Should I be worried about the swelling in my legs, face, and hands?

For the past weeks, I've been gaining excessive amount of weight every visit at the doctor. Well, I'm usually a petite person who weighted 105-110lbs prepregnancy. And now, I've reached 165lbs. Oh my gosh... I can't understand what's happened to me. For one thing I noticed is that I've been having trouble walking because my hips hurt (not a lot, but I can feel the pain). My maternity clothes seem to be getting tight... I'm not eating that excessive (an average of 3 meals a day). Then when I started going to my doctor for my checkup, there's a huge jump in my weight gain. For instance, 5kg in 2 weeks. WOW!!!

And now, as I get closer to my due date, I also realized there's pain when I try to get up from a bending position. It almost feels like that there's a bulge in between my legs that's about to pop. (sorry for TMI) --- I mentioned to my doctor but she doesn't seem to be alarmed. I worry about it because I have really bad swelling now on my lower legs... I could hardly even fit my feet into a pair of slippers due to the water retention. Also, I've been having trouble getting in/out of my bed because of the swelling.

Does it sound normal? Oh, one other thing I should mention is that last week, my urine showed protein so I had to do an urinalysis because my doctor wanted to make sure everything was okay... well, the test turned out to be okay. Thank God for that otherwise I had to go back to the hospital and get some blood tests done... Did anyone get this type of swelling too?

Carmen,

I would go to your hospital/dr asap to get checked for pre eclampsia. Sudden swelling can definitely be a sign of this especially when combined with protein in your urine.

As far as the weight gain and discomfort probably just a normal pregnancy thing but always ask questions etc until u feel comfortable and get a 2nd opinion on things if u don't feel right about it

Definitely get checked again! How long has it been since you saw your doctor? Has there been a rise in your blood pressure? Have you got a constant headache or upper abdominal pain?
The swelling of your face and hands is much more concerning than your lower legs; that is very common. And joint pain is common with water retention as it puts lots of pressure on the joints.
Even without protein in my urine I was put on twice weekly blood tests and ctg's with my first pregnancy based on high bp and sudden weight gain due to water retention. It did turn into preeclampsia eventually, which they caught early because I was being monitored so closely. Even when it did there were no other external symptoms that I would have been concerned about. Don't just leave it because your doctor didn't seem concerned. If YOU are concerned get a second opinion, even if it is just down to the pharmacy to get a bp check.

I just got my bp checked by a friend of mine who's a nurse. It was 110/50 and this is my normal blood pressure. The swelling is more noticeable on my lower legs because I was unable to fit into my house slippers. As for my face and hands, it's not so bad. Well, others could notice the swelling too, but it's not as bad as my legs.

My last visit at the doctor was Thursday, so 4 days ago and am due for another visit this coming Thursday. So far, no abdominal pain and no blurred vision. Had a bit of headache earlier this morning due to lack of sleep from last night (at this stage of pregnancy, I've been having trouble to get some good night sleep since I'm so consciencious of not sleeping on my back). The one thing I feel at the moment is a little nauseous...

My friend will monitor my blood pressure over the few days till my doctor's visit comes. If my blood pressure is okay, is it safe to wait till Thursday to see the doctor?

I believe so. My bp has been fine this pregnancy so my ob hasn't wanted urine checks or anything. Even when I was getting headaches for a couple of weeks he wasn't worried as my bp was still normal.
I am pleased that it appears to just be swelling! There is enough to worry about when you are pregnant without complications. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Keep an eye on your bp though.

I called my nurse this morning and explained to her what happened last night. My headache did go away last night but it was when I fell asleep which I can't recall what time. This morning, I noticed my face and hands are more swollen than usual and my hands have been having tingling sensation the whole night. I woke up feeling okay but now started to get a headache again. So, I will be going into the caseroom to check if everything is okay. Crossing my fingers that I don't have to hospitalized since DD#1 will miss me... I am a little scared at the moment... will keep you all updated!

Hope all turns out to be fine but I think getting checked is the best option..always better safe than sorry

I really hope it turns out to be nothing, but definitely better to be safe than sorry. At least at this point in your pregnancy bub is 'ready' if they decide they need to come out straight away.

Hope everything is ok, Carmen.

Yay, I'm home... Today has been a long, tiring day but at least knowing that my baby is fine is definitely worth running a trip to the hospital.

I went in around 10am and left the hospital at around 2pm. They kept me on a monitor for 2 hours because they wanted me make sure things are okay. At first, the nurse was worried that my baby wasn't doing much movements so she gave me some apple juice and was hoping to catch some movements. We heard the heart beat at a continuous rate of 140s-150s. Then, the monitor also picked up some of my contractions. When my nurse looked at the swelling in my legs, face, and hands, she paged my doctor.

