Swelling only on left knee and thigh (not DVT) - 39 weeks pregnant

[potatohare]

Hi everyone,

Did anyone have swelling in just one leg (left leg, mainly knee and thigh)? I started to have this about a week ago, completely out of nowhere (before that it was just the normal feet swelling on both sides). I phoned the maternity unit (I’m in the UK) and they told me to go to A&E and get checked for DVT, which thankfully was negative. The dr said it’s most likely just one of those pregnancy things and discharged me however I’m worried they might be missing something important and that whatever this is will get much worse after all the anaesthesia I’ll have for the c section.

Any insight is very much appreciated!!

Do you sleep on your left side? Maybe it’s a buildup from lying on that side? Try to alternate.

Did they check your bp when you was in a&e? And it was ok?

Oh after a csection they usually give blood thinning injections for 10 days to help minimise the risk.

@Blue2020 I’ve been sleeping on the couch in this last trimester because the angle it’s comfier than my bed, I can get elevated better so am basically sleeping a bit more on my back (but elevated so there’s no risks to baby or me). Before that, I did tend to sleep more on my left side but this has changed quite some time ago, Idk if it would affect it now. I do sit more on my left side though (imagine both legs on the couch and looking at the tv in front of me so like, the right leg on too of the left - and I was on bed rest for months this pregnancy so stayed on the couch quite a lot). At A&E they did check my BP and it was fine, I also have a blood pressure monitor at home because this pregnancy has been crazy (low papp a + short cervix) so I keep monitoring it and my BP has been fine, it’s usually quite low actually.

I hope the blood thinning injections help and that it’s just a build up of fluids that will go away some days after the c section 🤞🏻 my anxious brain can’t stop thinking the worst though ugh. I guess I’ll find out soon enough anyway as my c section is tomorrow.

Thank you for taking the time to help! I’ll try to keep repeating to myself that it’s probably bc I sit more on left side so I don’t spiral too much 😓

thanks!

Why are they giving you blood thinning injections if it’s not DVT?
As someone who spent a month in hospital with DVT after giving birth I would be asking for further tests to discount DVT. A swollen left leg is a big red flag and if I were in your position I’d be wanting additional tests. I nearly lost my leg (and my life) and had a consultant at my bedside discussing amputation. Please ask more questions and get some answers.

Good luck with the csection. The pp has a point though, can they do further checks? Ask the labour ward if they can do checks while you wait. It’s odd that it’s localised.