to stuff them into my work out shoes. But I did and uncomfortably tottered to the gym in them and did the elliptical for 30 minutes. I really made sure to sweat.
My feet were magically MUCH less puffy immediately after and the next day, even less puffy.
Before I tried the working out thing, I tried elevation (but same as you, as soon as I put them down, they swelled right back up), drinking even MORE water (100 oz a day). None of that worked.
pear / 1650 posts
@Anagram: you just convinced me to head to the gym during break!! I hope my feet fit in my sneakers. I wonder if flip flops are safe for elliptical???
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@MrsLilybugg: Nothing worked for me except rest and elevation, and all that did was to slightly reduce the swelling. My swelling didn't completely go away until a week or so after I had LO.
pear / 1650 posts
@MsLipGloss: I"m glad that there's at least hope for my feet after LO is born!
honeydew / 7091 posts
Nothing worked for me, although I never tried exercising...
I just lived with it for the last month 
I have to remember the exercise thing for next time!
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@MrsLilybugg: Fo sho! Now if only there was hope for my *swollen* body . . . hahahaha! #PaleoMakeMeSkinnyGoGo!
coconut / 8279 posts
@MrsLilybugg: walking actually helped for me, too.. though it was minimal (I had crazy high blood pressure at the end and my Dr. didn't want me to move at all). standing or sitting in one place made my feet swell like crazy, if I moved around or were to lay down with them elevated (above the heart) helped.
coconut / 8305 posts
Bananas are good for swelling!!! And any kind of *brisk* walking. bc it'll boost circulation! For me as long as I ate 2 bananas a day my swelling was pretty manageable! 
grapefruit / 4213 posts
It hurts to walk while my feet are swollen but it does make them feel better afterwards. Although I tend to put my feet up after a walk so it could be the combination that works for me.
pineapple / 12526 posts
Nothing worked for me either. I was super swollen and it would just get progressively worse throughout the day no matter what I tried.
pear / 1650 posts
THanks ladies! I'm going to give the elliptical a try and report back with results!!! I'll be the nerd with the crocs and mini fan around my neck. lol
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
I walk two miles a day and I've had minimal swelling... Only in my ankles and fingers at times. I definitely thinking the walking has kept my swelling down.
ETA - I am 38 weeks and have been walking since my MS subsided at about 15 weeks. Also, I do drink a lot of water.
coconut / 8861 posts
Crocs, water, bananas helped me. I loved and still love my Crocs. Best pregnancy shoes ever!
eggplant / 11716 posts
@MrsLilybugg: haha..I totally want to see that--the crocs and mini fan. We have a gym in our apartment building and I've been too embarassed to go there with my big maternity support belt on. I don't like it under my clothes because it's irritating, but I got the white one, so it just looks crazy over my clothes.
I need to follow your lead and wear it anyway----looks be damned!!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@MrsLilybugg: @Anagram: I tried the exercising advice after I flew and my feet got crazy swollen-- it wasn't much, just a brisk, extra long walk with my dog, but I managed to put my sneakers on and get a teeny sweat. My sciatic nerve was also killing me so I couldn't do much, but it did seem to help a little.
Before pregnancy, I never realized how uncomfortable the swollen feet are! I thought it was just an ugly thing, I had no idea that it's physically painful too. Remember to drinks lots while you are working out, especially coconut water or gatorade or similar.
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Foodnerd81: yup, I was shocked that swollen feet hurt, too! And I kept telling my husband, but he totally didn't get it.
I remembered one other thing.....getting in a pool and getting whole body to your neck submerged in water. I read that somewhere online and did that on our babymoon and that worked too...but I had to spend a LOT of time in the water for it to work.
eggplant / 11716 posts
Oh, and here were mine that week. My DH called these "monster feet". The indentations are from my sandals. It was TERRIBLE...my ankles were total cankles!!
They're pretty normal now though--it's been a come-and-go thing.
honeydew / 7091 posts
@Anagram: Yes, actually painful to touch! I remember thinking that my feet couldn't possibly swell any more or the skin would rip. I guess I was right, because then my toes started swelling!
Having that baby was the only thing to get the swelling to go away!
pear / 1650 posts
@Anagram: wear your belt proudly, mama!
@cascademom: I agree- I LOVE CROCS! I got these @Foodnerd81: ouch - i hope I don't get sciatic pain next. Of course now that I said that... lol
@Anagram: @swurlygurl: ouchies!
pear / 1650 posts
OK here's my update:
the elliptical didn't make them WORSE. And it felt good to actually exercise. I propped my feet up and elevated for about 5 minutes after. They looked the same post-workout. Am at my desk and looking at my ankles, they seem to be doing better than they looked at this time yesterday. Hmmm!!!
pear / 1650 posts
@Mrsbells: it's so so strange to me that walking helps for so many but it makes my feet swell up instantaneously! maybe the impact affects me?? Definitely drinking water, and I just got some VitaWater - my OB suggested that
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