Body Building Information

One of the most common pregnancy problems is edema, or when fluid builds up in the tissues and causes swelling. Leg swelling is usually the most common edema in pregnancy. There are other times that this leg swelling and fluid retention can cause cramping and painful spots as well. Keeping swelling down is key to happier legs while pregnant. Being pregnant during the warmer months or in hot locations will tend to make this swelling worsen. For those affected by leg swelling or other edema in pregnancy there is a few easy treatments that can be done to help the symptoms.

Treatment for Swelling

All of these are simple drug-free ways to help keep leg swelling down while pregnant.

Low Salt Diet Salt will trap fluid in the body, whether pregnant or not. Keeping to a low salt diet can help release fluid that would otherwise stay in the tissues from the salt.

Take a Load Off Lie down and keep the feet above your heart line (a few pillows can do this with ease). This helps “drain” the legs of the fluid build up and gets it flowing again throughout the body.

Cold Compresses Don’t put ice packs on the skin (this can harm the skin and may cause temporary frostbite) but take a towel that has been in chilled water or other cool cloth and wrap your legs with it. Warm weather and warm locations can help keep swelling in the body and this cold can help release it.

Pregnancy Problems

Leg swelling is a common problem. Fluid can build up in the legs and they can swell, or the veins can swell causing leg cramps. Most every woman that has ever been pregnant realizes this. However, if there is facial swelling while pregnant, this is very different than leg swelling. Facial swelling in pregnant women is a sign of preeclampsia, a very serious pregnancy problem that will need to be taken care of by a medical professional as quickly as possible.

For more information on pregnancy problems and what can be done about them, see “Natural Ways to Relieve Common Discomforts in Pregnancy - Natural solutions to more than 30 everyday pregnancy problem, by Carl Jones or “The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy, by Vicki Iovine.

Pregnancy Resources Online

These are three places that have really good pregnancy information, all very neatly done and without popups and annoying banners.

Pregnancy: Getting Pregnant, To Baby and Beyond http://www.pregnancy.org

Pregnancy Week by Week http://www.pregnancy.com

Pregnancy and Childbirth http://pregnancychildbirth.sui te101.com