How to deal with swelling in the second trimester. How to get rid of edema during pregnancy

About 80% of women during various periods of pregnancy face such a problem as swelling. The site will tell you how to determine whether this is normal or indicates a disease such as gestosis, as well as how to deal with edema during pregnancy.

If you have signs such as swelling of your feet and enlarged toes, this may indicate the presence of edema. Here you can use a simple method to determine the presence of edema: press a finger on an area of ​​skin on the leg - if a hole has formed, there is swelling, and if it straightens immediately, everything is normal.

Most expectant mothers are in various pregnancy terms face physiological edema. This is a natural reaction of the body to certain factors, such as excess salty foods, heavy load on the legs, heat, etc. Such edema does not pose a threat, there is no need to treat it, it disappears after excluding provoking factors.

But swelling may not always be so harmless. Sometimes they indicate a disease such as gestosis in pregnant women. Preeclampsia is called toxicosis in the late stages of pregnancy. It usually occurs in the third trimester, but the development of the disease can be highly individual.

Degrees of gestosis

There are four degrees of gestosis. The first degree is mild and is called dropsy of pregnancy. As a rule, it is more often called gestational edema. At the same time, patients complain of fatigue and malaise. Swelling and pathological fullness are noticeable.

The second degree is characterized nephropathy in pregnancy. In this case, swelling, protein in the urine, and pressure disturbances are observed. The presence of all three signs represents a threat. If not all symptoms are observed, treatment is aimed at eliminating them.

The third degree of gestosis is called preeclampsia. It is characterized by nephropathy and symptoms from the brain (decreased cerebral circulation) and fundus (angiospasm of arterioles, hemorrhages, edema, retinal detachment).

At the fourth degree there are seizures (eclampsia). This degree is dangerous, firstly, due to the possibility of turning into a severe degree of late gestosis, secondly, due to the aging of the placenta, thirdly, fetal hypoxia.

It is quite simple to distinguish real signs of gestosis from false ones: take the McClure-Aldrich test, in which 0.25 ml of sodium chloride is injected under the skin (similar to the Mantoux vaccination in childhood) and time the dissolution of the papule. The rate of resorption of papules is from 35 to 45 minutes. If the papule takes longer to resolve, it means there is excess fluid in the body, and the presence of dropsy is confirmed.

If swelling during pregnancy is visible only on the legs, this is close to normal. Fluid deficiency and a constant desire to drink appear as a result of increasing body needs. If the swelling, in addition to the lower extremities, spreads to the thighs, legs and the front wall of the abdomen, this is an alarming signal - immediately go to the doctor. If the current condition is left unchanged, this may disrupt the uteroplacental circulation and cause fetal hypoxia.

How to deal with swelling?

How to deal with swelling during pregnancy / shutterstock.com

Do not reduce your fluid intake as this may have an unexpected opposite effect. If you do not allow the body to replenish the need for drinking, it tries to accumulate water, so the swelling becomes larger. Drink at least 1.5 liters of water. Soups and fruits do not count during the day.

lift your legs up while lying down.

Stay less in sunny, hot places. Try to reduce the amount of salt and spices in your diet, sugary and carbonated drinks, which delay the removal of fluid from the body.

The following options can be used to combat swelling:

• do not reduce the amount of water consumed;
• use anti-edema gels;
• take cool ones baths for the legs (for 20 minutes), after which raise the legs to a level above the head;
• massage your feet with a washcloth;
• take kidney tea and other herbal remedies (as advised by your doctor);
• drink a glass of hot milk at night;
• spend one day a week on an apple diet and juices;
• brew dried apricots, drink the infusion in the morning, abstaining from food and drink for the next half hour, and eat the fruits themselves at night;
• drink unsweetened tea with lemon, or water with lemon added;
• prepare lingonberry compote;
• remove the rings from your fingers so that blood circulation is not impaired;
• Do not use diuretics under any circumstances.

The first warm days have barely arrived, and I’m already looking forward to the summer heat. I always enjoy the sun and can easily cope with hot weather.

