UPDATED: Please help my ankles/calves - so swollen feels like skin will split!

[aguinn]

Man, I am sooooooooooooo ready to get this boy out of me!

Let me just say that I don't have pre-e, but I am experiencing overwhelming swelling in my toes, feet, ankles and calves. It has gotten so bad that sometimes it throws me off balance. If you've seen that Harry Potter movie where he blows up the aunt who comes to visit, that's what my feet look like. It really does feel, both internally and to the touch, that the skin is bound to split any time. It's really gross.

My only relief comes at night when I have my feet up for an extended period - the hour and a half nap that DS takes in the afternoons just is not enough time to tame this much swelling. Besides, as soon as I get out of bed, literally within 10 minutes I look as though I never got any relief.

Did anything work for you if you experienced this? I mean, besides giving birth? Should I soak my feet?

Ack! Help!
************************************************** **************

Thought you all might get a laugh out of seeing them IRL!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/28905.jpg


;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[kimbe]

Can't give you any advice, but just wanted to give you some support! Sorry that you are going through such awful swelling. I swelled up SO bad after my c-section so I know how you feel. I looked like one of those little old ladies that spill out of there little slip on shoes!

You are almost done! Hope you feel better soon!

[jhaud]

I know the totally gross feeling you're talking about... but i did have pre-e... my feet were the worst, but my hands were bad enough to develop carpal tunnel (sp?) that did not go away for several months after birth. I was on bed rest and it was also my first pg - so no little one to keep me busy during the day... however my dh bought me a foot spa thing... and you can put hot water in and also heat the water... but i used mine with cold water (dh thought i was nuts when i asked him to add ice!). that didn't necessarily help the swelling, but did feel good!

hopefully you'll have your boy soon! until then keep your feet up as much as possible. sorry no real help, but i feel for you...

jennifer

[dowlinal]

My friend who is 8 months along is having a horrible time with swelling. Her midwife told her to lay down for an hour 3 times during the day with her feet elevated and it has really made the swelling go down. I have no idea if that's possible for you since you have a 2 year old at home.

I'm finding this pregnancy to be more difficult at times because what I need to do for me isn't always possible because of my dd.

[aguinn]

I'm also working every morning, trying to tie up loose ends before the start of the school year so that our school office staff can step in and run all the programs I've set up (I do fundraising for the school, among other things - I don't teach). Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury to be able to lie down that much during the day, although that sounds really nice!

And you're right - having an active 2 yr old (or any other aged child) really does add excitement to the mix!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[LBW]

I had this and, I'm sorry to say, the only cure was giving birth! It did go away immediately after I delivered, though. None of my shoes fit and I was horribly uncomfortable most of the time. You might try using ice packs or cool, wet towels when you are only able to elevate them for a short amount of time. That helped a bit.

[aguinn]

too bad i can't figure out a way to stick them in ice while putting them up! gross doesn't even capture it at times: my toes sometimes don't touch the floor! ick!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[aguinn]

i know what you mean about the shoes - i am actually embarrassed to go out in public with them like this! i'm completely conscious of how they look, and feel like everyone is thinking "man, what a piggie!"

it's bad!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[aguinn]

i had it last time, too, but no where near this bad - and yes, it did go away almost the instant he was delivered. i look forward to seeing my cute, slender ankles and calves once more!

i'll try the cool towels - maybe that will give some extra relief!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[ribbit1019]

Maybe some support stockings? I know they are grannyish, but it may help if you can put them on first thing in the morning. I have to agree cold restricts the blood vessels so that is the way to go in any way you can manage. You are almost there though so hang in there!!
Christy
Maddy born 06/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
Little Peanut due 03/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/K8fum4/.png

[aguinn]

ooo - so sexy! heh heh - do they come in fishnet??? heh heh

i don't think i could go there - my feet sweat too much without shoes or socks on to contemplate wearing hose! and it's been so freakin' hot up here recently that i think it would put me over the edge!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[sidmand]

No advice, just support (no pun intended). I had horrible swelling too. My feet were huge and I really thought I would never see my ankles again. People tried to tell me it wasn't so bad at the time, but later said how swollen and awful they looked! I had trouble walking they were so swollen. They did return to normal, but just wanted to mention that I thought/hoped it would be an immediate thing once I gave birth, but it wasn't. I was told it would take two weeks post partum and just about 2 weeks to the day, they were back to normal. It probably doesn't make you feel any better now and seems like an eternity, but now I barely remember it--except if I wear the shoes that I had to put on the loosest hole so I could even attempt to get them on. Thank goodness it was summer and I could wear Birkenstocks!

