Ask Our Expert - Swollen Hands during Pregnancy

May 16, 2008

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Specializing in pregnancy and birth.


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Ask Dr. Greenfield Swollen Hands during Pregnancy

QUESTION


Dear Dr. Greenfield, Is there anything that can be done to reduce hand swelling during pregnancy when the hands get quite painful? — Mickey in California

ANSWER	November 19, 2000


Dear Mickey, Hand swelling can be really miserable in pregnancy. While some salt (sodium) is necessary while you are pregnant, decreasing the amount of salt in your diet may help. Most prepared foods, soups, and just about anything that comes out of a can are high in sodium (check the labels). Fresh fruits and veggies are low in sodium, so try eating a lot of those. Keeping your environment cool and taking tepid showers also may help. Some recent studies have shown that total body immersion in water (like swimming) helps flush out extra fluid from your tissues. The fluid gets pushed back into your veins, then goes to the kidneys and is eliminated. If you have a chance to swim, it is worth trying. Even if these measures fail to give you any relief, keep in mind that once you have the baby, the swelling will resolve over a few weeks. — by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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