But last summer was not so easy. The second half of my pregnancy was in full swing, and I had to experience many of the “delights” of an interesting position, including swelling.

"Surprises" of pregnancy

The first time my legs swollen was at the end of July, when the thermometer began to show 32 degrees, and I was in my 24th week. At the end of the working day, my legs would swell, and I wasn’t very happy about it.

Later I realized how lucky I was, since the third trimester fell in the fall. It was much easier to get through the last few weeks in cool weather.

Nevertheless, there was swelling at this stage as well, but not as a consequence of the heat, but rather as a regularity of pregnancy. Not only my legs began to swell, and not only in the evenings, but also my fingers, and even in the first half of the day.

The tests were normal, nothing caused any particular inconvenience, and I did not need drug treatment. But I didn’t want to be idle either. Therefore, I began to look for safe ways to get rid of swelling and prevent its occurrence.

Some useful tips

Otherwise, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

1. It is advisable to wear only comfortable and loose shoes with flat soles.

I tried to forget about high-heeled shoes, starting from the second trimester. This not only helped with swelling, but also had a beneficial effect on the condition of my back: throughout my entire pregnancy it never hurt.

Fortunately, there was no strict dress code at work, and sometimes I could even show up in sports shoes. Still, comfort during pregnancy should come first! It may not be as elegant, but it is safe and convenient.


2. You should try to lie down or sit down with your legs up more often.

I followed this rule every evening when I came home from work. And at the end of pregnancy, when I was already on maternity leave, I even tried to eat or cook while sitting on a chair with my feet on a stool. It was very convenient to cut salads or make dumplings in this position.

3. The diet must include protein, since its lack can also cause swelling.

At first I thought that I needed to “lean” into the meat, but it turned out to be not entirely right. Foods containing easily digestible protein are cottage cheese, fish and boiled chicken. Namely, this type of protein is especially necessary for pregnant women.

4. In the evening before going to bed, you can drink a glass of warm milk.

This advice helped me a lot. I don’t know exactly how the milk acted, but the next morning after this procedure the swelling was gone.

5. Another recipe is a drink made from dried apricots: you need to brew it with boiling water, let it brew overnight, and in the morning drink the resulting decoction on an empty stomach, 20-30 minutes before meals.

After trying this recipe several times, I also came to the conclusion that it works. I did the ratio of dried apricots and water “by eye”: for example, I took one and a half glasses of boiling water and a handful of dried apricots.

In addition to the benefits (after all, dried apricots contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals), getting rid of swelling with the help of such a drink was also tasty. And I ate dried apricots throughout the day.

6. It is advisable to eat less salty and spicy foods. It is not recommended to completely exclude salt from the diet, but you should not abuse it either.

This rule was easy for me to follow, since I am not a big fan of such food. I prepared rather bland dishes for the family, and asked everyone to add salt and pepper as desired.

Liquid: is it better to have a lot or a little?

This question also began to bother me with the appearance of edema. Now many doctors have begun to speak out against sharply limiting the fluid a pregnant woman drinks per day. Even if swelling appears, giving up water is unlikely to help. And it might even make the situation worse.

I can confirm this from my own experience: for several days I tried to practically not drink, but it was just torture for me (I was just delirious about water), and it’s also unsafe for the child. And the stubborn swelling from such a “prohibition” did not go away.

Therefore, I came to the conclusion that you should consume liquid wisely: 2 liters per day (including soups, juices, vegetables and fruits) should be enough, but there will not be excess.

My swelling went away completely a week before my son was born. As it turned out, this was one of the harbingers of the approaching birth. I even lost a couple of kilos thanks to this.

From which I concluded: there is no need to be afraid of the appearance of edema, it is natural for a pregnant woman. Few people ever experience them at all. The main thing is to try to help your body as much as possible and always keep the situation under control.

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Swelling is a very common occurrence during pregnancy. Their appearance has virtually nothing to do with excessive fluid intake, as many believe. The main cause of swelling is poor circulation of blood and fluid in the body, caused by stress on internal organs and salt accumulation.

