Hi. I am 8 weeks pregnant and retaining water horribly. My legs are so swollen that the weight of the water is actually putting to much pressure on my blood vessels, causing red areas in many places.
My biggest probem - it hurts! It hurts soooo much to move.
After about 4 days of it I went in and saw my doctor. All he said was to elevate my legs for 20 minutes a day and he gave me an antihistamine to take at night.
I'm worried though. It's so painful. My feet and legs up to my knees are swollen. My hands and elbows do not appear swollen, yet they hurt too and have a red spot on my left hand like on my legs.
When you are pregnant can you take water pills? If not.. how do you help to reduce the water retaining???
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
2006-10-06 21:42:11 · 0 answers · asked by Miss. Kitty 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You should cut down on your sodium and salt intake. I say sodium because that is the chemical name you need to be on the lookout for- any chemical that begins with sodium is a form of salt and will cause you to retain water. Obviously salt you can actually recognize should also be a restricted item. Drink loads of water, just plain old water- with a fruit slice if you want. Water acts as its' own diuretic, and combined with the salt restriction will help flush your system and restore fluid balance. Stay off your feet as much as possible, straight out in front of you. Your joints hurt due to the excess fluid in your body, and usually only the fingers swell.
You should probably consider switching to a salt substitute, at least use Morton's Lite Salt- which has half the sodium of regular salt. You can use it in cooking the same as regular salt, and it will work just fine. Eaten straight is sometimes leaves a mettalic taste in the mouth- but you would be eating too much of it if you notice it.
Get any restrictive clothing off. That includes socks, pantyhose, pants, rings, bracelets, etc. Watch anything with a waistband incase it shows marks in your skin- meaning it is too tight and restricting blood flow.
Above all, no- do not take water pills. Drink and rest. Leave the pre-prepared foods alone, ditto with the fast foods. Nothing with visible salt- like chips.
The red spots are caused by the capillaries being over filled and not emptying into the veins as well as they should. They are called spider petuchaie, and sometimes appear because you have more blood in circulation while you are pregnant. Some people get them worse than others, and if you are retaining fluid you will see them. If that's what you are seeing, they should disappear if you press on them, and you will see them refill when you move your finger. They will fade when your fluid level drops, and in worst case, when the baby is born. I got them all over each time I was pregnant, and they always were gone within a day of delivery.
If you can get somebody to massage your feet and lower legs while you have them up, that will help get the fluid out and lessen the pain. Start rubbing up the leg from the toes, with gentle pressure. Wiggle your toes and move the joints to help it along- the movement helps force it out as well. I'm not talking exercises- just moving the joints around as they naturally move, nothing strenous.
If these things don't work in a few days and you don't start seeing improvement, you need to go back to see the doctor. Good luck!
2006-10-06 22:05:42 · answer #1 · answered by The mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why Am I Retaining Water
2016-09-30 08:23:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water retention is one of those great pregnancy things that they don't tell you about. I would go and see your Doctor again and insist on some help, you have a while to go yet and you need to prepare for the whole baby thing. If your Doctor isn't any help, call the Health Visitor at the Surgery and go 'over his head'. Get some advice now though before you get really fed up with being pregnant when, if you get the right help, you can quite enjoy it. Best of luck....don't settle for being ignored though.
2006-10-07 01:29:10 · answer #3 · answered by aza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I am you, I will trust the doctor who sees me. See an obstetric-gynecologist, a specialist doctor for pregnant women.
Pregnant women do retain water normally, but not at the proportion that you describe. Edema, that is retaining water abnormally, is a bad sign, and very bad now that you are only in your 8th week.
If your problem is really bad news, verify it with the suggested specialist, while it is early.
2006-10-06 21:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and cut out adding salt and eating salty foods.
Eat a well balanced diet, making sure to eat food from all the food groups.
If you don't get this retention problem nipped in the budded it could lead to problems later in your pregnancy. Preeclampsia or toxemia can cause problems.
Follow your doctors orders and take special care of yourself during your pregnancy.
I wish you all the best and congratulations on your little one..
2006-10-06 21:55:39 · answer #5 · answered by easinclair 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
follow doctors orders. hes the expert!! and NO do not take water pills while you're pregnant!!
2006-10-06 22:14:07 · answer #6 · answered by ApRiL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep asking your doc!! or other docs...for the correct answers.
2006-10-06 21:53:01 · answer #7 · answered by yahooaddict 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