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3 Ways to Beat Painful Swelling During Pregnancy

edema self-help tips Jan 27, 2022

Have your rings and shoes abandoned you? 

Look, this heat is no joke for anyone, but especially not for pregnant people.
While edema is common while growing a human because your blood volume goes up by 40%, excessive heat can make things even worse.

This not only may feel unsightly (like, hobbit feet may not make you feel the cutest), but even more so, extra fluid can be painful. Ankle stiffness, and wrist pain due to edema can be almost intolerable for some people. Numbness and pain in your hands can also disturb your sleep, which is a precious commodity these days.

At one of our trainings, our team reviewed all the massage techniques that can move fluid and reduce the pain of edema. We really value keeping our skills sharp and our morale high.

If you’re not able to come in for a session, don’t worry.
I’ve got a couple self-help tips that will give you some at-home relief if swelling has snuck into your pregnancy.

  1. Get your feet up the wall for at least 20 minutes a day. Get gravity to help you redistribute fluid pooling in your legs.
  2. Draw the alphabet with your ankles. This action acts like a pump to move edema out of your ankles. Just be careful not to over point your toes, keep the movements relaxed, so you won’t get a calf cramp.
  3. Keep your hands elevated while you sleep. Rolling a towel under your wrists can help fluid from building up in your palm and fingertips overnight.

I hope these tips help! Feel free to send these tips along to any ladies you know who might benefit from these. And if you need some professional support with massage, we’re here for ya!

Sending you love & light!
-Sparrow

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Author

Sparrow Harrington, CMT, CEIM, Owner | Director

Sparrow has worked at the intersection of birthwork and bodywork for over a decade. As a fertility and maternity massage specialist, and infant massage educator, she has seen the power that skilled, nurturing touch plays in the transformation of her clients into parents. She's the mother of two boys, and had a vaginal birth unassisted at home after having had a C-section with her first birth.