Signs of swelling

As a rule, the lower extremities suffer the most - in the evening the legs, feet and back of the foot swell, the legs become “heavy” and “wobbly”. After a night's sleep, the legs partially return to their previous shape, since during this time the liquid is evenly distributed throughout the body.

In especially severe cases, the hands, face and abdomen swell. This indicates the seriousness of the situation and may be the beginning of the development of preeclampsia, a disease in which the placenta cannot cope with its functions and the child does not receive proper nutrition and oxygen.

Types of edema

Edema can be clearly hidden. Obvious swelling is visible to the naked eye; they can be recognized not only by the doctor, but also by the expectant mother herself.

With hidden edema, everything is much more complicated. In this case, fluid accumulates in the tissues of the internal organs. Their appearance can be recognized only by two signs - rapid weight gain “out of the blue”, as well as poor urine output from the body.

Treatment of edema

Swelling is not only discomfort in the body for a pregnant woman. This is, first of all, a threat to the life and health of the fetus. Therefore, at the first signs of swelling, you should immediately tell the observing gynecologist about it and have your urine tested. If the analysis shows the presence of protein in the blood, the doctor will prescribe outpatient treatment, and in particularly serious cases, hospitalization.

The first thing the doctor will advise when edema appears is to adhere to a salt-free diet. He will also recommend giving up fried, fatty and sweet foods and giving preference to steamed dishes baked in the oven.

As for liquid, its amount should not be reduced. Just make sure that it is not in excess in the body, it is well excreted in the urine. It is best to drink plain water. You should not drink mineral water, as it contains a lot of salt, as well as sweet water and tea, because sugar makes you thirsty.

Gymnastics for pregnant women, swimming, yoga and other physical exercises increase blood circulation, metabolism and eliminate fluid stagnation in the body. In addition, a pregnant woman needs to perform this exercise as often as possible: stand on your elbows and knees for 10–15 minutes, thus unloading the kidneys and relieving tension in the tissues and abdomen.

If problems with the kidneys are detected, the doctor prescribes drinking decoctions of diuretic herbs - leaves of lingonberry, bearberry, bear's ear, horsetail, etc. Taking medicinal diuretic drugs is prescribed only in particularly difficult situations, when it is necessary to quickly relieve swelling that threatens the child's life . Self-medication, as you can see, is extremely dangerous; the removal of fluid from the body should be controlled by a doctor.

During inpatient treatment, the doctor prescribes medications and vitamins, puts in IVs to improve placental blood flow, dilate blood vessels and strengthen their walls.

You will need

• - herbal teas
• - herbal decoctions of rose hips, juniper, lingonberry leaves, parsley root
• - kidney tea
• - grapes, black currants, paprika, asparagus, parsley, celery

Instructions

First of all, you should slightly reduce your fluid intake, but under no circumstances should you allow yourself to feel very thirsty. It is best to drink purified water, cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks. Carbonated and sweet drinks containing caffeine should be completely avoided.

Instructions

You may not be able to completely avoid swelling, but you can make it less severe and avoid pain. Watch your weight - for this you need to stick to a diet and eat as little fatty foods as possible, which contribute to the appearance of extra pounds. Add parsley, celery, citrus fruits, apples, strawberries, red peppers, melon, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli and cabbage to your daily diet. But only in small quantities so as not to cause allergies.

Experts say that smoking contributes to the formation of edema, so if you do, try to quit this bad habit. Try to rest more, put your feet on a slight elevation. You should not sit with your legs crossed - this posture can cause pain. Ask someone to massage your legs and feet (use both hands to massage your leg, moving from your feet to your knees). But if you have severe swelling, skin sensitivity increases, and massage may cause pain.

To relieve swelling, place cabbage leaves on your feet. Cabbage leaves do not need to be washed. If they are dirty, simply wipe them with a cloth, then cool them in the refrigerator and apply to the swollen areas. Once the leaves are damp, add other cabbage leaves. They can be applied as often as you need. Edema is well relieved by tea made from dandelion roots, but remember that you should not drink herbal teas often.

note

Swelling during pregnancy is a very common occurrence. Swelling occurs from the extra blood that a woman develops during pregnancy. The growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic veins, as well as a large vein on the right side of the body, which receive blood from lower parts of the body. How to get rid of edema during pregnancy? Try to move more (a sedentary lifestyle is contraindicated for edema).

