When you are pregnant the eagerness for your child to be born and to hold the child in your arms is great. However, despite this eagerness and felling of joy, the mother has to deal with a lot of other health issues. One common problem many mothers have to face is that of swelling or puffiness of the feet.
This problem is mainly caused due to the retention of fluid in the body. Here are a few tips to help you control the problem.
- It is important that you eat the right food during pregnancy.
Your diet should include the right amount of proteins, green vegetables, fruits, and vitamins. - Practice some yoga movements such as Pranayama. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched in front of you. Rotate your feet first in a clock-wise direction and then in the anti-clockwise direction. Do this 10 to 15 times daily. This helps in blood circulation which in turn will help reduce swelling in your feet.
- Mix a teaspoon of fresh lime juice in lukewarm water and drink this concoction everyday. This will work effectively to reduce the swelling in your feet.
- Sit with your feet propped up for a while; this will help reduce the swelling in your feet.
- Soak your feet in lukewarm water for about ten to fifteen minutes everyday to reduce swelling.
- Reduce or completely avoid the intake of tea and coffee during your pregnancy. This will, to some extent, reduce the swelling.
- Always sleep on your left side with your feet resting on pillows.
- Make sure your footwear is comfortable and avoid wearing tight socks. Wearing high heels during pregnancy can add to your troubles.
- Avoid standing for a long period of time as your feet need to rest.
- Try not to use a nylon hose, use an elastic one instead to provide support to your legs.
- Sodium causes water retention in the body and it is advisable to reduce your intake of sodium during pregnancy.
- Go in for a foot massage whenever possible. This will help increase blood circulation which in turn will reduce swelling in your feet.
- Increase you intake of water as this is the best way to keep the skin hydrated.
As mentioned earlier, swelling is a very common occurrence during pregnancy. This does not mean that you can ignore it. It is important that you call your doctor if you notice any excessive swelling of your feet.
