Swollen feet - when to worry?

[Pootles2010]

Wonder if i can get some advice please. I'm 37 weeks today, and so far have almost completely managed to avoid swollen feet/ankles apart from mild swelling in ankles once when it was really hot.

However this morning my feet (particularly right) seem to have blown up like balloons! I know this is pretty normal, but i thought it normally happened later in the day? I'm worried as its early and still quite cool, so its not because i'm hot. The website i looked at said its normal, but could also be a sign of pre-eclampsia - how on earth am i meant to know the difference? No swelling of hands or face though, which i know you're meant to look out for. Thanks!

Hi Pootles. Check with your mw if you are really worried, better for peace of mind. But, in my own situation, i had little swelling until about 3 weeks back (I am 39 weeks) and now I am swollen all day. It gets worse in the evening, but it does not really go down overnight. I have little elephant legs and feet now.

But, again, to be 100% sure I would ask your mw. They can come and do a quick bp test and make sure you are okay.

Mine are blown up all of the time, and I only get any respite when I put my feet up. If you're worried, book yourself an urgent GPs appointment to have your blood pressure and the protein in your urine checked -- swelling is only a sign of pre-eclampsia if it's accompanied with high BP and protein in the urine. Otherwise, it's just late pregnancy exacerbated by the heat!

My feet are enormous and my bp and protein are absolutely normal. They've been swelling up since around 32 weeks, normally worse in hot weather or when I've been sitting for a while, but also puffy when it's cooler or in the early morning.

My feet are swollen and walking is painful. I had my urine and bp checked just yesterday and all was fine. I'm 34 weeks. I really hope this will ease off, though no reason why it should I suppose. My only respite is swimming - bliss.

I think the docs worry more if the swelling is "pitting odema" - if you press your finger into the swollen area for a few seconds, then remove it, is there a pit/dent left in the foot? I've had this late in previous preg, and they seemed to get worked up about that - though nothing was wrong I think it can indicate pre eclampsia developing.

Always worth phoning your MW or GP to discuss it anyway.

You've just reminded me to look at my feet, and my left foot is quite swollen. I had this a couple of weeks go, but it then disappeared. I had my BP and protein checked a week ago and they were both fine. I'm 34+1 today.

Get in touch with the MW or GP if you're worried.

I am 40 wks tommorow,and have had huge feet since about 2 weeks ago (when the hot weather started)
I got it a bit with first baby, but it was November!
I thought it was supposed to get worse during the day, but when I wake up, they are exactly the same.
I can hardly bend my toes or feet at the moment! And they sting, like pins and needles when I put my feet up.
When I wear flip flops, there is a huge indent where they have been
Think my blood pressure etc is ok? Havn't seen the midwife for a few weeks?
But maybe go get it checked if you're worried.
Better safe than sorry!

MamaMary - do you find that swimming makes a real difference? I do like a bit of a swim but kept getting blocked ears so have given up but might put myself back in the water if it helps with the feet!

my legs have doubled in size and as my job involes being on my feet all day they actually turn purple!!! the swelling doesnt go down over night but there usually back to there normal colour when i wake up - aparantly im fine tho and just need to sit with my feet up - sounds stupid but it actually makes my legs ache to sit with my legs up and out straight its like a vicious circle!!