Edema in pregnancy

synonym

Water retention pregnancy

Synonyms in a broader sense

Late gestosis

introduction

Edema is one of the most common symptoms that can occur during pregnancy. While early pregnancy is mainly characterized by hormonal changes and the associated nausea (so-called premature gestosis), completely different symptoms occur during the last months of pregnancy.
In technical terms, the development of these symptoms, which are typical for pregnancy, is referred to as gestosis (also known as pregnancy poisoning).

In general, approximately 60 to 70 percent of expectant mothers can be expected to experience water retention during late pregnancy (Technical term: edema) develop.
These edema can vary in severity from woman to woman as well as from pregnancy to pregnancy and appear in different parts of the body.
The development of such edema can be observed particularly frequently during the last months of pregnancy.

The water retention typical of edema during pregnancy can generally accumulate in the connective tissue of the entire body. Water in the feet, ankles and hands are particularly common. Edema in the face is also not uncommon during late pregnancy.

The majority of expectant mothers perceive this water retention as unsightly and annoying, because especially in the last months of pregnancy, freedom of movement and well-being can be significantly restricted by the pronounced water retention.
In addition, many of the expectant mothers are concerned about whether edema occurs during pregnancy dangerous can be. In general, however, this concern can be negated. Edema that occurs during late pregnancy is in most cases completely harmless.
Immediately after the birth, it can be observed that the typical edema of pregnancy regresses completely without medical intervention.

Nevertheless, affected women should promptly consult a specialist (here a specialist in gynecology) and have possible underlying diseases excluded. Especially pregnancy-related high blood pressure (hypertension) can play a central role in this context.

causes

There can be a multitude of causes for the development of edema during pregnancy. In addition to the pregnancy-specific reasons for the occurrence of such water retention, other organic causes must also be ruled out.

Edema are generally the result of one underlying disease. The water retention is therefore not an independent clinical picture, but rather that Symptom of a systemic disease.
In the development of edema, limitations of the heart- and Kidney function or Liver damage a crucial role. In addition, changes in the venous Drain, for example a Leg vein thrombosis, the emergence of edema on the Legs favor.
In addition, many of the affected patients may have a drainage disorder in the area of ​​the Lymphatic system be detected. In these cases one speaks of a so-called Lymphedema.

Although the occurrence of edema during pregnancy mostly no general illness these possible causes must be excluded. In expectant mothers, water retention occurs especially during the last months of pregnancy almost normal.
As the unborn child develops and grows in the womb, the pregnant woman's body goes through a number of changes. Especially the Increase in blood volume and the accompanying Increase in the water content, can play a crucial role in the development of edema during pregnancy.
The Veins the expectant mother will have to work harder to achieve this because of these changes blood adequate to Heart to be able to lead back. This can have the consequence that the permeability of the vein walls increases and thus more water can get into the tissue.

In addition, the belly that keeps getting bigger during pregnancy puts enormous pressure on it pool out. This also ensures that the return of the blood through the venous thigh is made more difficult. For this reason, edema mainly develops in the area of ​​the pregnancy legs, Ankles and Feet. In addition, the hands, finger or even that face be affected by pronounced water retention.

In this context, the expected due date to be of vital importance. Edema is particularly common on the face and on the upper extremity in women who have their child in summer or Early fall give birth.
Based on these observations, it can be assumed that warm temperatures favor the development of edema during pregnancy.
Furthermore applies long periods of sitting or standing as a risk factor for the formation of water retention during pregnancy.
Also the hormonal change of the organism during pregnancy can contribute to the development of edema. Especially the increased release of the hormone estrogen causes a loosening of the tissue. In this way the female body is to be prepared for the impending birth. However, since the increased permeability of the venous vessels causes more water to flood into the tissue, the loosening of the tissue leads to the formation of edema more easily.

Symptoms

Edema during pregnancy can lead to various complaints in affected women. Most pregnant women suffer from heavy, sore legs and / or significantly swollen ankles, especially in the evening and after long periods of standing or sitting.
Due to the increasing water retention in the area of ​​the lower extremities, the affected women usually need shoes one to two sizes larger.

In addition, local swellings often appear on the knuckles and hands. For this reason, during late pregnancy, women should remove their rings early if possible. The tissue affected by edema typically acts swollen and slightly shiny. In addition, the fabric is already under slight pressure dellable.
The water retention during late pregnancy in itself does not usually cause pain in affected women. However, due to the increasing pressure on the joints, long periods of standing or walking can become uncomfortable or even painful.

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When should a doctor be consulted?

A doctor should be consulted whenever edema occurs during pregnancy that exceeds normal levels. In addition, women who are suffering from water retention should especially bloated and uncomfortable feel, consider seeing a doctor.

In addition, possible symptoms accompanying the coincident with the edema occur, provide an indication of whether medical treatment is necessary. In certain cases, edema that occurs during pregnancy can be referred to as a pre-eclampsia Clues. This phenomenon leads to increased excretion of protein with the urine and to an increase in the Blood pressure.
Affected women typically develop strong ones a headache, dizziness, Eye flicker or tinnitus.
Preeclampsia requires urgent medical treatmentotherwise they will cause serious damage to Mother and / or child can lead.

In addition, women who have concerns about the edema during pregnancy can always consult a specialist (Gynecologist).

Therapy (what to do?)

Edema that occurs during pregnancy can only be treated to a limited extent. However, since the water retention usually regresses completely immediately after birth without medical intervention, targeted treatment is usually not necessary at all.

