Causes and prevention of hand and foot edema during pregnancy

The cause of edema of hands and feet is mainly due to the enlargement of pregnant uterus, compression of veins and obstruction of venous return. The causes of lower extremity edema during pregnancy are:

Increased blood volume

After pregnancy, the blood volume gradually increased from 6 weeks to the peak at 34 weeks, and remained at this level until two weeks after delivery. The blood volume can be increased by about 40% compared with non-pregnancy period, so the tissue fluid will also increase after the blood volume increases.

Plasma dilution

With the increase of blood volume, the increase of plasma is more than that of blood cells, so the blood components will be relatively diluted, and the relative concentration of plasma albumin will be lower than that during non-pregnancy. Plasma albumin is the main component to maintain plasma osmotic pressure. Plasma osmotic pressure during pregnancy is lower than that during non-pregnancy In this way, the water in the blood flow can easily penetrate into the tissue fluid, thus causing edema of the lower limbs.

Uterine enlargement

After pregnancy, the uterus is enlarged, which increases the pressure in the pelvis, thus affecting the venous blood flow of lower limbs. This is also one of the important reasons for edema of lower limbs. If the edema during pregnancy is mild after rest or sleep, it is physiological, so don't worry.

Multiple sites

This phenomenon is quite common during pregnancy. The soles of the feet, ankles and calves are the most prone to edema, and sometimes even facial swelling occurs. The closer to the expected date of delivery, the more serious it is. If it is heated again, the swelling will be more obvious.

weather effect

Mild swelling is normal, but if accompanied by hypertension and proteinuria, expectant mothers are at risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, so we must do a good job in prenatal examination and fully cooperate with doctors.