Who has swelling like mine?

[AnitaRFrith]

I'm 18 weeks an 4 days an I'm swelling.  I have had swelling in my left leg since 7 weeks.  It never hurt nor gave me any problems.  But in the past 2 days my hands have started swelling.  My wedding ring will not even come off!  They hurt too.  Has any one else had this happen?  Is this normal?  When I get up in the morning I can't touch my fingers to the palm of my left hand.  It takes a few hours of moving my hand before I can make a fist.  Take the poll an leave comments.

[babydreams9]

Anita - Sounds like you have pregnancy induced carpel tunnel. It's caused by swelling - the carpel tunnel in your wrist, which houses the nerves to your thumb, index, and middle finger gets pinched because of it. Pain, burning, tingling, and aching in those fingers and halfway up your arm - right? I had it BAD... but mine started later. It was awful, and got really bad towards the end to where I couldn't sleep, type, etc.... Wrist braces do help a lot. You can buy them at any major store (I got mine at walmart) or have your doctor write a prescription for you for wrist braces and your insurance may cover the cost. My carpel tunnel, and the rest of my swelling, completely went away about a week after the birth. (By the way, I had awful swelling in my feet/ankles/calves too - my left one especially.)

[nikko*ttc]

The swelling in my hands got to the point that my wedding and other rings were really snug after about 12.5 weeks. I ended up taking them off with some lotion or baby oil, can't remember which. I am now 31 weeks and 4 days and have been experiencing swelling in my legs and feet since about 28 weeks. I feel like I have cankles.

[AnitaRFrith]

they have not called yet.  I wish they would hurry up.  I was wondering if it could be carpel tunnel.  but I dont know anything about that.  Its VERY painful the first few hours that I'm up.  Then after that, like now, it just achs.  My left hand is the only one that painful.  My right just achs a little.  I read online that they often put pregnant woman in the hospital for 24 hours for observation.  I hope that dose not happen.  Medicaid dose not cover that.  Sigh... they tend to call around 4pm.  So I'll keep everyone posted.  Anita

[Avanaar]

I know around my 5th or 6th month I started to get some swelling in my ankles.  I lasted for about a day, and I made sure to change some of my 'habits' -- like sitting in my computer chair with one foot underneath my butt.  =D

When I tripped on my bottom step in the basement, it made the swelling really flair up, because I didn't have the mobility in my ankles since I hurt them.  After my ankles healed tho, the swelling went down.

Now, at 8 months, my feet swell daily.  All my shoes do not fit, except, like GRose said, my flip flops.  I'll probably be doing my library day today in flip flops even tho it's in the 40s!!  

I know one of my biggest worries was developing preeclampsia, so I'm very watchful of my blood pressure and my swelling.  At my last dr appt my BP was 140/70 and I questioned it.  But the nurse said that it was fine, tho the top number was borderline.  She said it's the bottom number they really look at.  So, so far, so good.

One of the 'problems' with your hands/wrists swelling and hurting *could* be carpal tunnel.  I know many women develop it during pregnancy because of all the new blood being pumped thru their systems.  Discuss all these things with your doctor to rule out certain conditions!!  It's better to be safe than sorry!  

[ashiepooh]

I'm praying for you Anita!  I really hope it's nothing serious!  Keep us posted!!!

[AnitaRFrith]

I was thinking about it last night and I have been tested twice for that.  My hands hurt.  My legs have never hurt though,... strange huh?  I just call my dr.'s office an the nurse is going to call me back.  PRAY LADIES!  They had told me to sit down an elevate my arms an legs.  Its hard to type... so I have to make this short.  

[motherofan18month]

i voted but the only thing that swellled was my belly..LOL........but my SIL's legs, ankles, knees swelled so badly that her ankles and lower leg were as big as her thigh and knee...literally there was no definition from the top her thigh to her feet ....she was so miserable!!! they done the 24 hour urine watch 4 times, checked her bp every couple of days for 2 weeks, and checked for toxemia........the only thing they could find out of wack was that her iron was extremely low....so they put her on bed rest for almost 3 weeks until some of the swelling went down........she was always amazed to poke her leg and slowly watch her skin go back to normal.....she had no elasticity in her legs!!!! i wish you the best of luck!!!!!

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

Friday should be fine as long as no other symptoms than the swelling.  If you have headaches or visual changes you need to see doc asap. How's your urine output?  Normal or less than normal?

