Your Body Swelling in Pregnancy By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 14, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). He is the director and founding partner of CCRM New York and was named a rising star by Super Doctors from 2017 to 2019. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Camille Tokerud / The Image Bank / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Try Rest What You Take in Counts The Truth About Salt Try Water or Hydrotherapy Other Basic Tips When Swelling Is Not Normal Swelling, or edema, is a very common discomfort of pregnancy. It's estimated that about 75% of women will experience this excessive accumulation of fluid around the legs and ankles at some point during pregnancy. Here are some helpful hints on dealing with normal swelling in pregnancy: Try Rest When the weather is warm, or you've been standing on your feet for awhile, or even just at the end of your day, you may notice that your feet feel tight, your shoes don't fit, or just a general puffiness. In general, swelling is nothing to be alarmed about. Most women report that swelling subsides after a good night's rest, or several hours lying down. What You Take in Counts If you'd like to take a more active approach in treating edema, there are a couple of things you can do to help relieve the symptoms. The first and probably one of the best and most important is to drink a lot of water. While it doesn't seem like it makes sense to get rid of fluids by taking in more, the extra fluids will help flush out your system of waste products which may have increased swelling. You really need at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. The best tip I have for accomplishing this is to fill up a container to carry around and empty it by the end of the day. The Truth About Salt While many people believe that swelling is caused by excessive amounts of salt in the diet, the opposite is also true. Limiting the amount of salt you take in can cause swelling as well. As with all things, moderation is the key to balance. Try Water or Hydrotherapy Some studies suggest that even beyond the once cold water immersion, water aerobics can help with swelling. Being in a pool of water helps the body shed the excess fluids through the kidneys while supporting the pregnant uterus. Other Basic Tips to Help Reduce Swelling and Related Discomforts Don't wear elastic topped socks or knee-hi pantyhose.Wear comfortable shoes. Slip-on types work best.Put your feet up when possible.If you stand at work, try to move around slightly or get a stool to prop a foot up.Try support pantyhose. You may also notice slight swelling in your hands. This may be enough that you want to consider what to do with your rings, should your hands become very swollen. Be careful because swelling might sneak up on you, forcing you to make a decision that you do not want to make, including the need to cut the rings off. When Swelling Is Not Normal When swelling is sudden or extreme, or found in not only the legs and feet but face and hands, it can be something serious. You should report this type of swelling to your midwife or doctor immediately. You should also report swelling that does not go away after many hours of rest. If you're at a higher risk for complications that include swelling like preeclampsia your practitioner should have explained what you are looking for and when it needs to be reported. Whenever you're concerned about your swelling or other medical questions, never hesitate to talk to your doctor or midwife. This is part of their job and they are more than willing to help you determine if you are experiencing a normal swelling in pregnancy or a complication, the difference can be subtle and important for you and your baby. In the end, you may or may not notice swelling. If you do, find a good way to deal with it that works for you and keeps you comfortable. If you notice something problematic, be sure to report it right away to your provider. The sooner you report problems, the more likely your doctor or midwife will be to help intervene if necessary. The vast majority of time swelling is a nuisance and not a medical issue. Loading shell for quizzesApp1 vue props component in Globe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit