Pregnancy is a wonderful thing BUT it does bring with it some difficulties. There are of course those that sail through their pregnancies with no nasty side effects and no doubt snap back into their pre-pregnancy skinny jeans a few hours after giving birth to their babies that probably only require three pushes. It happens. For the rest of us things are often not quite that straight forward and as beautiful and fulfilling as pregnancy can be, some of us have to deal with all sorts of issues along the way.
One of those is swelling, or, Oedema. Many women suffer with swollen feet and ankles during pregnancy as the body retains more water than usual. This swelling can be very uncomfortable, cause women to not fit in their shoes and can restrict movement, not to mention how unsightly it looks, making you feel pretty awful.
In some cases, this can be severe and result in the whole of the leg swelling up, as well as hands and face. It is a pretty miserable experience.
I had this in all pregnancies to varying degrees, it gradually built up but in the last two pregnancies some of the swelling did not disappear after my babies were born.
I wish I’d have known that there is in fact a completely free service available to mums-to-be through their GPs which can alleviate the pain and discomfort of Odema that many women currently simply put up with. Did you know that pregnant women are entitled to free, compression hosiery through their local GP following assessment. Compression hosiery just look like normal tights or socks but are specially made to improve circulation by gently squeezing the leg, pushing blood back towards the heart, alleviating leg pain, reducing swelling and preventing varicose veins.
Varicose veins are also common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Varicose veins are visible, bulging veins which have been stretched by blood flowing backwards. This pooling of blood in the legs can make them feel heavy, aching and itchy.
Activa Healthcare are actively trying to boost awareness of this service to pregnant women. They produce a huge range of products to support leg health and rather than just buying a universal pair of compression socks, you can order socks from them in varying sizes and compression levels to ensure the best fit and the most successful outcome.
I am so frustrated that I didn’t know about this, so if you are suffering then please explore this to avoid problems later on.
As part of awareness raising Activa are offering readers of Mummy Fever the chance to win a fantastic hamper of products including: a leaflet on Activa compression hosiery; Quest Pregna Multi Vitamins; What Skin Needs Soothing Skin Gel; Carnation Foot Scrub; Higher Living Organic Sweet Dreams tea; Odylique soap; Janjira massage candle/oil; Janjira Argan Oil; Clearpring gluten free porridge.
Have you suffered with Odema or issues with changing veins during or after pregnancy? We’d love to hear your experiences. Please do spread the word to any pregnant women you know and see if we can end some of this misery.
For your chance to win this lovely hamper of goodies just enter the easy widget below.
Good luck! UK entrants only please.
Win a hamper of goodies for pregnancy
90 comments
Never knew this. Thanks for the info xx
Hi I don’t have a story to share but great info!
When I was pregnant I suffered with leg cramps and spasms and was told to drink isotonic drinks and it helped so much!
I haven’t experienced it but have friends that have x
This is a brilliant giveaway, I have just discovered I’m pregnant and am really worried about swelling etc as it seems to run in our family x
So far ive had no issues so keeping my fingers crossed!
yay!
My legs are fine so far.
Could be very useful!
I suffer with really bad leg cramps and restless leg syndrome in pregnancy, never knew this about the tights though, thank you!
Ever since I had my first I get terribly swollen ankles!
Fab!!
I started suffering with restless leg syndrome whilst pregnant, my daughter is now pregnant with her third baby and suffers with swollen ankles
None to share but found this info very interesting as didn’t experience any issues with my first pregnancy
I have terrible restless leg syndrome- drives my husband mad
I suffered with oedema of my lower legs in both pregnancies but it actually seemed worse for the first week or so after giving birth. Back to normal now though!
I don’t have a leg story but have just found out I am pregnant and hope to fly to Florida at the end of June so will definitely be watching my leg health for flying x
im currently 32 weeks pregnant with baby number 6 and suffering quite badly with my legs, especially at night, restless legs! nightmare!
So far I’ve had no issues.
Really useful info – currently 26 weeks pregnant
Wow I had this in my second pregnancy I also had ore eclampsia so that it was a side effect of that (or maybe it was?) but it was painful and also I thought I looked awful my legs were like elephants and I remember after the birth it (very) slowly went and I was so pleased to have ankles!!
I don’t have any children but would love to win this prize to donate to charity, to go to Romania.
I never had any problems with my legs and feet just everything else
im due september im getting swollen ankles on a night im on my feet mon to friday busy busy looking forward to maternity leave 🙂
I haven’t had any problems yet but thanks for the interesting read
I always suffer with my legs,they suddenly fly up in the air when I lie in bed which is weird.I also suffer badly with swollen ankles.
I get very swollen ankles ever since I had my little boy…it’s all the chasing after him I do – sorry ladies…it doesn’t just end with pregnancy 😉
I currently have an achy calf on my left leg but no idea why
I get terrible cramp at night, so much so it makes me jump out of bed hopping round the room like a mad woman!
leg health,, just that i have always suffers from sciatica ever since i went backpacking round europe at 19, and I get these terrible sharp pains down my leg whenever I do anything strenous.