I started swelling at about 5 months.  Now I'm 7 months and it's very obvious and getting worse.  I've gained 20 lbs in the past 2 months and I'm sure I'm not eating enough for that sort of weight gain - it's gotta be fluid.  My weight can increase from morning to night by 3 - 5 lbs and some of that goes overaway overnight.  My weight increases tend to be in jumps of several pounds overnight also.  Wierd, though I'm sure there is an underlying fat and baby weight gain happening as well.  My ankles don't exist any more and my legs feel tight and look like those of an elderly lady, my fingers feel stiff. I am not yet elderly (though drs call me "elderly primagravida!")  Today my endo wrote "oedema' in big letters accross my chart.  So far no protein in my urine (touch wood) and I'm monitoring blood pressure (home monitor) and it's fine.  If it goes up I'm to call my docs asap.  My OBE is concerned but at this stage just monitoring...

I think swelling limited just to the lower legs and ankles is normal.  If they're worried about you they'll start monitoring urine for protein and also BP.  Hope all is fine for you.

Let us know how you go.

[AnitaRFrith]

I'm going to the dr friday.  Do ya'll think it would be ok til then?  I have to drive a hour to go to the Dr.  

[GRose]

When I was pregnant with my son I had HORRIBLE swelling to the point where I could only where flip flops (in the middle if winter) my feet and legs literally looked like that of a 400 pound woman. I noticed that my hands and face were starting to swell so  called my nurse, she had me come in immediately and they found out that I was loosing protein in my urine, I was developing preeclapsia (sp) I had to be put on partial bed rest and was given water pills which didn't really help. My OB told me that your body hold 8 extra pounds of water weight before it starts to show.
I am not trying to scare you but if the swelling has made it's way to your hands you really need to call your doctor to be checked out.

[ashiepooh]

I really hopes it nothing!  Let's hope water retention!  Atleast that's just water and nothing more!  Keep us posted

[AnitaRFrith]

I was tested for Preeclapsia at 7 weeks.  I went to the ER at 7 weeks because of swelling.  They test the blood flow in my legs an ran all kinds of test.  Everything was normal.  The office was closed when i called so I'm going to call in the morning.  I'm just praying that its nothing.  Thanks ladies.

[ashiepooh]

Call your doctor!

I swelling can be from retaining water!  Also, can be signs of other bad things like preeclampsia...


These will help keep swelling down:

Avoid standing for long periods
Minimize outdoor time when it is hot
Rest with your feet elevated
Wear comfortable shoes, avoiding high heels if possible
Wear supportive tights or stockings
Avoid clothes that are tight around your wrists or ankles
Rest or swim in a pool
Use cold compresses on swollen areas
Drink water, which helps flush the body and reduce water retention
Minimize sodium (salt) intake and avoid adding additional salt to meals


Although, go to this website and read up on preeclampsia....

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/preeclampsia.html

[LittleMissBeatz]

I've had swelling since I was like 4 weeks that's why I went to the dr in the first place and found out I was pregnant.  Between my hands and feet I don't know which one is worst!  I'll sit still for like 10 minutes and my feet will be huge when I go to move and my hands they swell for no reason.  I heard about the salt intake but I've also cut way back on the salt you should see me running around the store like I'm on a diet or something checking the sodium on everything before I buy it LOL... I wonder what it is myself but I would definitely say it is normal.  According to my mother you need to be very careful with it because it can cause you to end up on bedrest in your 7th or 8th month if it gets too bad.  She's been on my butt for a while now telling me to be careful...

[AnitaRFrith]

I have been watching the salts.  But thats not helping. I even use sea salt if i have to use salt.  I just got my ring off! YAY!  I'm going to call an see what they say.  Thanks ladies.

[tea_berries]

they say swelling is due to excess salt intake during pregnancy.  My nurse told me not to eat too much salt or decrease my salt intake to avoid this swelling.  I am not sure if I am not swelling because I followed the low salt diet or maybe I am not supposed to swell or maybe I am talking too early on in pregnancy.  I am on my 23rd week though and hopefully I won't have any problems with it. You can try calling the health link to ask a nurse.  

But with my aunts they got swollen in the hands and ankles later on in their pregnancy and they were fine afterwards. Keep us posted.  HOpe you feel better soon

[AnitaRFrith]

I have not called the dr yet.  I'm gong to the Dr. this friday.  Do you think I should call?  I'm just not sure what to do.....  I can't get my ring off... I tried.

[justice6920]

I am 23 weeks and I think about 19 weeks my hands and feet started to swell.... somedays are worse than others.... but its definitely something to check with the doc about....mine told me that my swelling was withing normal range.....

[Tracy21]

i have swelling all over and im 19 weeks its mostly in the morning when my feet are the worst i had to take my engagement ring off yesterday because my finger was turning blue but yes swelling has got worse

[mamaof6]

Hi! I remember with my son (11 yrs ago) I had swelling in my ankles. Im not sure if it was b/c it was hot out or what, but when I propped my feet up and went in the AC it went down. What has your doc said about his? Hope you feel better soon hun :)