I was trying on my clothes this morning and realized that my legs and feet are painfully swollen. So I weighed myself and saw that I've gained 6 lbs in the past week, which can't be possible because I haven't eaten all that much and have actually started cutting out junk. Isn't 20 weeks kind of early to have that kind of swelling/water retention, or am I wrong?
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It must not be terribly unusual because my doctor started asking about swelling for me at 12 weeks! I haven't actually had any yet, but I doubt she'd ask if it wasn't common.
Have you been eating much salt? I'd probably try to reduce your salt, drink a ton of water, and keep your feet up as much as possible this weekend and see if that helps? My yoga instructor said that laying on the floor with your butt against the wall and your legs up on the wall for 5-10 minutes at a time really helps for swelling in pregnancy. (and I asked my doc about the whole "no laying on your back" thing and she said not to sleep on your back regularly but I can lay on my back for whatever length of time I need to for yoga, I'm just about 26 weeks)
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@spaniellove: It does feel a bit early. How are you feeling otherwise? Have you checked your blood pressure recently?
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@Mae: Not a ton, I've had some crackers but otherwise stuff like fruit and salads...I'll try the legs up on the wall!
@Boogs: Last time I had it checked was a month ago and I forgot what it was but they asked me if my BP was normally high (it's not). But otherwise I don't notice anything out of the ordinary.
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@spaniellove: It does seem early. Do you have a dr's appt soon? I had awful swelling, but it didn't start until around 33/34 weeks and I was pregnant in TX in the summer. I used to go to Walgreens/CVS and take my blood pressure at those machines, so you could do that.
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Have you eaten any salty foods? Last pregnancy I had a week where I flared up after eating some Chinese take out. Lots of water and melon/cucumbers and it all washed out a few days later.
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@spaniellove: Maybe see if you can have your blood pressure taken just to double check it. And it never hurts to email or call your doctor to get their opinion.
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I started swelling badly at 24ish weeks. I was swelling before then, but by then, it was noticeable to everyone.
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Seems early to me...my first I can remember having significant swelling at around 30 weeks (LO was a summer baby). This time I am 30 weeks and haven't noticed any. I'm still able to wear my rings. When is your next appt.? I would get my BP checked in the near future, just in case.
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Oh no
I'm not sure when is early, though my hands started swelling a bit around 24 weeks and have actually gone down in the past few weeks. I started drinking a *lot* of water-128 ounces or so a day, and that has helped me. But if you could get your blood pressure checked soon, that wouldn't be a bad idea.I hope it goes down!
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@MsLipGloss: I think I must have swelled a little bit early on because my wedding ring stopped fitting sometime in first tri, but it was nothing like this. The last few days I've looked like I've been crying in the mornings.
I have an OB appt at the end of next week so I'll make sure they take my BP then and mention the 6 lb in 1 week weight gain to him! Definitely going to be more conscious of salt/water intake till then.
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@spaniellove: I hope it goes down!
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@LovelyPlum: I would feel embarrassed calling...but I'm starting to get uncomfortable around my shoulders and arms from the swelling.
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@spaniellove: I think you should run to the drug store if you can and check your BP just to make sure. Or call and ask. Hope it's nothing and stops or slows down.. sounds uncomfortable!
ETA: got this email from one that I subscribe to a few weeks ago. Here's an excerpt:
"The causes of PE are still unknown, but the hallmarks are clear: both high blood pressure and protein in your urine (this is why you pee in a cup at every OB visit). If protein is present, it's a sign that the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys are leaking and spilling it into your urine (mind you, it's normal to have a small amount of protein in your urine).
The Big Swell
The telltale symptom with pre-e is SwElLiNg -- and lots of it. Swelling can occur in the face or around your eyes, it can be more than slight swelling of your hands, or excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles (not to be confused with summertime pregnancy elephant-cankles).
This condition is called edema. The retention of fluid can lead to rapid weight gain, which is one of the reasons your doc checks your weight at every appointment and is concerned with sudden weight gain.
Classic preeclampsia symptoms look and feel something like this: Swelling, racing pulse, mental confusion, blurry vision (or other visual weirdness), headaches, upper-right abdominal pain, vomiting, shortness of breath or chest pain, a sense of impending doom [outside of normal feelings of impending doom, heh].
** Call you doc right away if you experience any of this. **
**Guys, I can't underscore this enough... if you don't feel right, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!"
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@spaniellove: love, that sounds like reason for a phone call. It could be nothing, but if it's hurting, that sounds not great. And I hate times 1,000 that this is happening
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Call your doctor!
Swelling was my only symptom of PreE. It came on suddenly. I never felt lightheaded or upper abdominal pain or anything else. But my BP was through the roof, protein in urine, low blood platelets.
Hope it's nothing serious but you definitely don't want to ignore it.
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Call your doctor just to make sure it's nothing to worry about, hope its nothing serious!
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@spaniellove: Definitely mention it to your OB, even if for some reason it doesn't look as bad that day as it normally does (photos may be helpful) or if you go a few days in between bouts of swelling. If there is a day when you are crazy swollen, please call! Most swelling is completely normal, albeit annoying, and uncomfortable (mine was painful at times) . . . but just to be on the safe side, if you puff up anywhere like *Violet, you're turning violet, Violet* call and let your OB know.
ETA: Please please please don't be embarrassed to call your OB or to just show up at L&D! Every single nurse and doc will tell you that it's ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry! Even if you are just fine, an anxious/stressed mama is not good for you or your LO.
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@spaniellove: Don't be embarrassed, call! Have you been able to have your BP checked?
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@Boogs: I ended up not checking it today because it didn't hurt anymore...so I figured it was getting better or at least it wasn't as urgent?
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@spaniellove: don't be embarrassed!!! I showed up at labor and delivery triage because I thought my water broke at 34 weeks. Nope, I just peed my pants. But, they all told me better safe than sorry!!
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I think I figured out the problem! My BP was fine at my appointment (it was 102/72) and I've been really careful about sodium, so when I suddenly swelled up again yesterday and felt flushed and itchy I started to wonder if it was an allergic reaction. My hands were so swollen that my replacement ring a size too big was leaving a mark on my finger, so in the morning I took Benadryl and now that it's wearing off I'm swollen again.
I looked at the chocolate I ate yesterday and sure enough...made on a shared line with peanuts. I forgot how careful I have to be about cross-contamination. It was my peanut allergy!
ETA: And now I know what the original swelling was from, too. I was eating these cookies made in a shared facility. I loved them so much and was just so happy to eat chocolate again that I ate the whole box!
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Glad u were able to find the problem! Peanut is in so many things now
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@spaniellove: I'm glad that you got it figured out! I'm sorry about the allergic reaction, but it sounds easier to control than pre-e!
I'm not sure when is early, though my hands started swelling a bit around 24 weeks and have actually gone down in the past few weeks. I started drinking a *lot* of water-128 ounces or so a day, and that has helped me. But if you could get your blood pressure checked soon, that wouldn't be a bad idea.
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