4 Tips To Avoid Or Reduce Swelling During Pregnancy

A lot of the time, swelling is just something that comes along with pregnancy, especially towards the end. A big reason that this happens is because the amount of blood in your body increases, therefore creating more blood flow. Even though swelling can't be completely avoided at times, there are certain things that you can do to help reduce the swelling. This article will discuss 4 things that may help you. 

Avoid Excessive Salt Intake

One easy way to help stop swelling is to reduce your salt intake. Taking in too much salt will cause water retention. This water retention causes you to swell, which can be very uncomfortable. Try avoiding foods that are high in sodium, and do not add salt to the foods that you prepare and cook yourself. While you may miss your salt just a bit, you will not miss the uncomfortable and unsightly swelling on your ankles, hands, feet, legs, and face. 

Get Your Blood Flowing

Standing or sitting without moving for long periods of time will cause all of your blood to flow to certain areas of your body. In order to keep your blood flowing evenly throughout your entire body, you need to keep moving. This doesn't meant that you have to perform rigorous exercise, but simply requires you to keep moving. This can be running if you would like, but can also be walking, swimming, using the elliptical, the stationary bike, etc. 

Avoid The Heat

Heat can also increase your swelling because it will open your blood vessels even more, and then your blood will flow into these vessels. Because you have extra blood due to pregnancy, this will make the heating swelling worse than usual. Avoiding the heat will stop your blood vessels from opening, which can help you to avoid unnecessary welling. If you can't avoid the heat, then try to keep your feet up, and walking around every so often to keep your blood flowing. 

Drink Plenty Of Water

Drinking a lot of water can really help you to avoid swelling because it helps to flush sodium and other toxins out of your body that increase swelling. Most doctors recommend that pregnant women drink around 8, 8 ounce glasses of water each day. The key to doing this is to drink the water little by little, so you don't feel overly full and sick with your expanding stomach. 

For more information, contact a women's health professional, like those at All Women's Healthcare.