My hands have been numb for a week now from swelling due to pregnancy. I don't have any other signs of toxemia, but my ankles are pretty swollen also. Do you have any suggestions as to how to make this swelling go down? I'm almost 30 weeks and this numbness is driving my crazy.

A.

Swelling of hands and ankles during pregnancy can be normal since the hormones of pregnancy cause fluid retention. This is often made worse with the warm weather of summer. Swelling can also be a symptom of toxemia or preeclampsia of pregnancy. You should check with your doctor or midwife to evaluate whether this is the problem.

It is important that you avoid diuretics in pregnancy, including herbs, except on the advice of your doctor or midwife. Diuretics can upset the normal fluid and electrolyte balance causing serious problems.

Be sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, eating a healthy diet and taking your prenatal vitamins. Eating watermelon may help as it is cooling and helps with fluid retention.

A simple and safe treatment that will relieve swelling is immersing your body in water. Since it is summer, getting in a swimming pool would be great. You don't have to swim, although it's good exercise for pregnancy, just get in water up to your neck and relax there for 30 minutes or so. Try it up to several times a day if possible. If you have a deep bathtub, you can use that with cool or lukewarm water, not hot.

While swelling can cause numbness in your hands, decreased sensation may also result from your cervical spine being out of alignment. Many of the pregnant women in my practice get a lot of relief from chiropractic manipulation, both for neck and low back discomfort. Be sure to see a chiropractor who is experienced with pregnant women. You can get a referral from The American Chiropractic Association at www.amerchiro.org.

The most important thing to know is that this will get better in a short time. Once you have your baby, the swelling will go down quickly, in the first few days after birth. It is uncomfortable, but if it's not associated with toxemia then it's not harmful to you or your baby.

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* The information presented in this web site is intended to inform and educate. It is not intended replace a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose or treat medical conditions.