OMG I am so swollen I am going to float away soon

[MassiveBumperlicious]

I've had to come home from work early as I am so uncomfortable! My hands and my feet are so swollen, it's horrid. I wondered around work barefoot as my shoes wouldn't fit.

Plus I am knackered and crabby and uncomfortable so I thought it just best to come home. I finish next Thursday fortunately. Last night I hate to stick my feet in a bucket of cold water. It's not like I am even on my feet that much at work, and it's air conditioned. I swear I am going to float away or burst! I've never had this before so had no idea how uncomfortable it could be.

Poor you, you have my sympathy. Do you have a desk job? I found I suffered like this with my first pregnancy - its the sitting still that does it. If the swelling is really bad you should call you midwife in case of pre-eclampsia.

Not much longer at work for you now, I hope you feel less puffy soon.

Thanks for the reply, I thought standing up would make it worse, but yes I am sat at a desk all day.

Am seeing the midwife tomorrow anyway, so she'll pick up on anything more nefarious. I just didn't realise how uncomfortable it would be. I thought I'd reached peak discomfort already, turns out I hadn't - and still got 6 weeks left to go!

Oooh 6 weeks to go, but you will feel better once you are not chained to your desk. When I was pg with my second I wasn't working and was chasing a toddler about and I didn't swell up at all. The heat doesn't help either.

I didn't mean to worry you but it is best to get your blood pressure checked just in case. Hope it goes well tomorrow and you get lots of sympathy.

Best of luck with your last 6 weeks!

Swollen is one thing, but do you have oedema? That is, when you press a finger down on your ankle (or wherever is most swollen) does your skin come back right away or does it remain depressed for a bit?

Mention to your midwife at tomorrow's appointment if you have any of the following:
(1) black dots in your vision, especially in the evening and/or when you stand up from where you are sitting
(2) oedema - when you press a finger down on your ankle (or wherever is most swollen) does your skin come back right away or does it remain depressed for a bit?
(3) itching - you can't sit for long because pants itch, etc.

I do have b) but oedema is quite normal, I don't think I have any of the other symptoms, but the MW will check my wee and BP tomorrow.

I do have slight itching, but not to a great extent, just normal skin stretching I think. The problem is as soon as people talk about itching inevitably I start itching!

How did it go with the mw? HOpe you are feeling better today.

MW looked a bit aghast at my feed but no protein in wee and BP fine so nothing to worry about. Thanks for asking.

My feet look really gross, worse with the imprint from my shoes, they just look deformed!

Is your blood pressure high?

If you start itching more, please have MW check for uric acid in your blood.

I think pitting oedema is quite common at the end of pregnancy and not necessarily a marker of early Pre-eclampsia, though obviously it should set alarm bells ringing with a MW.

I hope it doesn't develop into anything, but it's good that your MW thought there was nothing to worry about. I really sympathise with the feet thing - mine were horrible balloons by the end of pregnancy (and, I hate to tell you, beyond). I couldn't wear normal shoes, I couldn't even cope with flip flops (in february!) because they dug in, or Crocs. In the end, I was living in horrible synthetic UGGalikes. The relief when I binned them...

(I did end up with borderline PreE, so it puts the ballooning feet into context. Sounds like you're ok at the moment, though.)

CoteD'Azur is wrong - Oedema is just the medical term for swelling. Pitting oedema is the medical term for swelling that leaves an imprint when you push down - neither of these mean you have pre-eclampsia. I have spectacular pitting oedema on my feet (you could almost write a message in it....!) but BP fine and no protein in urine, and no pre-eclampsia.

It's important to try and get your self moving - walking or swimming DAILY would be great. Honestly, this will greatly improve your venous return and the drainage of your lymph..... so less swelling. No need to over do it, but 30 or 40min a day of this gentle exercise will really help - sitting around and not moving is what's causing it (as the MW has checked for other causes). Also, go easy on the salt, that will make matters worse (and it's all the hidden salt you've got to watch for- ie there's lots in most bread and cereals).

BTW, have had this myself from about 23 weeks (pitting Oedema, feet, lower legs, hands, face), with no signs of pre-eclampsia during preg where I did no exercise - this time, at 29 weeks, I still have bony feet, hands and ankles, and no facial swelling at all - I swim daily. Thought I'd better tell you that just in case you think I'm preaching from a point of no experience!

You only think I am wrong because you don't know of any other pregnancy problem than pre-eclampsia, which I have not mentioned at all.

Don't worry, no prob with BP and wee checked and ok. They seem to have gone down a bit anyway.

Apparently being sat down at work is just as bad as being on my feet as being leaned forward in my chair is cutting off my legs from my body and bad for my circulation.

CoteDAzur, sorry but you are wrong regarding the use of terms "Oedema" (any swelling) and "Pitting Oedema" (the type that leaves an imprint). PROSECCOGIRL is correct on this issue.

Pitting/severe swelling CAN be due to pre-eclampsia, of course, so should be checked just in case - but fortunately it's usually not (most women get oedema at some point in pregnancy but only some develop pre-eclampsia).

MASSIVE, Glad the swellings resolving a little - yes, standing for long periods(and not moving), will make them swell more (the blood/lymph has to overcome gravity), walking will help reduce swelling tho' - the muscles of the leg contracting as you walk helps push your circulation round.

When sitting - try putting your feet up, the nearer the level of your heart they are, the better! Not very practical to lie down obviously, but a foot-stool would be great!

Again: I was not talking about pre-eclempsia

I was hospitalized in both pregnancies with high uric acid in my blood. The only symptom was pitting edema and tiredness, but then, everyone is tired in last two months of pregnancy, so I didn't think much of it. It was diagnosed in a blood test.

OP said she was knackered, which reminded me of my condition. I was also itching quite a bit, especially under my legs when sitting, which is why I asked if OP itches. Apparently, it is another symptom of high uric acid in pregnancy.

Massive - Glad to hear you have nothing to worry about. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy

Massive - yr prob not still around but was on this topic to post similar thread and instead joined this. You have my sympathies for starting so early with this swelling. I see some sensible advice on this thread re swimming and salt.... cant hurt to try. Im 38+3 and have old lady feet and legs. My advice to you - FEET UP!

Massive I had swollen feet (nothing serious) and it's a bit woo, but I am having acupuncture to try to get everything ready for my probable induction, and she shoves some needles in for the swelling and I haven't had it nearly as bad since.

It's also been suggested that I sit with my feet higher up than my body (eg lazing on the sofa with feet up on the arm), also to put cold towels around them. I haven't tried these though.

I called it my "shrek foot".

Also, get one of those foot spa things if you can. The vibration is great for swollen preggie feet.