any tips for swollen ankles?

[oopsyay]

Boy oh boy, my feet and ankles are getting puffy! They don't hurt, but my toes are starting to look like little sausages.
I know the best thing to do is elevate them for a while, but I was wondering if any of you other Mamas out there have any other tips or tricks you found worked for you as well in addition to putting your feet up.
My husband thinks my sausage toes are cute but I sure as heck don't!

[misstoyo]

I elevate mine. Works after a few hours or in bed at night.

[JamieSF]

I had an episode of swelling and took a bath with Epsom salt for a full 20 minutes. Then when I got out, I pushed my butt almost all the way to the wall and put my legs up against the wall. The day prior, I used 3 pillows under my feet and it did nothing for my swelling. I did the wall thing just as long as possible sporadically throughout the day when I was home and just watched TV that way. Swelling was gone the following day after I did the wall thing. Haven't had an episode since and I haven't cut back on sodium in any way.

Hope it helps!

[VesselofGod]

For optimum health adults are supposed to drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. So if you weigh 100 lbs.you should drink 50 ounces of water per day. Soda does not count!
Every organ in your body needs water to function properly.
The need probably increases in pregnancy because of extra blood we are making etc.

[snarong]

I drink 2 liters of water a day, also try to get into the habit of stretching and a few lower half exercises life calf raises, lunges and squats. Nothing major, just to get the blood flowing! I do my calf raises in the shower to help me wake up in the morning ;)

[oopsyay]

Thanks ladies! I took a warm bath and it seemed to do the trick! No more sausage piggies!

[Confused_NewMommy]

Don't cut your water intake, elevate your feet of course and if possible buy larger shoes. Sometimes the heat causes your feet to swell and even the size of your shoes will make you swell.

[melaniee123]

Epsom salt in warm water put your feet in and relax, helped with my swelling with my 1st pregnancy...

[lilla18]

So true @ oopsyay. It seems that no matter what I take for lunch at work, there's a lot of sodium in it.

@cdolan, my doctor told me the same thing, but I guess everyone is different, or my sodium intake is just too high. Either way, drinking more than a liter a day of water makes me swell well into the next day. But drinking less than that a day makes my headaches last forever. I have to find a happy medium between the two each day, unless I just stay off my feet.. which isn't possible with going to work each day. Luckily only one month left to go.

Haven't heard of compression socks. I'll have to look into that.

[oopsyay]

I hear you on the sodium thing, girl. It's amazing what the food industry will sneak sodium into, isn't it?
Also, its so hard to give it up when it tastes so good, lol.

[oopsyay]

I do drink a lot of water! Where I work is very dry so I like to stay hydrated.
I thought about compression socks but I wanted to hear feedback on that before I tried it.
Thanks! :)

[cdolan2012]

Compression socks work well for me! And increasing your water intake is actually supposed to help reduce swelling, so I've been told. :)

[lilla18]

I found drinking less water helps my swelling go down... But it has the effect of making my headaches worse. You could also try lowering your sodium intake so your body retains less water and you get more out. I'm trying but it's hard to get my sodium down.