Pregnancy (cont.)

During pregnancy, you might have:

Many women develop mild swelling in the face, hands, or ankles at some point in their pregnancies. As the due date approaches, swelling often becomes more noticeable.

What might help:

• Drink eight to 10 glasses of fluids daily.
• Don't drink caffeine or eat salty foods.
• Rest and elevate your feet.
• Ask your doctor about support hose.

Call the doctor if:

Your hands or feet swell suddenly or you rapidly gain weight — it may be preeclampsia.

During pregnancy, you might have:

Temporary bladder control problems are common in pregnancy. Your unborn baby pushes down on the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. This pressure can lead to more frequent need to urinate, as well as leaking of urine when sneezing, coughing, or laughing.

What might help:

• Take frequent bathroom breaks.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Do Kegel exercises to tone pelvic muscles.

During pregnancy, you might have:

During pregnancy blood volume increases greatly. This can cause veins to enlarge. Plus, pressure on the large veins behind the uterus causes the blood to slow in its return to the heart. For these reasons, varicose veins in the legs and anus (hemorrhoids) are more common in pregnancy.

Varicose veins look like swollen veins raised above the surface of the skin. They can be twisted or bulging and are dark purple or blue in color. They are found most often on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg.

What might help:

• Avoid tight knee-highs.
• Sit with your legs and feet raised.

SOURCE: The National Women's Health Information Center, National Institutes of Health; "Body Changes and Discomforts," and "Stages of Pregnancy."

Last Editorial Review: 9/7/2010