Swollen feet 36 weeks - uncomfortable and worried :-(

[Penny2012]

I have developed swollen feet and lower legs over the past 4 days. It's gradually got a little worse every day. I've read all the advice online but I still feel so worried. How long will it last? Is there any chance of it improving before the baby is born? If not how long will it take to go down after birth? My m/wife took my BP just last week and it was fine and I haven't got any other signs of pre-eclampsia so I'm not worried about that. It feels wierd :-(

Sorry, but I think you should get your BP etc checked again tomorrow. Pre-eclampsia can flare up very quickly.
However, it's been pretty hot the last few days and that can also encourage ankles to swell. Try and keep your feet up as much as you can.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but probably not much you can do and this does sounds normal for your stage of pregnancy... You should start getting more concerned if you have sudden swelling in your face and hands or other parts besides legs/feet. Try sitting with your feet up as much as possible, ask DP to massage feet:), some people like to wear special socks... Based on last preg though, should go down pretty quickly after birth! Even within a week. I felt like I just drained.

My feet are really swollen at 20 weeks I had pre-eclampsia last pregnancy and it wasn't just my feet that were swollen it was my whole face! Always best to get it checked though. Not long to go!

PS They didn't go down until a couple of weeks after the birth - sorry!

You need to get your bp checked asap.

If you have swollen feet early on it's more likely to be an issue, but at 36 weeks, completely normal.

I had pre-eclampsia in my last pregnancy and swollen feet/ hands were the first sign. It happened at around 36-37 weeks.

I've been very wary of them in this pregnancy and have called the midwife a couple of times to ask about it. If you give them a call they won't mind.

I have had swollen feet/ankles in this pregnancy and it seems to happen when it's hot or I've been walking a lot. In the morning they go down to normal again, the midwife said that wouldn't happen if there was a real problem.

Also watch out for pitting oedema, if you press your finger into your swollen foot for 30 seconds does it leave an indent? I think that is a sign of pre-eclampsia too, but can also be normal.

It could well be normal as it is so hot, but definitely give your midwife a call so they can come and check your urine protein levels and your blood pressure. They should also put your mind at rest and give you extra signs to look out for.

I had total cankles with a summer due date first time around. Lower legs, ankles and feet looked like balloons. Really uncomfortable and tender to touch - felt like they'd been sunburned. Horrid. No swelling anywhere else except my ass and midwives were unconcerned. They scarcely reduced overnight but they did keep checking my BP etc so don't ignore it.

Top tips (already researching this one as ankles looking puffy at 26 weeks) appear to be:
~Keep feet above waist height - how the fuck can you seriously do this if you can't lie down without the baby cutting off the blood supply to your heart though? I spent a lot of nights lying on my side with my feet on 2/3 pillows. Don't think it made a blind bit of difference frankly
~Drink lots of water (makes your kidneys flush it out better) and v little if any caffeine
~Get some exercise to keep circulation moving. I was deskbound all day at work so I suspect this has been the root cause.
~Stay off your feet - would be helpful if someone could flag what percentage of your time you should be exercising versus lolling on the sofa.
~Wear support tights - make sure they are the right size or you will make the problem worse apparently. Not much use if it is boiling hot though.
~Leg Massage - probably not reflexology though until you get closer to your DD.
~Aqua anatal classes. No idea why but people swear by them
~Wear comfy shoes, not flip flop style, just puts pressure on the sorest points. Don't wear your fav expensive shoes as they will get stretched. Espadrilles and summer runners with velcro fasteners were my saviour. Birkenstocks were agonising, poss because feet were already swollen when I bought them.
I was given surgical stockings after a CS and they seemed to help, I think the swelling took about 2/3 weeks to go completely but looked fairly normal within a week so depends how bad it gets really.

Thanks for all your thoughts! I had BP and wee tested today and all normal but just unsightly/feel weird and far worse towards end of day. The swelling is worst in my feet but definitely goes up to my thighs! X