Sorry for any typos--typing with kiddo onboard.

Debbie

Mom to Sawyer!
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060607/0/3/1/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[stcelia]

SWIM! SWIM! SWIM!

If you can't swim get as deep down in a bath as possible for as long as possible. The pressure of the water actually helps push the fluid causing the swelling back into your veins. You'll notice that all of a sudden you're peeing (even more) a lot! It really does help.

Laying down with feet higher than heart (and anything that gets them closer - for instance, at work if you can have your feet on a stool instead of the floor), support hose, and drinking LOTS of water (I promise it wont make it worse) can all help. But, I think the thing that helps the most is bathing/swimming.

Good luck. Hope some of the suggestions here are helpful.

[traciann]

I had pre-eclampsia and terrible, terrible swelling...I found the only thing that helped me was water with lemon in it. The swelling didn't completly go away...but it did make a difference!

Traci

[aguinn]

believe me, i DREAM of going into a nice, cold swimming pool almost every day! unfortunately, i must live in one of the only areas of the country where there's not a readily accessable community pool (and i have no friends with pools, either)!

i am unable to lay with feet higher than heart right now because of excessive acid reflux and gall bladder attacks - i know that's the reason my ankles are so bad.

oh, delivery, please come soon!

;)amy
proud momma to DS
and cutie #2 due 9/9/05 - it's a BOY! (Please come earlier! School starts on the 12th!)

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." ~ Neil Postman

[dowlinal]

Oh Amy! You poor thing! I can remember how misreable I was right before I had Madeline when my feet looked like that. (Actually my feet looked like that for two weeks afterwards too bc I apparently was given too much fluid via IV.)

At least August is more than halfway over!

[elliput]

I remember my feet looking like that also, but I also had pre-e to go along with it. DH treated me to a day at the spa that had special mom-to-be packages and a massage therapist who was trained in pregnancy massages. The massage and pedicure sure helped my feet and ankles feel better for awhile.

[smomom]

Hey.... who gave you the pic of my pregnant feet and ankles? I can sympathize, sweetie, believe me. I've got a couple of those so-swollen-I'm-about-to-pop pics. There wasn't a lot that helped me, but when my mom and sister came to town they would rub my feet with chilled lavender oil (yes, they pampered me!). It felt wonderful to have the cool oil rubbed on my feet. It didn't stop the swelling, but it sure felt great.

Hang in there. One of these days it will go away.

[kensjen]

Amy,
Just wanted to offer hugs and sympathy. Hopefully that little guy will come soon, and relieve you of this awful swelling!!

[calebsmama03]

Poor thing!! OK, since most of what's been recommended is stuff you can't do (hose, swimming and feet higher than heart) my MW's final suggestion to me was drinking a ton of water (yes counterintuitive but it really helps) and eating watermelon. Both for the fluid content and some enzyme (??) that helps flush water out. She advised avoiding caffeine since although a diuretic it can have the opposite effect and cause more fluid retention.

Otherwise, can you get a massage? May or may not help the fluid but will help ease the aches and pains of late pg, and a good foot rub (by a trained pernatal MT) just might help your little man arrive a bit sooner :)
Lynne
Mommy to C 3/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif[/img][/url]
And Miss Purple, 5/05

[saschalicks]

Amy,
I so feel you. With DS I looked exactly like your pictures. Slip on shoes hurt. I went from a 7.5 to a 9 in shoe size, and they were still tight. I hope that doesn't happen this time. Anyway, as PP said water w/lemon helped. Lemon acts as a diuretic (sp?), apparently so does cucumber. I would also try water w/cucumber, it's very refreshing. I love it. Feet elevated was the only thing that worked for me, but like you I could only do it at night.

On another note after DS was born and I was in the hospital, DH said "oh my g-d your toes are back". It was really funny.

I so sympathize and hope he comes soon.