Swelling up!

[scatterbox]

I know its hot and all that. But my feet have suddenly swollen up like ballons! They have litrally just decided that now is the time to retain water! Is it normal to suddenly get this big this quick? I litrally get out of bed with throbbing feet. They are tight and itchy and by night time I can hardly move my toes! My hands are blowing up during the night, but seem to calm down during the day. But it has been a bit of a shock! I have had 3 previous pregnancies and never had elephant feet before! One of those pregnancies was during a South African Summer - so surly if it was just heat related it would have happened out there??????? Oh I dunno?! Would this cause anyone else to worry slighty? (I'm just over 36wks preggers)
Any thoughts?

[scatterbox]

balloons!!! Ballons?! oops - should have previewed!

[MerryMarigold]

mine are swollen and i'm 13 weeks! i think it's very humid too.

[millie1]

I'm exactly the same Scatterbox ... 36+4, feet like ballons, hands not bothering me but feet & legs ache like mad - skin even feels sore. Am interested to see what advice you get ... I've none to give but you're not alone!

[expatinscotland]

i swell so badly in my 3rd trimester people who've never met me think i was obese when i fell pregnant.

i have to wear DH's shoes.

my calves are literally bigger than cricket bats.

my hands and arms swell so badly my fingers are usually on pins and needles the ENTIRE 3rd trimester, and i've developed arthritis in my right thumb since having DD2.

it sucks!

BUT, look at it this way: you will lose all that water weight at such an astonishing rate after you give birth you'll be pleasantly surprised!

[scatterbox]

am getting pins and needles too!!!
Its totally no fun is it millie1! So fed up!

[jeanjeannie]

I've just taken my HUGE fat lumps of meat (feet) out of a bucket of cool water. Am 36+4 weeks too! And the pins and needles sensation....it's way weird. Just went to buy slippers for hospital and my size 5 feet are not fitting into an 8.. Daren't look properly at my calves and I don't have ankles!

[tassisssss]

can i join in?!

i'm 35 weeks and only my flip flops fit comfortably...what am i going to do if it rains?!

managed to squeeze my fat feet into ballet pumps for church this morning, but could barely walk by the end!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Sweling and water retention can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, so contact your MW and see what she recommends. She may want to check your bp and urine.

Do you have any other symptoms? Headache?

But then of course it could be because it is bloody hot!

It is worth contacting your mw though.

[alittlebitshy]

I've started swelling too -elephant feet are how i affectionately refer to mine too. Am in my birkis, but wondering what i'll do when it rains cos it will cos i'm still 28 weeks and this is England so no hope of perpetual dryness til the end of July.....

[jessikart]

I'm exactly the same - 36+5 and my ankles have vanished in the last week. Thank god for velvet flip flops that don't slide off when your feet sweat

Agree with ILTMIMI - sudden swelling can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia so best to get it checked out.

[gillythekid]

I've got trotters where my feet used to be.

[Lazylou]

Same here at 37+3. Been checked out for pre-eclampsia earlier this week so not concerned that it is that. Just mahooooosive elephant feet which look horrid, as well as swollen legs. I'm stuck in jeans because I can't go out looking like this but fortunately, it is quite cool indoors.

[mrsboogie]

I am 21 weeks and I have this (I always get swollen feet and ankles in warm weather anyway)

I will be heavily preggers in July and August. I think I will dieeeeeeeeee

[mrsboogie]

am dreadin it!!!

the thoughts of going to work and travelling on the underground (am not in london but will have to go there for meetings)

i don't know if i will even be able to walk.

oh for a sh*tty summer with rain like last year....

[elportodelgato]

I'm 38+2 and feel like I have been inflated from the neck down. Disgusting. I've been told it helps to keep your feet up above the height of your pelvis when you are sitting (IFYSWIM) - good excuse for more taking it easy

[scatterbox]

Yeah I heard, keeping feet up and wierdly sleeping on your left hand side - any clues why?!!! Thats the side I sleep anyhows, but can't understand why it would help more over than the right?? Am I being durrr?!
I get to see my MW on next monday so will definately mention it - but from all these replies, guessing that its totally normal and totally horrible for everyone!!! Isn't pregnancy great!!! ho ho ho!

[scatterbox]

Yeah I heard, keeping feet up and wierdly sleeping on your left hand side - any clues why?!!! Thats the side I sleep anyhows, but can't understand why it would help more over than the right?? Am I being durrr?!
I get to see my MW on next monday so will definately mention it - but from all these replies, guessing that its totally normal and totally horrible for everyone!!! Isn't pregnancy great!!! ho ho ho!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Sleeping on your left side helps get the baby in to the optimum position (or ofp) for labour and birth.

I too am wanting a crap summer, as I will be heavily pregnant all through the hottest part of the year.

[weeze201]

I will have to join in on this one! I am due a week today and have been swollen since about 16 weeks! I haven't worn my wedding ring since then and i only got married last July! It is awful!
Aquanatal has helped me and moving my feet/ankles as much as i can before i go to bed! Sitting with feet in cold water is nice but only eases it for a short while!
Like everyone has said though it is a sign of pre-eclampsia so get it checked out or you could just be like me, fat feet for no reason!
Get this baby out!

[Essie3]

Yup, I'm in. Slim, not carrying too much weight, 3rd trimester - and all last week, I've had feet which seem to be 10 dress sizes bigger than me. Toes like little chippolatas, no ankle bones (and I was called Olive Oyl at school because of my skinny pins) and even... dimples!!
If someone just saw my feet, they'd sign me up for those ten ton mum programmes, you know, the women so huge they can't get out of bed.

[chocbiscuits]

DRINK WATER!
MW just told me its v. hot for pg ladies and we should all drink lots of water!

[scatterbox]

lol - thats really made me laugh Essie3 - toes like chippolatas!
The other wierd thing I'm getting is, Braxton Hicks - well not wierd, I've been having them for ages, but they've got really painful. I'm litrally having to breath my way through some of them!!!
Be sooooo glad when this baby is OUT!
So lying on your left is to help baby on way out - nothing to do with relieving water retention??? Babe's still bum down and back to back tho! Hey ho! Just glad this is the last time we are doing this!

[scatterbox]

Drink water????? Good Grief we are all gonna go around like inflated water bombs! - Just don't stand anywhere near me! Be afraid, be very afraid!!!! lol!

[weeze201]

Yeah my MW told me to drink lots of water and cut down on salt! If I drink anymore water there is sure to be a national drought! Hey scatterbox, braxton hicks???? you should get them checked out too if they are that painful! I have had them for a while but never painful!
Let me know how you get on!
Bring on aqua natal tomorrow!