Sources:

• how to relieve swelling during pregnancy

During pregnancy, changes can occur in the body, some of them are physiological in nature, and some are signs of imbalance. One of these manifestations is edema in pregnant women. These symptoms cannot be ignored. After all, they can appear together with other disorders.

Instructions

Pay attention to the condition of your feet. At first they appear in the form of pastiness (with finger impressions remaining on the area of ​​​​the legs and feet). These are the first signals. Then the swelling becomes more pronounced. The shoes begin to press at the end of the day, and they make a buzzing sound. Be sure to contact your doctor and tell us about these symptoms. The doctor will prescribe you to take urine and blood tests, and undergo an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder. And based on the results of the data obtained, you will be prescribed a course of therapy.

To begin with, you will be prescribed a water-drinking regimen and a proper balanced diet with a limit on salty, smoked and spicy foods. It is possible to prescribe diuretics. The choice is left to modern ones, for example, Triampur Compositum. This drug has a diuretic effect and does not remove excess minerals from the body.

There are also natural ingredients and herbs that will help relieve swelling. Diuretic herbs, for example, lingonberry leaves, bearberry and bear's ears. Pharmacies sell convenient teas in filters. It's very easy to brew. They must be drunk throughout the day for at least 7-10 days. There is a drug in the form of a gel “Fitolysin”. This is a condensed hydroalcoholic extract from a mixture of herbs (horsetail, birch leaves, parsley root, goldenrod herb, sage oil and other components). You need to take it one teaspoon twice a day.

Follow a work and rest schedule. Give your legs an elevated position - this improves blood flow and reduces swelling. Also try to use shoes that are comfortable, spacious and without heels. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time during the day.

Try to limit your fluid intake in the afternoon. Replace black tea with green tea (it has a mild diuretic).

Follow these simple steps that will help you cope with this unpleasant illness. If the swelling does not and continues to increase, and protein and leukocytes appear in the urine, then hospitalization for a more in-depth examination and inpatient treatment is possible.

Sources:

• how to remove swelling in a pregnant woman

According to statistics, about 80% of women experience edema during pregnancy. In some cases, these are so-called physiological edemas that are not related to dangerous gestosis. Toxicosis at the last stage of pregnancy requires timely treatment; to determine it, it is imperative to consult a specialist.

As a rule, physiological edema disappears after excluding provoking factors. This could be excessively salty food that a pregnant woman enjoys, excessive physical activity, and others. If the swelling does not go away, we are talking about pathological conditions that require medical intervention.

Pregnancy and swelling

Physiological edema is usually not pronounced; it is localized. In such cases, swelling is located on the feet and hands. To cope with physiological edema, it is necessary to identify the cause and exclude it. To detect the problem, you need to consult your doctor.

To exclude physiological edema, it is necessary to carefully monitor the diet. It is advisable to eat as little salty foods as possible, and if possible, eliminate salt from the menu altogether. It is not recommended to drink carbonated drinks, strong tea and coffee during pregnancy. Try to spend less time in the heat, try to move more. Drink liquid in small sips, include citrus fruits and apples in your diet, they help the kidneys work.

The situation with edema becomes problematic if the weight gain is more than 300-400 grams. during the week. Traditionally, such pathological conditions are observed in the second half of pregnancy. Signs of gestosis or preeclampsia - a condition preceding gestosis - are high blood pressure. When receiving tests, it becomes clear that the amount of proteins in the pregnant woman’s urine has increased.

Treatment during pregnancy

Swelling during pregnancy is not always noticeable; it can go away within a day and recur. Therefore, for diagnosis, a complex of control weighings, urine tests, and pressure measurements is used. If gestosis is established, the expectant mother is sent to a hospital for treatment.

