Contents:
- Medical Video: Snoring During Pregnancy
- The causes and ways to deal with swollen feet during pregnancy in the third trimester
- Causes of swollen legs
- How to deal with swollen feet
- Causes and ways to overcome shortness of breath in the third trimester
- Causes of shortness of breath
- How to overcome shortness of breath
Medical Video: Snoring During Pregnancy
Do you experience shortness of breath and swollen feet during pregnancy? Don't worry, this condition is very common, especially during the final trimester of pregnancy. The 2015 research conducted by Dr. Sorel Goland of Kaplan Medical Center, Israel, said about 60 to 70 percent of women experience this condition during their pregnancy.
The causes and ways to deal with swollen feet during pregnancy in the third trimester
Causes of swollen legs
During pregnancy, the body produces about 50 percent additional blood and fluids to meet the needs of developing babies. Swollen feet during pregnancy is the normal phase that must be passed due to increased volume of blood and fluid. Swelling can also occur due to various factors such as too long standing or consuming too much salt and caffeine.
Although sometimes it can occur in the hand, swelling generally only attacks the legs and wrist. This fluid tends to fuse in the lower body. The excess of this fluid is very necessary to soften the body as the baby develops.
This additional liquid also helps prepare the hip joint and tissue to open at birth. Although swelling during pregnancy is a normal condition, you still need to be vigilant if the swelling is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. This can be a sign that you have preeclampsia and need to consult a doctor immediately.
How to deal with swollen feet
To deal with swollen feet during pregnancy, try doing the following tips:
- Don't stand too long
- Lift your legs when sitting or sleeping, for example by propping up with a pillow
- Avoid excessive salt intake because it can actually worsen swelling
- Drink enough water so that your body's fluid balance is maintained
- Compress swollen feet with ice or cold water
- Wear comfortable socks and shoes, don't wear high heels
Causes and ways to overcome shortness of breath in the third trimester
Causes of shortness of breath
In the third trimester of pregnancy, the baby grows and continues to push the uterus against your diaphragm. Therefore, the diaphragm usually moves up 4 cm from the position before becoming pregnant. As a result, the lungs become slightly compressed so you cannot take as much air as you can at each breath.
However, this does not mean you will lack oxygen. It's just that, at the same time lung capacity decreases as the uterus continues to widen and the baby continues to grow. This eventually causes the respiratory center in the brain to be stimulated by the hormone progesterone to make you breathe more slowly.
However, even though each breath carries less air, the air stays in the lungs more so that your oxygen needs and that of your little one are fulfilled properly.
How to overcome shortness of breath
To overcome shortness of breath when pregnancy is getting bigger, do the following ways:
1. Stand and sit up straight
Try to stay upright, whether sitting or standing. Erect posture helps the uterus move away from the diaphragm. Position your shoulders backward with your head raised. Even though it initially feels difficult, you need to get used to it.
2. Sports
Simple aerobic exercise helps increase the rate of breathing and lowers the pulse. That way, the feeling of tightness will be much reduced. You can also try prenatal yoga with experts. This exercise focuses on breathing and extra stretches that will help improve posture so that the space for breathing is getting bigger.
3. Sleep with a support pillow
If the feeling of tightness gets worse when you sleep, then try to put a cushion on your upper back. The point is to pull the uterus down so that the lungs have more space. Then, sleep on your side to the left.
4. Do everything you can
Even though you are an active person and cannot be quiet, when you are pregnant you need to realize that your body's abilities are no longer the same. Do not force yourself to overact when you feel tired with shortness of breath. Listen to signals from the body to know when to start and stop doing activities.
