Swollen fingers and hands - major water retention!

[auburnlizzy78]

OK, I know a little water retention is normal, but this is getting ridiculous. My finger joints look swollen/odd too, and I wake up every night now in discomfort-borderline pain unable to uncurl my fingers or make a fist. Then over the course of the day my hands and fingers swell up and feel really tight. I do have a history of arthritis in the family so they are testing me for this on Tuesday.

Assuming it's not arthritis, and it is just water retention, I'm wondering how quickly all the water goes and the swelling goes down after the baby is born. Midwife said last week I was carrying a LOT of water.

Is there anything I can do to help myself in the meantime? 35 weeks today - not sure if I can stand this for another six weeks! Can't pick up things, unscrew lids etc, lift heavy things..... a real pain!

Watching with interest as I have huge sausage fingers too :( ... Also 35 weeks (just!) and finger joints always feeling like they need to be clicked....

Cut out salt - it will make the problem a lot worse. Even if you don't add it to food, there can be a lot of hidden salt in things you wouldn't expect - bread, breakfast cereals and fresh soups for a start! You could find a few changes to your diet make a big difference to the problem.

The fluid should start to go within days of birth, as your extra blood volume reduces pretty fast.

I assume your MW is happy there is no pre-eclampsia or other worrying cause for the swelling?

Thanks oldmum42. No pre-eclampsia at all, and am in good health. My blood pressure is consistently low (100/60) so have been fairly relaxed about my salt intake, trying to get my blood pressure up a bit so I didn't feel as dizzy! (MW actually suggested I was ok to do this, obv within reason!)

Interesting though, I will experiment with your suggestion for a few days and see if it makes a difference, thanks.

I have actually been day-dreaming about peeing half a gallon after the birth and instantly feeling better

I had this last pregnancy and was assured by my GP that I would pee it out within 2 weeks of birth and she was spot on. I literally used to sit on the toilet peeing for what felt like forever and staring in amazement as my legs shrank before my eyes. Sorry if TMI but be reassurred it goes and it's great!

I didn't swell much last pregnancy but after 20 hours lying in bed after a section, on a drip, I was like the Michelin woman. It was gone within a week, it was FAB!

This time I am 35 weeks, massively swollen, puffy, oedematous, legs like an elephant (ie no joints, just straight up and down) and feet like an old lady (the ones whose feet spill out of their shoes). If I don't have shoes on by lunchtime I might not actually manage to get them on at all

Roll on delivery!

Another sausage fingered one here :) 40+5 and looking forward to them not being swollen anymore, they don't look THAT bad but they are really uncomfortable in the mornings.

Yep, same here my feet are the worst. Can only wear flip flops.

Am afraid it's not necessarily going to go with peeing, but with the delightful stale milk fragranced night sweats!

Make sure you flex your wrists (and ankles if necessary) regularly to try and get the fluid moving.