To get rid of edema, medications are used that are aimed at improving kidney function. These are drugs with anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic effects. But their purpose is an extreme measure, which can be avoided by preventing edema with the help of a proper diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and physical activity.

At the first signs of pathological edema, you should not use methods, herbs and teas. They can harm your health and the well-being of your baby. Be sure to consult your doctor.

One of the most common problems of pregnant women is swelling. According to statistics, 20% of pregnant women suffer from this. So what is edema during pregnancy, normal or problem?

Before you start fighting edema, you need to figure out what it is. Edema is an excessive accumulation of fluid between tissues and organs. Conventionally, external and internal swelling can be distinguished.

External edema is usually easily recognized. They appear as swellings of the legs, face, arms, etc. If you press on the swollen area with your finger, a dent will remain on it, which will not disappear for a long time. To recognize internal edema, determination of the ratio of drunk and excreted water, significant enlargement of joints, and uneven weight growth can be used.

There can be many reasons for the occurrence of edema, but they are usually caused by late toxicosis. Late toxicosis is accompanied by increased blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. If, apart from swelling, none of these symptoms bother the woman, then the swelling is not dangerous and there is no need to use serious methods of control. However, if you notice these symptoms, you should urgently consult a doctor: this condition is dangerous not only for the baby, but also for the health of the mother herself.

Typically, such edema is treated with medication and most often in a hospital. It is not advisable to severely limit your fluid intake under such conditions, but it is better to replace plain water with a thicker liquid.

Another reason why swelling occurs is varicose veins. If swelling occurs for this reason, then there is no need to treat it. In such cases, rest will come to the rescue, you need to lie with your legs elevated more often, you can use special creams.

If you had heart or kidney failure before pregnancy, this may well cause edema. In such a situation, you can use medications approved for pregnant women.

To prevent the appearance of edema, you need to limit the consumption of salty foods and smoked foods. Daily walks and fasting days once a week will also help. If you still cannot avoid the appearance of edema, then it is best to consult your doctor. He will find out the reason for their appearance and select the necessary treatment. Try to follow all the doctor’s instructions, because now you are responsible for the child’s life.

During pregnancy, every woman is beautiful. There is something elusively wonderful, bright, tender about her. The expectant mother is overwhelmed with happiness, and she waits with bated breath to meet her baby as soon as possible.

With each month of pregnancy, the baby grows and gradually becomes cramped in the mother’s belly. The woman’s internal organs also become cramped, since as the child grows, there is less and less space left in the abdominal cavity.

Often, a pregnant woman experiences many unpleasant “pregnancy symptoms,” and one of them is swelling.

Edema- This is fluid retention in the interstitial space. As a rule, swelling occurs in the second and third trimester. Swelling in the last months of pregnancy may indicate late toxicosis - gestosis.

There are different types of swelling during pregnancy, but they all equally cause discomfort and sometimes cause pain. Swelling may be physiological, cardiac, renal . Cardiac and renal edema, as well as gestosis, should be treated by a doctor. Self-medication can pose a threat to the health of mother and child.

Physiological edema usually occurs in most pregnant women and is usually not dangerous. Most often, fluid accumulates in the ankle area. The reasons for their occurrence:

• fetal pressure on internal organs;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• non-compliance with the principles of proper nutrition.

As soon as you eliminate these provoking factors, tissue swelling will noticeably decrease.

Physical exercise

It is possible to get rid of edema during pregnancy. It is necessary to devote enough time to walks in the fresh air. Don't neglect sports. Of course, the training plan for a pregnant woman is very different from strengthening and fat-burning exercises for girls. Preference is given to training with your own weight. It is strictly forbidden to perform any exercises involving jumping, sudden movements, swings, etc.

The following stresses will have a positive effect on the health of a pregnant woman:

• walking;
• swimming;
• water aerobics;
• fitness.

The duration of training is selected individually. During classes, be sure to monitor your pulse and general well-being. If discomfort or pain occurs, classes are stopped.

