swollen ankles and feet.... what can i do?

[cantmummyhaveabreak]

29+3, PG no 4... never had swelling before and it's got to the point where even in my open trainer style shoes my feet burn as they're so squashed into them... can't really wear sandals in this weather can i?

Anything i can do to ease it at all?

TIA- got to go get DS from school so wont be back for a little while...

Well, apart from keeping your feet up as much as poss....I have a friend who practices reiki, so I had that when I was pg and it brought the swelling right down, it was amazing really!

give birth....works wonders!

I have this too - am 30 weeks and it kicked in a couple of weeks ago. It's horrible and I have no ankles. I've been told that the best thing is to get your feet up, above youe heart, so I've tried to do this when I get home from work and it does help. Also try to have your feet resting on something at work if you can (I never seem to be able to).

Drink lots of water, apparently that helps too. Also gentle exercise is supposed to help - swimming, walking and yoga.

I went out and bought a pair of faux-Uggs for about £30 from Debenhams, which are so very comfy and not too insane looking.

stewmaker - I had DD2 6 days ago and my feet are still swollen (though they only became swollen in the last week or so of pg) - hoping they'll go down soon though!

oh you all have my sympathies.

Mine was so bad BEFORE I was pregnant my GP gave me an ECG to see if it was heart failure!!
You can imagine how bad it was AFTER I got pregnant.

Good news is, Since I quit my job and became SAHM my ankles have not been swollen at all! It's circulation so keep moving (not possible when huge I know so just keep your feet up).
Being at a desk all day was my problem evidently although it also runs in the family so I am prone to it.

Have you tried wearing flight compression socks or tights? If you put them on first thing in the morning, they really help preventing legs and feet swelling up during the course of the day.

Same here. You have my sympathies. I'm 40 weeks tomorrow.

I find the swelling is always worse if you spent long periods sitting down or sitting/standing still, as opposed to walking about or lying with your feet up, so I'd avoid sitting. Do you have a desk job or sit still for most of the day?

I found reflexology, even a decent foot massage for your DP/DH, worked wonders at reducing the swelling for a day or two, although it comes back (nice treat too ). I think it has to do with lymphatic drainage and circulation.

Ugg boots are brilliant at this time of year. Flip flops are out in Feb

Thanks for all the replies, DD1's been ill since i posted so not managed to get back on till now.

JBrd- had heard something about flight socks but no actual reviews... might get some when i'm out shopping next.

As for a foot massage from DH? no chance he's pants at stuff like that... though DS (6yo) did give me a fab 30min back massage yesterday so think i might teach him to do feet too!!
(disclaimer- DS does peer massage at school and wanted to give me a massage )

I sit with my feet up everytime I sit down. And I wear trainers that are a size too big anyway, so there is a little extra room.

Failing that you could always wear your slippers out

DD would love that, have set off on the school run a few times with my slippers on, once got to the end of the street and DD1 & DS had both noticed and not told me... when i noticed they were begging me to keep them on!!

I have some open trainer things like this but in womens size, and without socks on they're a tad too big normally and slip off, but currently squeezing my feet even without socks on...

And i'm sure i have my feet up too much already, SAHM and normally only do 1 school run a day and the minor housework... think i'm doomed to have fat feet this pregnancy!!

My MIL gave me her Erna May Wright childbirth book from when she was pg 30-odd years ago and that advises using support stockings (quite funny as book just naturally assumes that you will be used to wearing stockings everyday and that a suspender belt will be second nature!) anyway advice is that you should put on the support stockings before getting out of bed (wash at night) and that you should do this for at least a week.

Perhaps worth a try, although advice may now have changed so you may want to check it out with someone more qualified than me.

If your ankles have suddenly swollen you should get your bp checked in.case of pre eclampsia

BP was checked last tuesday at MW and was all fine... had swollen ankles then, but forgot to mention between asking about the other problems i'm having this PG!! It's one thing after another and i hate to sound like a winger!! haha!!

I tend not to ask doc/mw things until I need to so when I do its usually a list lolol.
And you can't have your feet up too much if you need to! I am having to get hubby to help out loads, cos I just don't have the energy this time to do things so I am trying to enjoy it while I can cos it won't last. 9 weeks + counting down :)

Hey, I'm prone to swollen ankles at the best of times but have recently been sleeping with a pillow lying longways under the whole length of my legs, this has really helped me a lot.
I know you can't really sleep on your back but even on the side it seems to help. Gives your legs a good chance of catching up and getting back to normal before getting up again. :)