During pregnancy, most women experience swelling in their hands and feet at some point. This pregnancy edema is caused by the leakage of fluid from blood vessels into the tissues. So, what can be done about edema?
Types of Edema
1. Excessive weight gain
Excessive weight gain refers to pregnant women having a big appetite, balanced nutrition, and inadequate weight control. As a result, their body weight increases significantly during the later stages of pregnancy.
These women just need to pay attention to their diet and avoid excessive weight gain.
2. Physiological edema
This type of edema is mainly caused by the compression of the uterus. The enlarged uterus compresses the blood vessels that run from the heart to the pelvis and legs.
Poor circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid leads to poor metabolism and accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the legs. It usually occurs below the ankles or knees. Pregnant women usually don't have obvious symptoms in the morning, but the swelling becomes more noticeable in the evening after prolonged standing during the day and reduced activity at night.
3. Pathological edema
This type of edema is caused by diseases such as preeclampsia, kidney disease, heart disease, or other liver-related diseases.
These diseases not only have varying degrees of impact on the mother's body, but also pose risks to the health of the fetus.
Identifying Pregnancy Edema
(1) The most common way to identify pregnancy edema is to press the ankle joint area of the lower limbs and observe if there is an indentation that doesn't recover within a short period of time.
Of course, this should be done when pregnant women wear loose socks and shoes that do not impede venous return in the lower limbs.
(2) In addition, excessive weight gain in the later stages of pregnancy should also raise concerns about hidden edema.
If a pregnant woman's weight increases by more than 0.5 kg per week or 2.7 kg per month, it indicates the presence of hidden edema. The pregnant woman should promptly seek a follow-up consultation with an obstetrician to rule out any related diseases.
Dietary Considerations during Pregnancy
1. Avoid excessive tea consumption
Pregnant women should avoid drinking excessive amounts of tea or strong tea because tea contains theophylline (caffeine), which has a stimulating effect and can increase fetal movement, thereby endangering the growth and development of the fetus.
2. Avoid excessive consumption of beverages and alcohol
Some beverages contain caffeine and colanine, which can cause symptoms of poisoning in pregnant women, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and increased heart rate. These substances can affect the normal development of important organs in the fetus, such as the brain, heart, and liver, and lead to congenital diseases in the baby.
Alcohol contains ethanol, which is toxic to the brain, liver, and heart. It can enter the fetus through the placenta, causing intellectual impairment, distinctive facial features, stunted growth, and in severe cases, intellectual disabilities in the baby.
3. Avoid excessive consumption of vinegar
In the first half month of pregnancy, consuming large amounts of acidic food can lower the body's alkalinity, leading to fatigue and weakness.
Prolonged acidic pH in the body not only increases the risk of certain diseases for the mother, but also affects the normal growth and development of the fetus, and may even cause fetal deformities.
4. Avoid excessive consumption of hawthorn
Modern medical research has proven that hawthorn has a contracting effect on the uterus. If a pregnant woman consumes large amounts of hawthorn and hawthorn products, it can stimulate uterine contractions, and in severe cases, it can lead to miscarriage.
5. Avoid excessive exposure to detergents
Chemical components such as linear alkyl iodides and alcohol in detergents can damage and cause degeneration of the fertilized egg.
6. Avoid consuming hot spices
After becoming pregnant, consuming hot spices such as caraway, fennel, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, chili, and five-spice powder, as well as fried and stir-fried hot foods, can easily deplete intestinal water, reduce the secretion of gastric and intestinal glands, and cause constipation.
