This in turn causes many physiological changes in the body, of which swelling of the face, arms and legs is quite common. And hence, it is believed that lowering fluid intake might help, which is not the case. Here are 10 ways pregnancy changes your body that nobody tells you about. According to Dr Y S Nandanwar, Professor and Head of Department, Gynecology, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Sion Hospital, Mumbai, ‘Almost 80% of our body contains water, which is needed for maintaining normal functioning of the body.
But, excess or less intake of water can hinder with the pumping of blood which in turn puts you at risk of oedema. Moreover, release of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy causes water retention, which is the cause of edema. This clearly indicates that lowering your intake of water will only worsen the condition rather than improving it.’
Here are some expert tips to deal with swollen feet or edema during pregnancy. However, this is not the only reason of fluid accumulation in body. Other causes that might lead to edema include protein deficiency (abnormal ratio of albumin/globulin), anaemia, heart disease, thrombus and elephantiasis. Hence, it is a good idea to consult your gynecologist at the earliest as soon as you experience swelling of the legs or edema during pregnancy rather than opting for self-care or home care.
And as far as intake of water (fluids) is concerned, Dr Nandanwar recommends that every pregnant woman should consume at least 10 – 12 glasses of water (which accounts to around three to four litres) per day on a daily basis. And keep in mind that lowering your fluid intake won’t help you in dealing with edema. Also read about weight gain during pregnancy — what’s good and what’s not.
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