While eagerly anticipating the arrival of your sweet little bundle, your body changes rapidly which may summon a little discomfort in your pregnancy. The problem of swollen feet is one of the discomforts that many women experience during pregnancy. You might notice this happening and therefore, you should seek medical attention or look for some simple treatments that can help. Let the experts of Window to the Womb, the most recommended baby scan clinic in Peterborough reveal 5 effective home remedies to treat swollen feet during pregnancy.
1. Limit your sodium intake- One of the effective ways to reduce swollen feet is to minimize the intake of sodium or salt. Salt adds more water to your blood and eventually you end up having high blood pressure and swollen feet. Therefore, try not to put extra table salt on your food when you are having your meal. Along with that, strictly avoid eating canned or processed foods since these are especially high in sodium. Find alternatives like savoury herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano, and find an easy way to add flavour to your recipes without adding extra salt.
2. Increase your potassium intake- Not getting a sufficient amount of potassium may also make swelling worse. Because potassium assists your body balance the amounts of fluids it holds onto. Intake good sources of dietary potassium. Along with that, you can take supplements for potassium. Here is a list of some foods that are naturally high in potassium-
· Potatoes, sweet potatoes with the skin on
· Beans
· Banana
· Spinach
· Yogurt
· Lentils
· Beets
· Carrot
· Pomegranate
· Orange, etc.
3. Wear loose and comfortable clothes- Wearing tight clothes may lead your swollen feet to their worse. It does not allow blood to circulate as easily as it could. Therefore, a pregnant woman should wear loose and comfortable clothes to make the condition of the swollen feet a bit better. Maternity maxi dresses, flowy cardigans, or sweaters with joggers in the winter can make you look cute and give you comfort at the same time.
4. Get a massage- Taking a good massage can help circulate the fluids that tend to accumulate in your feet and reduce the swelling in your feet. You can call an expert to get a session of professional prenatal massage for your feet. Or, you can even take a water bottle, put your feet up, and let your partner or anyone in your family gently massage your feet and legs. Putting some peppermint or lavender essential oil (optional) can make the massage even more relaxing.
5. Try to sleep on your left side more often- Sleep on your left side when possible as it can improve blood flow and reduce swelling of the feet. Apart from that, there is another reason why doctors recommend a pregnant woman to sleep on the left side is that lying on the left side takes the pressure of the uterus off the inferior vena cava, which is the large blood vessel that returns blood to the heart of a pregnant woman.
However, swollen feet are common in pregnancy. But if it turns unmanageable at home because of its severity, you must visit your doctor soon. Besides, you must keep a track of your developing baby by visiting an ultrasound scan clinic in Peterborough.
