Swollen feet in late pregnancy

[apotomak]

Just wondering if any of you had any experience with swollen feet. I'm 39 weeks +3 and I've just noticed that my feet are swollen. Actually skin on the whole legs feels pretty tight ... they might be swollen too or I might just be a bit fat (I have been eating a lot). I haven't had any problems like that before. The surgery is closed on Saturday and normally I'd go and ask to see my GP but as it's the weekend I don't want to waste doctors' precious time at hospital if there's nothing abnormal about it.

Swollen feet are quite common due to extra blood and weight. Have you had any problems with high blood pressure? Swelling is also associated with pre eclampsia. Other symptoms are headaches, blurred vision, I think.

I would see a doc if I were you, just to get checked out.

Can you ring labour ward instead of GP?

Yes, sypmtoms of Pre-Eclampsia are odaema (especially in hands and face, although when I had PE it was everywhere), flashing bright lights in your vision, headache, high BP, protein in your urine, unable to pass urine, and eventually fitting.

Are you passing urine OK? And does it seem normal? I.e. not concentrated?

If I were you, I'd ring the labour ward (so you can speak to a midwife, not a GP) explain about the odaema you have, mention any thing else you feel isn't quite right and they will decide what to do from there. Until then, stay sat down with your feet up. Don't stop drinking to try and stop the swelling, infact it is advised to drink more than usual.

Good luck, I am sure everything will be fine, swelling especailly in the legs is very common in pregnancy.

Hi, I had the same around 38 weeks. Funnily enough I found it was worse if I sat down, it got better if I forced myself to go for lots of short walks (got the circulation going, I suppose).

No harm in speaking to your MW or out-of-hours GP to set your mind at rest, though.

I had this with dd2 (but not dd1 or ds) Sitting down with my feet up helped (I mean feet UP, higher than your waist) My blood pressure was slightly high, and they kept an eye on me for the last couple of weeks before she arrived, but they never suggested any medication or intervention.

I couldn't really go to many places as I couldn't fit my shoes on my feet. Dp went out and bought me a very large pair of flip flops so I could at least leave the house.

Strangely enough, when I'd had her and everything went back to normal, my feet had grown a full shoe size. Apparently, the same thing happened to my aunt when she had my cousins.

I have this now - have had since about 36 weeks (I'm 37+2). My GP said though it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, it's very common on its own - best things to alleviate include sticking your feet up, exercise, drinking lots of water, not eating too much sugary/salty food, swimming, having a bath ... If it's you're only symptom it's probably nothing, but you should get your BP checked just in case.

If the swelling has come on suddenly, or if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above (also pain just under the ribs is another symptom of pre-eclampsia), then you need to see a mw or gp as soon as possible (ie today). It is unlikely to be PE - especially as I saw on your profile you already have a child - but it's definitely best to be sure. Do you have an out-of-hours number for the mw?