How much swelling during pregnancy is normal

Your questions answered about how to ensure you have a safe pregnancy if you have diabetes. Read more on Miracle Babies Foundation website. Pre-eclampsia is a condition that affects some pregnant women usually during the second half of pregnancy or immediately after delivery.

Neonatal lupus is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when an antibody is transferred from the mother to the baby. Read more on Australasian College of Dermatologists website. There are two types of stretch marks - striae rubra red or new stretch marks and striae alba white or old stretch marks. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.

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Why do women experience swelling during pregnancy? Doctors also ask about conditions that increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, preeclampsia, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Women are asked about other symptoms, which may suggest a cause. They are asked whether they have ever had deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, or heart problems, including cardiomyopathy.

During the physical examination, doctors look for evidence of a serious cause. To check for symptoms of preeclampsia, doctors measure blood pressure, listen to the heart and lungs, and may check the woman's reflexes and look at the back of her eyes with an ophthalmoscope a handheld device that resembles a small flashlight. Doctors also look for areas of swelling, particularly in the legs, hands, and face. Any swollen areas are checked to see if they are red, warm, or tender.

If deep vein thrombosis is suspected, Doppler ultrasonography of the affected leg is done. This test can show disturbances in blood flow caused by blood clots in the leg veins. If preeclampsia is suspected, the protein level is measured in a urine sample. High blood pressure plus a high protein level in urine indicates preeclampsia. If the diagnosis is unclear, the woman is asked to collect her urine for 24 hours, and protein is measured in that volume of urine. This measurement is more accurate.

However, preeclampsia may also be present if the protein level in urine is normal. High blood pressure with headache, changes in vision, abdominal pain, or abnormal blood or urine test results may also indicate preeclampsia.

If peripartum cardiomyopathy is suspected, electrocardiography, chest x-ray, echocardiography, and blood tests to check heart function are done. Lying on the left side, which moves the uterus off the large vein that returns blood to the heart inferior vena cava. Wearing loose clothing that does not restrict blood flow, particularly in the legs for example, not wearing socks or stockings that have tight bands around the ankles or calves.

Some swelling in the legs and ankles is normal physiologic during pregnancy and occurs during the 3rd trimester. Doctors can identify serious causes of swelling based on results of a physical examination, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine tests, and sometimes ultrasonography. If pregnancy itself is the cause, swelling can be reduced by lying on the left side, elevating the legs periodically, wearing support stockings, and wearing clothing that does not restrict blood flow.

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Warning signs When to see a doctor What the doctor does Testing. Key Points. Symptoms During Pregnancy. Test your knowledge. Maternal infections that develop after the delivery of a baby usually begin in the uterus. The likelihood of developing a uterine infection is increased with which of the following types of delivery? More Content. The body goes through gradual changes the moment you get pregnant.

Around the second trimester onwards, swelling may occur. As this is taking place, the blood flow decreases and fluid accumulates in the tissues. According to Dr. Swelling develops usually later in the second and third trimester because the uterus is bigger as you progress in the pregnancy. Aside from these changes and processes, there are other factors that result in swelling, including:. The lack of activity during pregnancy may or may not be a factor for swelling. However, even active pregnant people still experience swelling because the vein congestion still happens in the uterine area.

Swelling during pregnancy is normal and it cannot be avoided. Many pregnant individuals experience this issue any time during pregnancy until after delivery.