Pregnancy: waking up with swollen feet and hands - normal?

[Jzee]

I'm 7 months pregnant and am getting up in the morning with slightly swollen feet and hands. Just wondering if this is normal or should I contact my GP?

I had this too, my fingers actually hurt and were very stiff in the morning! It's pretty normal to have this fluid retention in later pg, but it can be a sign that your blood pressure is high. Mine had rocketed even though I felt great.

I think you should have it checked out just to be on the safe side. HTH

Jzee, this happened to me too, and it was worse in hot weather.
M2T is sensible about having your bp checked but my bp was fine.

I had swollen feet especially towards the end when the weather was really hot (August)- really horrible as if you are wearing flippers!. If it goes down once you get mobile it is probably normal fluid retention that has built up overnight. Ironically drinking loads of water helps.

Mention it at your next appointment, or phone your mw for reassurance if you would n't otherwise see her for a while, and they will be more concerned if your blood pressure also becomes high or you get headaches.

hth

I had this too - ended up investing in a lot of flipflops and wore my rings on a chain round my neck for the last 6 weeks. Hot weather definitely makes it worse. put your feet up at every opportunity and don't wear shoes/socks/tights if you can get away with it. Never stand when you can sit and pop a couple of pillows under your feet in bed. I think you can look at your diet too but ask your mw about that.

My feet were so tender I had to walk on the sides of my feet when i first woke up. I had to get rid of all rings and they still irritate me now so don't bother with them.
At 7 months is totally normal to be swollen, but always check anything out that you're worried about. The cargo is far too precious!
A friend of mine could push her finger into her leg, (by what used to be an ankle!) and then let go and watch the indent fill back up with water!!!!

My nickname is Elephant Woman at the moment as my feet are so bad! I have to put them up as often as possible, and drink plenty of water, apparently that helps. One of my feet is much worse than the other which makes me feel even more hideous.

I had this when I was 7 months also. The horrible thing was that after I had DD, my feet still hurt for nearly one year! I don't think you need to contact your GP, but I was told to lie on my left side a lot, keep my feet elevated whenever possible, drink lots of water, and avoid foods with high sodium content. Good luck! You're in the home stretch now!!

Jzee, I got swollen ankles from 20 weeks and it got so bad sometimes that when I took my socks off it seemed like I still had them as the legs were all swollen above the line of the socks!!

Putting your feet up (literally) is a good advice, and drinking water as well.
I also wear support maternity tights, which are still OK since the weather has changed now and it's not too hot.

However if you feel all swollen, do contact your midwife as this can also be the first symptom of pre-eclampsya, I don't want to scare you, but I was told to check this out because it's better be safe than sorry.

Apart from literally putting my feet up against a wall (does it work?) is there anything else I can do? I'm only 21 weeks but my ankles have started swelling. Granted it's been boiling hot today but I haven't been out! Is sitting on my arse all day not helpful? I seem to remember this from last time except it was my hands too which it isn't yet this time, but I can't remember if it started this early before. It wasn't anything serious then so I'm not massively worried, especially as it seems to come and go. Any remedies or reassurance appreciated though. TIA.

I had the same problem. It got so I had a sort of wobble/shiver in my foot every step I took. Horrible! Try going for a swim - the exercise will get the fluid moving, you won't feel so heavy and the cool water will make you feel brighter. Also the Scholl maternity hold-up stockings are great. A bit of a nightmare to get on in the first place but so comfortable I used to sleep in them. they made those first steps in the morning much easier

I slept with my feet up on a pillow from the beginning of both my pregnancies. I never got swollen ankles (much to the dismay of my rather chubby gp ).

WWW, I sat and even (on occasions) slept in the position of legs up a wall and yes it does work and I now find that I sometimes do meditation in this position becasue it instantly relaxes me (although my entire family thinks it is hilarious!). Also agree with the baths and swimming... just because it feels really nice and takes away the heavy feeling. Could never use the support tights as the thought of tights on a hot day was simply horrid (I am someone who wears shoes as little as possible so tights .... yuk!) but lots of people have recommended wearing support tights too. HTH Winniex

Meant to say the most comfortable position of legs against the wall involves crossing ones legs (think easypeasy 'lotus' position IYKWIM) Slept like this quite a lot!

www - agree with sobernow about the rings and tepid baths. During my last pregnancy i went up two shoe sizes and couldn?t wear any rings from about 6 months till well after the birth into the autumn when the weather cooled down. Already nopticing signs of this awful swelling/puffiness returning and I am about the same stage as you (due middle of Nov). I am surviving with feet up as much as possible, afternoon nap with fan on and afternoons spent with feet in DD?s paddling pool full of cold water watching her play. I find standing up for a long time makes my feet ache and swell so sit down for the ironing etc. and am already avoiding long hot car journeys at all costs. For once, I am not craving a hot holiday in the sun!!