Swollen ankles are a common complaint with pregnancy. During my first pregnancy, starting with my second trimester, I experienced considerable swelling in my feet, ankles and legs, ending near my knees. Swelling is typically uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful. In my situation, the pain associated with the extreme swelling was considerable.
Soon after I started to experience pain and restlessness due to the swelling in my legs, my husband suggested I speak to my doctor. I was told that the swelling could be due to a number of different reasons such as excess sodium or extreme heat. The doctor gave me a number of possible solutions. Here is a look at what helped reduce the severe swelling in my legs and ankles during pregnancy, and why my second pregnancy was much easier.
Decrease Sodium Intake
One of the most effective ways to reduce the swelling in my legs was by reducing my sodium intake. When you pay attention to the amount of sodium in the food you eat every day, you might be really surprised. Canned soup, soda, take-out – all loaded with sodium. When I began to cut out the sodium the pressure and swelling in my legs went down a great deal.
Wear a Small Wedge
A suggestion my doctor gave me was to stay away from severely high heels, as well as flats, for the remainder of my pregnancy. The small wedge helped promote blood flow to my embattled feet. Besides, wearing stilettos during my second and third trimesters is just asking for trouble!
Don’t Sit For Long Periods of Time
Because I had a desk job, and had to sit for long periods of time, my swelling became more severe than it would have been had I been able to get up from time to time. I received doctor’s orders that I was to get up at least once an hour for a five to ten minute walk to keep the blood flowing in my legs.
Elevate Those Legs
Another thing that helped the swelling in my legs was to keep my legs elevated. Elevating my legs on a stool at work or on pillows at home helped ease the pressure off of my sore legs and feet.
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