When do I need to worry about swelling/puffy hands and feet?

[ToriaPumpkinPasty]

So my hands have been getting progressively more swollen for weeks now,I took most of my rings off at about 20 weeks and I eventually had to take my wedding ring off and have been wearing an old thumb ring in its place for about two weeks. Now even that's tight. While it was just my hands I wasn't concerned as when I'm warm my hands swell up anyway.

Over the weekend I was away at a scout camp and on my feet all day. Last night and today I've noticed that my feet are huge. We're talking hobbit feet here, my socks are leaving deep imprints and my shoes are unbearably tight.

When I press down on any of the areas that are swollen I don't leave indents, it springs back up quickly etc, but my hands are really starting to ache from it. I've tried drinking lots of water as the books (and Google) say that keeping hydrated can help with water retention, I've also had my feet up all day to try and drain it but nothing is making much of a difference.

Other than the swelling I'm exhausted (but this is common after a camp anyway, never mind being 35 and a half weeks pregnant) and my face is a bit puffy (this does sometimes happen when I'm tired and tends to go down when I get some decent sleep)

I'm getting plenty of regular movements from the baby, and my pulse is fairly normal (about 70BPM). I am very warm but then I've been warm for months now and it's bright sunshine outside today.

I'm seeing my MW on Wed anyway for my 35 week check so will obviously mention all this to her and she'll do my urine and BP as standard, but should I be more worried about this?

Toria can you give the MW a quick ring to ask what she thinks? Or perhaps phone the hospital just to get an opinion.

Just to set your mind at rest.

My hands swelled up terribly towards the end of my PG but never my feet- but I do remember the MW telling me to phone her if the swelling got worse.

My sister had the same thing. From about 6 months she had to have her feet up at any opportunity or they'd feel really painful. Her mw just told her the same things you've been doing and that it was just one of those things. Her feet were too swollen for many shoes. She had to wear very loose sandals. Within days of giving birth it had pretty much gone and she said that until then she had genuinely forgotten that she had ever been able to see her ankle bones.

Call you mw anyway, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not usually a bossy person, but please give your midwife a ring for advice. I think that swelling in the feet is fairly common but swelling in the face is not and can be a sign of pre eclampsia. Since you've had facial swelling before it may well not be, but it would probably be best to speak to a professional about it.

While it is common for everything to start swelling now anyway, get a quick BP check done (even if its popping into Boots). Normal blood pressure= everything is fine.

Thanks for the responses ladies. Good to know I'm not alone with random swelling!

I've just had a few hours kip on the sofa with my feet up and my feet are back to a more normal size, hands are still like Mickey Mouse gloves though!

As I've missed her surgery hours sleeping, I promise to call her first thing in the morning if I wake up the same again. Promise. If I get worse tonight then I'll call my own personal MW (my mum who I've been trying to avoid worrying as she does worry) and see what she says.