If you’re anything like us, chances are you’re experiencing the pregnancy swells. Perhaps this swelling is trying to infiltrate your daily routine as you head into this wonderful crazy thing called pregnancy.
It goes without saying, but truly, it isn’t fun to have your feet and legs blow up like balloons each day (or night).
There’s a piece of good news as well — great news, actually.
It is possible to alleviate the symptoms associated with swelling. There are tools and strategies you can employ. Let’s take that on and cover how to help prevent swelling before it starts.
Put your feet up (because relaxation but also swelling), and let’s begin.
Pregnancy Swelling 101: Cause, Avoidance, and Response
You’ve heard the saying before: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Well, in this case, your enemy is edema: also known as the pregnancy swell.
Why on earth would you want to keep something like edema close? And what does that even mean?
It’s this: understanding a little bit about what causes swelling in the first place will help you avoid it. Plus, you can respond with quick and effective actions when it tries to make a move to drag you down.
Here’s what you need to know about what causes it, how you can best avoid it, and how to respond to a swell attack.
How Common Is Pregnancy Swelling?
Okay, first, it’s important to note that pregnancy swelling is incredibly common.
In most cases, it’s not a cause for real worry. It’s more of an uncomfortable inconvenience that tries its best to rain on your parade.
However, it is certainly annoying, definitely uncomfortable, and not one of the cutest or funnest things that come with pregnancy.
And, since we’re talking about anti-swelling and anti-swelling cream, pregnancy swelling is the natural antihero in this situation. For this particular article, it is our enemy.
What Is the Reason Behind Swelling During Pregnancy?
All the extra fluid you are carrying is to blame for the swelling. Carrying extra fluid during pregnancy can produce ugh side effects, but it’s actually there to help! Your baby needs the extra fluids and blood to access nutrients.
So, yes, while the swelling is not fun, your babe needs it. When they make their big entrance, you can bring up their excessive water bill then.
Are you feeling swollen in other areas? That’s not exactly a surprise either. You can also swell in your fingers, cheeks, and areas you never expected in the first place.
While you might have some surprise swelling, swelling is most common in your feet, ankles, and legs. Over the course of the day, the fluid tends to make its way downward, settling in your lower extremities. This is especially true if you’re on your feet a lot.
How Can You Avoid Swelling During Pregnancy?
In addition to responding to the swell, you also want to know what you can do to avoid pregnancy swelling as best as you can:
- Try not to stand up for long periods. Take regular sit breaks, and when you do, try to kick your feet up on something and relax for a minute. Elevating your feet will help redistribute some of that built-up fluid.
Not to mention, you’re a pregnant mom who crushes it day in and day out, so a little sit break is well earned and much deserved. Enjoy them. Turn on Netflix. Grab a snack.
- Try to mix up your position and stretch a bit if you’re sitting for long periods of time. Avoid crossing your legs a ton as well.
- Tried and true self-care tips: exercise regularly and drink lots of water.
Using Compression Socks to Reduce Swelling
Use maternity stockings or pregnancy Compression Socks to help increase blood flow. Compression socks are used effectively by a wide range of people.
From flight attendants to professional athletes to pregnant mothers, compression socks help your muscles perform and recover at their maximum potential.
For your convenience and ultimate swell fighting ability, check out the Swell Relief Duo for a neat little package with both anti-swelling cream and pregnancy compression socks. Stop swelling from inhibiting your swelling and your style.
What Should You Do When Experiencing Pregnancy Swelling?
So now you’re familiar with edema. You know what you can do to fend it off swelling as best as possible. Unfortunately, it’s a persistent nuisance, and it somehow manages to get to us anyways from time to time. It is a natural part of the process, after all.
But that does not mean that we roll over and give up! That’s when you pull out the secret weapon. HATCH came up with the ultimate anti-swelling formula to send edema packing and bring sweet relief to your affected areas.
If the swelling doesn’t go away or is becoming a concern, reach out to your healthcare provider for medical advice.
The Soothing Solution to the Swell
Anti-swelling has never been a more topical topic, literally. Let’s discuss the anti-swelling topical cream that will supplement your self-care routine.
You need an anti-swell that is as powerful and lovely as you are. We’re talking non-greasy, over-the-counter topical pain relief.
It’s called Down, Girl Swell Relief. It comes in a five-ounce bottle, and it will bring relief and new energy to every day of your pregnancy, even the days when edema is trying its hardest to turn your legs into small blimps.
As luxe as your favorite lotion and as powerful as your favorite television heroine, this pain relief cream is here to save the day.
What’s the Secret Formula?
The secret formula is a gel-based cooling cream. It’s made from all-natural, plant-derived, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients: dermatologist-tested, mom-approved.
And, it has a light scent that won’t overstimulate your pregnant nose (which sometimes is way stronger than we’d like it to be). If typical ingredients like menthol or similar chemical-like smells are hitting you hard, congrats; you’re in good company. A 2007 study found that 85% of pregnant women had at least one smell that haunted their pregnancy.
How can you fight the swell if you can’t stand the smell?
We get it. That’s why Down, Girl Swell Relief is gentle on the senses. The main ingredients are aloe vera, chamomile, ginger, and mint. They come together to make plant-based magic with hydrating, antioxidant, soothing, cooling, and anti-inflammatory energy to your affected areas.
How Do You Use Anti-Swelling Cream?
Using the product is easy and totally enjoyable. As pesky as the swell can be, you’ll love the relaxing treatment and soothing results that Down, Girl Swell Relief provides.
Make it a part of your regular routine, and you’ll find that you start looking forward to it at some point in the day when you can feel the swell creeping up.
Using Anti-Swelling Cream on Your Feet
Give yourself a few good pumps of the formula into your palms and start down at your feet. Use your thumbs to find tension-relieving pressure points as you massage the formula all around your feet. Hit the arches, heels, and toes, making your way up to the ankles and legs.
Using Anti-Swelling Cream on Ankles and Legs
As you move upward from your feet, transition into long and even strokes. Use light pressure on your ankles and legs, as these areas can be particularly sensitive and have a lot of blood flow happening between there and your uterus.
Using Anti-Swelling Cream on Back, Hips, Breasts, Shoulders
If you’re sore in other areas, Down, Girl Swell Relief works wonders just about anywhere.
Lower back pain is a common side effect that comes along with pregnancy. You’re not alone, mama; 50 to 80% of pregnant women experience back pain while carrying their little one.
Why is that? It’s fairly elementary: Your back and hips are experiencing more pressure than expected due to the extra weight from the baby and the shift of abdominal muscles.
Since your stomach muscles are weaker to make room for the baby, your back and hips have to work overtime to support you and become sore in those areas easily.
Apply the swell-relieving elixir to your hips and lower back and revel in the relief.
Rub any excess cream into sore breasts, neck, and shoulders. For the ultimate experience, have a loved one apply and massage the cream on you.
Sweet, Victorious Relief Over Pregnancy Swelling
Pregnancy is the ultimate time for changes, and sometimes it seems like Mercury is just stuck in retrograde. Between muscle pain, gastrointestinal issues, joint pain, and more, it seems like you can’t catch a break.
Having your feet and legs swell up so that your ankles all but disappear is, to be frank, one of the sucky things about pregnancy. Like obviously, it’s worth it and everything, but it still isn’t fun.
But that’s why we decided it was time that pregnant moms put their foot down against the pregnancy swell! Thanks to Down, Girl Swell Relief, you won’t have to worry about edema swelling up your day with discomfort.
Grab yourself a bottle of this anti-swelling goodness and enjoy your new routine. Before you know it, the baby will be here, and you’ll have ankles again.
Sources:
Sources:
