Swollen feet and hands? Normal or worry?

So I have noticed today my hands and feet have started to swell.

My hands feel stiff and uncomfy esp if I make a fist or bend my fingers and I have no hope of getting my rings on (tho i've only been able to wear wedding band for a while anyway). My feet/ankles also stiff and swollen - and I've sat on the couch with my feet up all day:redface: Socks are cutting in and shoes I bough last week are too tight.

Soooo...is this normal or should I worry? I have a docs appt in a week. I should have had one today but all was so well with me and Blake last week that we cancelled this weeks:wall: I know some swelling is normal - but when is it time to be concerned?

Some swelling is normal, but I think this far along to have the sudden onset - I'd probably go get my BP checked just to be sure. I've never had swelling so if it happened here I'd probably be on some medicos doorstep no matter what the time, lmao.

If its just normal swelling then no harm done, right?

Thanks Interia - might call docs tomorrow.

Now I think about it - my mum had high BP with all her pregnancies and was induced early with 2 out of 3....hmmm....will def call docs tomorrow

Yep, definitely agree with Inertia - its so easy to get your BP checked, and then you don't hafta stress :) In the meantime, maybe drink lots of fluids in case its water retention??

GL hun, let us know you go :)

Yeah, some swelling is pretty normal. I had swelling, stretched all my sandals to bits LOL, and had some carpal tunnel from the swelling too. But my BP etc was fine, so the swelling wasn't a problem.. just annoying!

Definitely doesn't hurt to get blood pressure checked, and at the same time ask about any other symptoms to watch out for.

I had very late onset swelling lol It was one of the only symptoms I had my whole pregnancy.
Bout 36 weeks I noticed...I couldnt get my engagement ring off anymore, or get into my fav comfy shoes.
My feet were huge!

I got it checked and had to keep an eye on it, but it wasnt a problem, and my BP was fine.
I hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Aah yes... getting wedding rings off. My OB told me I should take them off while I could.. but OMG.. it took a whole night of running under cold water, using lots of soap etc etc etc. I wore tight gloves at night to try and reduce the swelling to in turn reduce the carpal tunnel.

Gosh - it's amazing how you forget the details of pregnancy... I always say I had great pregnancies.. but if I really think about it.. there's probably quite a few things I could whinge about! LOL.

lol Liz...yeah, I shouldve taken them off, but I didnt..

Poor DH trying to get them off as they are rushing me to the OR... lol

Lol re the rings... I took mine off early this time, I had visions of them being cut off!

I always have swelling. Mine has gotten particularly bad the last couple of days, but it's 'normal' for me & my BP is always good, so I'm not worried.

As Inertia said... sudden onset at this stage...can't hurt to get it checked :) I'd be going to the docs. Pretty much anything that's unusual for you warrants a visit kwim?

And if it happens to be 'normal' fluid retention, water is the best thing for me, and movement - it increases circulation & is even better than sitting with my feet up (next best thing). The worst thing is sitting in a chair for long periods of time - something I do a lot for work :doh: or standing still for a long time. Feet up or moving ;)

Hope you get some relief it can be sooo uncomfortable, and good luck at the docs

CF - I was about to post a similar question - my cankles appeared for the first time last Wed and my hands are quite stiff to move in the morning as well. I was trying to figure out whether I needed to get it checked out urgently or if it could wait til tomorrow when I have my next appt.
Have been chugging down the water in an attempt to see if that will help or not (sort of has - more toilet trips though).
Have also had my feet on 3 pillows while sleeping in an effort to raise them - I have ankle bones showing in the morning then but they're not what they used to look like.
Took my largest wedding ring off about 2 weeks ago (I have 3 different sizes because I have lost the engagement ring which matches them twice and I've been a range of different weights before getting pg.) It feels weird without the ring on my finger but I'm starting to get used to it. :rolleyes:
Shoes !!! I've migrated to a pair of black mens slippers (from Coles) in a size above what I used to wear. They're plain black so they don't look too bad when I wear them out and about and they match most of what I've got left to wear. Can't bend enough to be comfortable to get socks on any more so the slippers are a bonus with the warmth.:p

i would also suggest maybe ringing teh hospital
at this stage it is not silly or uncommon to ring the hospital and go in and get checked by teh midwife.

sometimes its easier and quicker than a DR and they know your situation anyway.

i had swelling badly in the last 2 weeks. couldnt wear shoes or my rings :( but was just fluid retention.
got put on fluid restriction and told to resta dn keep legs elevated.

i think it is quite normal to retain a bit more fluid - but we also all know sudden swelling can be something more. so imo i would get it checked out.
for fluid retention celery juice works well... (i get it mixed with pineapple and sometimes orange).
i remember last time i didnt retain too much (a bit though) but after DS was born i retained heaps for a few days - it took me by surprise.

I just got my ring off this morning - after three days of detergent and water trying to get it off due to swelling! i spoke to my midwife yesterday when my swelling appeared worse (I am due on monday, have only just begun to swell), and she told me that swelling is generally only a problem if its combined with high blood pressure and protein in the urine - if you have all three then i think (not absolutely sure) then that points to pre-eclampsia, so def get your blood pressure checked - you may get some symptoms though without going to the docs - dizzyness, spots in vision etc. I have the swelling and protein, but without the high blood pressure its ok apparently :) hope this helps!

oooo - also, kelp tablets are meant to help fluid retention, one a day. That and constant sipping of water - not guzzling, is the best thing i think. makes you need to pee more but oh well, nothing new!! :)

CF - I left my contacting the obs/hospy to today and my BP was quite high but only had a trace of protein (phew). Had to have blood tests as well (not entirely sure what the tests were for - iron was one I think) and go back to get results on Mon. If things change for the worse, dizzy/headaches/blurry vision I have to ring the obs rooms (if they're open) or the hosp. to get checked out more. (I wasn't sure if I needed to let the obs know if I was worried or not about stuff like this or the hosp (private) so I made a point of checking who I should ring if things went pear-shaped - hosp at least, obs rooms if open was the answer)

Well I felt quite unwell tonight and had a headache and bleeding nose in addition to the swelling. So I called the hossy and they asked me to come in for a check. I felt a bit silly but DH was worried too. Hossy is only 5 mins from home so drove down and waddled up to maternity. All was FINE! BP 120/76 and urine great. Had a trace done as well and Blakes little heart was beating away well and lots of movement and a few BH to boot.

It was nice to meet a few of the midwives who were lovely and reassuring and made me feel good about my decision to go in - I was worried I would be wasting their time - but they were really caring.

Thanks for all the advice

K

Wow CF, the bleeding nose on top of the swelling would have worried me too! Glad everything is fine though. Hope it stays that way.

Midwives are usually very good about these things - and I would imagine that especially with those symptoms they would have been after a definitive too.

great news all is ok CF...
I know what you mean worrying you feel you are wasting their time or they will think you are silly, but i am learning that they prefer you to come in early and get things checked out.
enjoy the next few weeks. xxx