Nutrition

Often, a pregnant woman begins to eat, as they say, “for two,” and not always healthy foods. If you are in an interesting situation, but have not previously eaten a balanced diet, then now is the time to start watching what and how much you eat. By following the principles of proper nutrition, you can not only get rid of edema, but also avoid gaining extra pounds during pregnancy.

Drink

In case of edema, it is necessary to maintain a drinking regime. In no case should you limit your consumption of pure water to 1 liter per day, as most doctors advise. You need to drink as much as your body requires. The main thing is not in one gulp, but in small sips.

It would be appropriate to use diuretics . Natural diuretics are decoctions of lingonberry leaves and berries, bearberry, birch leaves and buds, flax seeds, and green tea. The expectant mother should drink certain herbs under the supervision of a doctor. It is highly undesirable for pregnant women with high blood pressure to abuse green tea.

Exercises

The “Cat” exercise reduces fetal pressure on internal organs. Do it as follows:

1. We get on all fours.
2. We stretch our arms forward and rest our palms on the floor. The body will be positioned lower than the pelvis.
3. Relax as much as possible and stay in this position for 15–20 minutes. We perform the exercise 3 times a day.

“Cat” will help get rid of edema and reduce lower back pain, which so often torments pregnant women.

In addition to this exercise, you need to raise your legs above body level as often as possible during the day, and at night put a pillow or bolster under them.

By adhering to these simple rules - reasonable physical activity, proper nutrition, use of diuretics - you can get rid of edema and get your body in good shape.

While carrying a child, a woman notices various changes in her body. And many of them can hardly be called pleasant. Edema should also be classified as a similar phenomenon. They are a widespread problem in pregnancy. The condition of the subcutaneous tissue must be monitored during regular examinations so as not to miss serious violations. And already diagnosed edema must be treated promptly and correctly.

General information

Before considering the issue of eliminating edema, you should first understand why they form and what happens. Fluid retention in tissues is one of the features during pregnancy, caused by an increased concentration of the hormone progesterone, load on the lower extremities, and difficulty in venous outflow due to an enlarged uterus. But often it is necessary to note not just pastiness, but obvious swelling, which indicates gestosis. This is the name for late-term toxicosis, which occurs from the 25th week of gestation. This is a rather serious condition caused by the body’s reaction to a developing pregnancy: placental, vascular, and immune disorders. The risk of preeclampsia increases in women with the following factors (table):

If a woman has only swelling, then this condition is called dropsy of pregnancy. In this case, fluid will accumulate in various parts of the body, based on the severity of gestosis. There is also such a thing as hidden edema, when it is not yet visually visible, but can be assumed by a number of signs:

• Increased weight gain (more than 300 g per week).
• “Ring” symptom (the ring on the finger cannot be removed).
• Comfortable shoes suddenly became tight.
• McClure-Aldrich test: acceleration of resorption of isotonic sodium chloride solution administered subcutaneously (less than 30 minutes).
• Decreased daily diuresis, increased urination at night (nocturia).

Obvious swelling can be detected by pressing with a finger on the front surface of the lower leg. When fluid accumulates in the tissues, a slowly disappearing hole remains in this place. And the shin itself, when measured with a centimeter tape, increases in coverage. Obvious swelling spreads from bottom to top (stages):

• 1 – on the feet and legs.
• 2 – on the legs, lower back, lower abdomen.
• 3 – on the hands and face.
• 4 – all over the body.

Hydrops of pregnant women is often combined with increased blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine (proteinuria). Then, in the mechanism of edematous syndrome, in addition to increasing vascular permeability, a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure (hypoalbuminemia) and an increase in aldosterone secretion are of great importance. This phenomenon is called preeclampsia. In severe cases, the pathology provokes abdominal pain, visual disturbances, headaches, and a decrease in the severity of reflex reactions. Due to vascular disorders, the feto-placental complex suffers: fetal hypoxia and intrauterine growth retardation develop. And in the future, a very dangerous condition may arise - eclampsia with convulsive attacks.

Edema during pregnancy is a serious obstetric pathology, which, if not treated in a timely manner, poses a real threat to the woman and her child.

