Many women experience swelling during pregnancy, with limb swelling being more common. These swelling phenomena increase the pressure of pregnancy and sometimes have an impact on women's lives. So, what is the reason for swollen feet during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, if the feet are swollen, it is because as the fetus develops and grows, the pressure on the lower limbs also increases, which hinders the return of body fluids, resulting in swollen feet. Generally speaking, this situation is not very obvious in the early stages of pregnancy, and only becomes apparent in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. Furthermore, due to significant changes in the female endocrine system after pregnancy, there may be increased secretion of estrogen and aldosterone, leading to swelling.
In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the number and diameter of capillaries in a woman's body increase, and the amount of fluid entering the interstitial spaces of the capillaries also increases, resulting in more obvious swelling. Moreover, during pregnancy, the blood volume of women increases without an increase in plasma protein, resulting in a certain degree of dilution of their blood. The plasma permeability ratio during pregnancy is lower than before pregnancy, which is also the main reason for foot swelling.
When women experience swelling, they should control their water intake appropriately to avoid exacerbating the swelling. And also adhere to a light diet, avoid eating too salty foods, especially pickled ones. It is important to supplement with sufficient protein, consume fresh fruits and vegetables, and supplement vitamins and trace elements.