I suffered from terrible leg cramps.
It got to the point where I was scared to go asleep – it was horrible!
That alone has put me off from having another pregnancy ever again! 🙁
Very interesting read, don’t know this…
I got horrendous aches and pains during the night with my legs when I was pregnant. I was told it was all to do with sodium levels and potassium deficiency x
I think I did have those compression tights during my first pregnancy as we flew to USA, and I remember needing them for the flight but cant quite remember as my eldest is 7 now! I don’t think I used it for the others, but thanks for sharing the info in case I need it this time!
Sorry no stories, but what a fab prize!
I have suffered with really bad nerve pain at the tops of my legs with my last 2 girls, currently 14 weeks with baby number 4
Lots of leg cramps and varicose veins starting
I’ve not had any issues yet
I’ve not had any problems
fine so far!
My legs can get so dry, but I’ve also found that Jergens moisturiser is really good for your shins as well x
Had wondered what was happening to my legs, thank-you
I had a lot of itching but luckily nothing worse when pregnant x
Restless legs in pregnancy – nightmare. Due to low iron
My ankles swelled a lot.
Keep up the remarkable work !! Lovin’ it!
My daughter is a first timer, so useful to know.
Love a good foot and lower leg massage
don’t have a story to share but great info
I suffered with oedema in both my legs and my ankles were especially bad I couldn’t get shoes on.
Age 40 and varicose veins just beginning. No cellulite. Knees slightly arthritic.
Fantastic giveaway!
Great giveaway thank you
Great prize
Support stockings work wonders! Try not to be too vain to try them
I suffered with legs swelling in my last pregnancy and low iron for months felt terrible. My little girl will be 3 weeks old on wednesday xxx
Would love to win as expecting our baby 🙂
Great read, very insightful and useful right now!
my wife is have nerve pain
no issues before or present
I have never experienced this however would love to win, it’s good to know
I was so sick that I lost several stones in weight during both pregnancies, my mother told me I had got robins legs they were so thin.
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I want to read more things about it!
I suffered on and off with restless legs for as long as I can remember, then someone suggested that I should eat a banana when I get symptoms. It isn’t a complete cure but it helps loads.
I suffered with restless leg syndrome and swollen legs , would love to win this so that my now pregnant daughter doesnt suffer the same
none yet, but i am taking precautions like comfy shoes, support tights and peppermint rubs xx
Never had any thing like this
Sounds very useful xx
I had awful leg cramps during pregnancy and generally achey legs thank god its now stopped
I’m on pregnancy number 3, fully expecting itchy skin, restless legs and battling stretch marks!
Could be very useful!
I have a lot of issues with leg cramps when waking up in the morning and the restless legs get really annoying sometimes!
Always elevate legs when laying down and don’t cross them over when you lay flat as it can cause blood clots and make swelling worse.
great giveaway
I’ve suffered from restless leg syndrome through 2 of my pregnancies. So far during this pregnancy I’ve been ok.
Fingers crossed!
Fantastic Giveaway!
Thank you for the chance ☺
Broke my heel and my ankle swells as I have osteoporosis have to be more careful, mum has water retention in her ankles but at 84 she is not very active
No problems with my legs so far 🙂
I wish I could post a photo on here of my my leg looked after the birth of my daughter. 2 weeks after my daughter I thought I pulled a muscle and found it increasingly hard to walk on my left leg. Turns out I had an extensive DVT in my stomach, hip, leg and calf. I had no idea, and then pretty much overnight my whole leg swelled and went blue. 2yrs on and I am able to walk again but with severely reduced mobility.
I suffered restless leg syndrome while I was pregnant with my little girl
no haven’t experienced it
I suffer bad leg cramps after walking around on a daily basis – not fun!
since having the kids i suffer really bad with muscle tension in my leg.. similar to that of sciatica.
On the way to New York, my first ever holiday and first time on a plane I develop a clot in my leg. Economy class syndrome. Luckily it didn’t spoil my holiday and it broke up itself but god was it painful and scary. I now will wear compression stockings
I suffered form painfull leg cramps and sciatica during my pregnancy, fortunately I have recovered from these since x
My legs were fine, just few cramps at night, but can’t complain 🙂
The amount of cramps on legs was unbelievable, swelling too and sciatic pains, gosh, some of the things I do not miss at all from my 3 pregnancies!
Spent lots of time legs elevated which helped x
Cramps are the worst!
this is an interesting read. apart from restless legs I thankfully haven’t had much experience with any major leg problems during pregnancy. A nice massage with some bio oil always seemed to help
When I get heartburn I eat toothpaste! It really works and does a tre my cravings Sto!
Cramps but not much else