The doctor came in 20 minutes later. By then, the baby was showing some increased movements. The baby was probably sleeping when the nurse put the monitor on. I was advised by my doctor to return to caseroom if I should get increased headache when not possibly relieved by acetaminophen or blurred vision. As for now, I am told to take it easy and have my blood pressure monitored daily just to make sure things are going accordingly.

I have to admit that I feel more at ease now even though after a tiring day of running around. Hopefully the baby will decide to show up sooner than my full 40 weeks...

Glad to hear that you're ok and bubs is fine. I hope the swelling stays under control for you and that your BP behaves. Hopefully little one isn't far away!

hi, I just wanted to let you know I had exactly the same thing going on late last year in the last few weeks of my pgcy.
from about 34wks onwards, my belly, arms,legs,hands and face ( I had mick jagger lips!!) just ballooned!
i was measuring 42wks at 34wks (around the belly) i ended up being monitored for 5 hrs on a ctg (baby was fine) blood pressure was fine and trace protein in urine.
I had to have my blood pressure taken every week by the gp inbetween hospital visits.
I was on strict orders to take myself to emergency if visiopn was blurry or increasing headache.
by 39wks, I had no ankles or knees, just treestumps! big pouches of fluid under my eyes and fish lips. i also couldnt make a fist due to my fingers being like sausages, also the only shoes I had to wear were a size 11 mens pair of crocs, (i am usually a size 8!!)
anyway, everything was all normal, my baby was fine, i understand your worry though, everything I had pointed to pre eclampsia but it never eventuated.
hope you dont end up as big as I was, I put on over 30kg (I am sure it was all fluid!!)
and I hope you have an uneventful rest of your pregnancy. xxx

Thank you everyone for your concerns. I think most of my weight gain is also due to the fluid. This morning, I woke up larger than yesterday. Well, I'm 37w1d now but am sure hoping that the baby will decide to show before my full 40 weeks.

This morning, I could barely make a fist with my hand as my fingers look like sausages. I have a hard time opening anything because my fingers just swell up so nicely! I'm hoping that the swelling will just stop. I have to say that I am glad I haven't had any blurred vision since day before yesterday. It does feel worrisome when these symptoms assimilate to preeclampsia.

These last weeks seem to take its time... I feel so tired now. DH starts to think I'm a complainer now (I usually don't talk about any discomfort)... Everyday, he's been hearing me complaining how I can't get on the bed and out of bed without any discomfort. Then of course, my hands have tingling sensations so I wake up every 2 hours during hours of sleep.... SIGH... crossing my fingers that things will move smoothly for me because my first pregnancy went so smoothly!

Hi Carmen
In my first pregnancy I had a similar experience to you. I had high BP the whole 3rd trimester, with occasional protein in my urine, but had HUGE feet and hands and my face swelled up like a puffer fish! That was when I went into hospital overnight - just to be monitored. I ended up being diagnosed with PE, which surprisingly didn't worry me at all because I knew I could do nothing about it except rest (yeah right!) Chloe came at 37 weeks, due in part to the PE but also some other things, but everything turned out fine.

This pg is completely different, although I have the same trouble with my hips that you do, and the pain between the legs. Mine is due to an unstable pubic symphisis, and is very common in pregnancy. I have been seeing a physio for it and it is really helping. Try not to worry about the swelling thing though. As long as you are having checkups and being monitored, there's not much else you can do. I also found during my first PG I went from a size 5 1/2 shoe to a 6 1/2, then after dd was born back to a 6, and now nearly the end of this pg I am a 7 1/2!!!

Oh, how I wish that my baby will decide to show NOW! I am beginning to think that I might have an unstable pubic symphysis because of the added weight my hips are not taking in very well. It hurts even when I try to sit or the moment I move my hips. I don't remember feeling this way last pregnancy. It hurts more even DH and I DTD... It was DH's birthday yesterday and we DTD and boy, I was in a lot of discomfort even though he was being extra cautious.

Will my swelling stop because it doesn't seem like it can collect any more fluid. My skin is so swelled up and it looks like it's going to explode any time. I can't even make a fist with my hands and when I have to bend down, my feet feel horribly painful! Sorry for those who have to hear me vent but I feel a bit down with all the discomforts I am getting at this point. I'm so tired and am just hoping that it will end soon...

Has your carer suggested anythig to helpw it the oedema?
What about accupuncture or something like that?

No, my doctor only said that I will have to put up with the oedema... I have asked her many times if I could do something about it but all she said was to wait it out. She suggested me not to do acupuncture though... so, at the moment, I am stuck and have no where to turn to besides seeing the swelling go on everyday!:wall:

I'm not sure why she would suggest not to do acupuncture?? It can help.