common discomforts

Pregnancy is a wonderous time, however it can also bring with it various discomforts and difficulties.

You needn't just put up with these. Our mahumidwife is putting together a list of common discomforts of pregnancy along with some tried and true solutions for you. Click on the condition to find our suggested solution.

• Swelling/edema

Swelling/edema

What it is:
The mild swelling that's so common during pregnancy and that is particularly noticeable in the feet and ankles. It can vary by the hour (fatter feet in the evening) and by the weather (warmer temperatures forecast more swelling).

What causes it:
During pregnancy, body fluids increase in order to nurture both you and your baby. As your body tissues accumulate and retain fluids, you may experience this increase as swelling.

What you need to know about it:
Mild edema, although it’s not comfortable or pretty to look at, is harmless and perfectly normal. It’s also just as normal not to experience noticeable swelling (25 percent of pregnant women don’t).

What you can do about it:
• Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. If you’re on your feet a lot, take breaks and have a seat. If you’re sitting a lot, take a five-minute stroll at least once an hour, and try to keep your legs elevated when you’re back in your chair.
• Massage your feet and ankles gently with mahu Pure Massage Oil which contains Lavender: An essential oil that has a healing and balancing effect on the skin, and Rose essential oil: for its tonic and astringent affect on capillaries and on circulation in general, massaging towards the heart at all time.
• Avoid tight elastic-top socks or stockings. Your goal is to let blood and fluids flow as freely as possible, and try support hose, put them on in the morning before the daily swelling starts so they can do their job more effectively.
• Drink water early and often as drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day will help rid your system of excess sodium and other waste products, minimizing swelling.
• If your hands and/or face become puffy, or if swelling persists for more than a day at a time (it doesn’t improve overnight), call your practitioner. (Excessive edema can be a sign of preeclampsia, especially when accompanied by rapid weight gain, a rise in blood pressure, and protein in the urine.)