Treatment

Early detection of edema is the key to successful correction of disorders in the body of a pregnant woman. Dynamic monitoring of body weight, blood pressure and urine protein is important. These are the main indicators necessary for diagnosing gestosis. Having identified swelling, you should immediately begin treatment, because over time the pathology will only worsen.

Correction of edema at any stage should begin with general measures. Creating an optimal therapeutic and protective regime is an important link in eliminating pathological changes in a woman’s body. The doctor will recommend that the pregnant woman adhere to the following rules:

1. Stay upright less and avoid physical activity.
2. Rest with the foot end of the bed elevated.
3. Wear comfortable shoes with low heels.
4. Consume table salt up to 5 g per day.
5. The volume of liquid drunk should be no more than 1.2–1.5 liters.
6. Give preference to protein and plant foods.
7. Periodically do fasting days (cottage cheese, kefir, apple).

It should be noted that a sharp restriction of salt in the diet will have the exact opposite effect - swelling will increase. In this case, the sodium content in the blood, which retains water in the vascular bed, will decrease, and the liquid will flow along the concentration gradient into the tissue. A pronounced reduction in the drinking regime will also give a negative result - dehydration (dehydration) will be observed, which will negatively affect placental blood flow and the condition of the fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to critically evaluate the information provided in various sources and adhere only to the recommendations heard from the doctor.

Medicines

When answering the question of how to get rid of edema during pregnancy, one should not forget about medications. For gestosis with dropsy, they are just necessary. Doctors try to prescribe only safe medications that are not capable of having a negative effect on the fetus. Most often the choice falls on the following drugs:

• Diuretics (Triampur).
• Disaggregants (Curantil, Complamin).
• Antihypertensives (Dopegit, magnesium sulfate).
• Sedatives (Trimethazine, Nozepam).
• Improving microcirculation and venous outflow (Latren, Actovegin, Eufillin).
• Antioxidants and membrane stabilizers (tocopherol, Essentiale, Lipostabil, glutamic acid).
• Metabolic and vitamins (methionine, Panangin, Gendevit, folic and ascorbic acids).

The use of diuretics should be carried out very carefully; a sharp and pronounced decrease in the volume of circulating plasma should not be allowed. For moderate and severe preeclampsia, infusion therapy is indicated, aimed at increasing the osmotic activity and oncotic pressure of the blood (Reopoliglucin, Ringer's solution, fresh frozen plasma). It is carried out under the control of central venous pressure, hematocrit, diuresis, coagulation and proteinograms, osmolarity. An important place in treatment is given to the prevention and elimination of fetal hypoxia while monitoring cardiotocography indicators.

Any medications should be prescribed by a doctor and used under the control of the main indicators of the woman’s body condition.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures also help in the fight against edema. They improve blood circulation, venous and lymphatic outflow, reduce vascular permeability, and normalize neurogenic interactions. The most popular methods for edema are:

• Reflexology.
• Electrosleep.
• Oxygen therapy.
• Barotherapy.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Massotherapy.

Each of the procedures is applied taking into account restrictions during pregnancy. For example, it is better not to massage the lower extremities if a woman has varicose veins. In this case, wearing compression stockings or elastic bandaging is indicated.

Traditional methods

Folk remedies will also help get rid of swelling. During pregnancy, herbal medicine is widely used - herbal treatment. Herbal ingredients have a mild effect and good safety for the body. Select those substances that have a sedative, diuretic effect and normalize the tone of the vascular wall. For this purpose, the following means are used:

1. Infusion of valerian rhizomes and motherwort herb.
2. A decoction of birch buds, horsetail herb, corn silk, lingonberry or bearberry leaves.
3. Rosehip tea, cranberry juice.
4. Cool foot baths (with pine needles, sea salt).

Herbal infusions are also used as directed by a doctor. Moreover, they can only be used in combination with other methods. In order for the effect of treating edema to be maximum, an integrated approach and compliance with all specialist recommendations is necessary. After all, during pregnancy, a woman worries not so much about herself as about her unborn child. And effective relief from unpleasant symptoms must also be safe.