Women who tend to develop edema during pregnancy can do something through a balanced diet that increases venous blood return in the legs. A sufficient intake of salt and protein can reduce the likelihood of edema developing during pregnancy.

In addition, regular, moderate exercise can be something that can be done to minimize potential water retention. Sports such as swimming or walking are particularly suitable during pregnancy.
The venous blood flow can also be increased by elevating the legs as often as possible. In this way you can do something that counteracts gravity and the development of edema. The water escaping from the more permeable vessel walls therefore collects less in the legs.
Regularly wearing special compression stockings also ensures that the veins in the legs are strengthened and the removal of blood is improved.

Women should also be careful to avoid foods and drinks that are washed out throughout pregnancy. The water increasingly excreted from the organism by these substances is not withdrawn from the tissue, but from the circulation. This in turn can lead to severe circulatory problems in the expectant mothers.

When treating water retention during pregnancy, the focus is often on relieving the symptoms. Women who suffer from edema-related joint problems should avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time if possible.
In addition, despite the water retention, well-being can be increased by wearing suitable clothing. Affected women should prefer loose-fitting and comfortable clothing. In addition, wearing high-heeled shoes is not recommended in the presence of edema during pregnancy.

Special vein gymnastics and light massages are also something that can be done to alleviate the discomfort associated with water retention.

Read more on the subject at: Lymph drainage during pregnancy

Prophylaxis (prevention)

In many cases, the development of edema during pregnancy can be prevented with simple measures. The prophylaxis of such water retention is mainly based on regular, moderate exercisewhich can be carried out without any problems even during pregnancy. Basically, it doesn't even have to be real sport. Already extensive daily walks can help prevent edema during pregnancy. In addition, regular swimming as a particularly suitable sport for the prevention of pregnancy-related water retention.
Affected women should always make sure that no excessive stress takes place. Otherwise the mother and / or child may be harmed. In case of doubt, the choice of the most suitable exercise variant should be discussed with the attending gynecologist.

Since the development of edema is promoted or aggravated by long periods of sitting or standing, among other things, short intervals of movement must be carried out at regular intervals during work. Affected women can also prevent edema during pregnancy by drinking water in particular. Sweet juices can contribute to the fact that more fluids wash into the tissue.

Other measures to help prevent water retention in late pregnancy

• Put your legs up
• Shower legs cold (always from bottom to top)
• Wear compression or support stockings
• Salt and protein-rich foods
• Massages and lymphatic drainage
• Special vein gymnastics

Edema in the legs

Typical indications of the presence of edema during pregnancy are thick, heavy legs. Especially in the late evening and at night, many of the women affected complain of a tense feeling and increasing pressure in the legs. Such water retention is not uncommon during pregnancy. In general, it can be assumed that about 60 to 70 percent of expectant mothers will develop edema during the final months of pregnancy.
These edema can basically form anywhere on the body. In the clinic, however, it is quite clear that the legs in particular are affected by edema during pregnancy. The causes for the occurrence of water retention can be varied.

Although edema is completely harmless in most cases during pregnancy, possible organic reasons for its development should be excluded.
During pregnancy, edema in the legs often occurs as a result of hormonal changes. In particular, the sex hormone estrogen, which prepares the body for the impending birth by expanding the tissue, is said to play a decisive role in the development of edema.
In addition, it must be noted in this context that there is a significant increase in blood volume during pregnancy. Only in this way can the expectant mother's oxygen and nutrient requirements as well as the blood supply of the unborn child be guaranteed. Such an increase in blood volume must, however, cause the vascular walls in the venous circulation to expand. As a result of this vasodilatation, the vein walls become significantly leaky from water.
During the last months of pregnancy in particular, large amounts of fluid get into the already enlarged tissue in this way. Edema develops, which is particularly evident on the legs due to gravity.

In addition, the weight of the growing child puts additional pressure on the veins of the legs. This also leads to the fact that more and more fluid gets into the tissue.

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When does edema occur during pregnancy?

The point at which water retention occurs during pregnancy depends on various factors. Both the physical constitution the expectant mother, as well as that Unborn child weight play a crucial role in this context.

Despite the enormous increase in blood volume throughout pregnancy, it can venous system withstand the resulting stress for a while. For this reason, it is not possible to say in general when edema typically occurs during pregnancy.
In general, however, it can be observed that the occurrence of water retention only occurs in most cases towards the end of pregnancy is complained about. Especially after completing the seventh month of pregnancy the rate of those women who have edema increases

Also the nature and intensity of the daily physical exertion of the expectant mother are decisive for the question of when edema occurs. Daily moderate exertion, for example in the form of regular walks, can delay the development of edema or even avoid it entirely.

In addition, it can be observed that women who sit or stand frequently during pregnancy suffer from edema much earlier. The reason for this is the difficulty in blood flow within the venous system when sitting and standing.

decline

Edema that occurs during pregnancy, in most cases, does not require medical treatment. The reason for this is the fact that water retention during the last few months of pregnancy is almost normal and spreads out after delivery completely regress without medical intervention. When the edema has completely receded depends on several factors.

Above all, the constitution of the woman concerned and the time of mobilization after childbirth seem to play a decisive role in this context.
In addition, the renewed adjustment of the hormonal balance Having an influence on when the water retention is completely gone after the delivery of the child. As soon as the estrogen level in the mother's organism begins to drop, the tissue gradually takes on a more compact shape again.
In addition, the increased blood volume during pregnancy slowly decreases again. In this way, the venous system is increasingly relieved and less fluid escapes from the Vessels into the surrounding tissue.