How to Reduce Swelling (Edema) Quickly During and After Pregnancy

Care for Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women get big. Big bellies, big ankles, sometimes even our feet and entire legs get swollen to unusual proportions! After giving birth, we long to fit back into our pre-pregnancy clothing and shoes. Our bodies need time to get rid of all of the retained fluids though. This bloating is referred to as "edema" and will naturally right itself eventually. What if we'd like to hurry the process up though?

I gave birth to my fourth child 3 days ago. Hoping to enjoy the last days of summer after a difficult pregnancy, my ankles and legs are swollen to embarrassing proportions. This situation has inspired me to write on reducing post-pregnancy swelling as I research the topic myself.

Pregnancy doesn't always cause swelling. This is the first time I've been afflicted with it (and I got it bad). When you are swollen, here is what you can do.

1. Step 1

   Drink lots of water. Oddly enough, this will help your body retain less fluids as well as discourage muscle cramps in the legs (another joy of pregnancy).

2. Step 2

   Eat well and avoid junk food. Eat a balanced diet and avoid food high in salt (salt encourages bloating). Raw fruits and vegetables are especially recommended to reduce your edema.

3. Step 3

   Get mild exercise. Even though it is recommended that you "stay off your feet", mild exercise is important for reducing edema or swelling. Go walking, practice yoga, do stretches.

4. Step 4

   When sitting, prop your feet up on a stack of books or foot stool.

5. Step 5

   Elevate your feet throughout the day. If at all possible, lay on your left side for periods throughout the day. Because the vena cava is located on the right side of your body and is responsible for a lot of the swelling, you don't want to further compromise it by laying on it.

6. Step 6

   While sitting, occasionally wiggle your toes around and circle your feet from the ankles. You can also point and flex your feet if you are able to.

7. Step 7

   If sitting or standing for extended periods of time, take a break to walk around, lie down or just stretch your legs.

8. Step 8

   Wear support hose, particularly maternity support hose. Avoid stockings or socks with restrictive bands around the ankles or legs.

9. Step 9

   At night, keep your feet elevated. You can also put ice packs on your feet to make them more comfortable.

10. Step 10

    Go swimming or participate in water aerobics. This will allow you to get mild exercise easier, which reduces your edema. It is also refreshing to be able to move your knees and ankles without strain - even if only while you're in the water!

11. Step 11

    Take several hot baths or saunas during the week. Do not do this if you are still pregnant however, as you don't want to overheat and risk damaging your unborn child. Use your bath time to stretch your muscles, pointing and flexing your feet.

12. Step 12

    Ensure you are getting plenty of the following vitamins and minerals: vitamin B complex (reduces water retention), vitamin C with bioflavonoids (improves adrenal function), calcium - magnesium - zinc complex (replaces minerals lost through fighting edema), kelp (improves thyroid function), bromelain (aids digestion and metabolism), vitamin E (aids circulation), potassium (helps keep body fluids in cell walls).

13. Step 13

    If you have already given birth, you may follow a fasting program to flush excess water from your tissues. You may wish to consult your doctor before doing this if you are nursing your child.

14. DOWNLOAD PREGNANCY CARE GUIDE HERE: FOR EVERY CATEGORY OF MOTHERS BY A MOTHER AND A MEDICAL DOCTOR AS WELL
    

Tips & Warnings

• Lie on your left side. Pressure on a major artery on the right side of your body (the vena cava) can cause blood to pool in tissues in your feet, ankles and legs. Avoid further comprising your vena cava by lying on your left side rather than your right.
• Limit your salt intake, although don't ban it from your diet completely (you do need it for your increased blood supply during pregnancy).
• If still pregnant, keep an eye out for preeclampsia. Warning signs of preeclampsia include sudden swelling of the wrists, hands and face. If you suspect preeclampsia, phone your doctor immediately.
• If your one leg, foot or ankle swells significantly more than the other side, it may include a blood clot. Be sure to phone your doctor immediately.
• Swelling may be worse for summer pregnancies.
• Don't cross your legs when sitting.

How to Detect Pregnancy Soon After Conception

A woman wakes up one day and something seems different. Whether it's by accident or plan, could it be that she's pregnant? While many women begin thinking that is the case when they miss a monthly period, other begin showing signs even earlier. Here are some ways to detect if you're pregnant soon after conception. Not every woman will experience the same symptoms, but you can decide for yourself.

1. Step 1

   Note if you are tired, even though you have not worked harder or have had difficulty sleeping. This, along with dizziness, could be the result of a hormonal change as your body is preparing to feed and care for a growing baby. You should give in to this condition and allow more time for rest.

2. Step 2

   You are nauseated, even though you have eaten nothing, nor you have caught a bug, to upset your stomach. So-called “morning sickness” often happens during the first trimester of pregnancy and quite frequently within the first couple of weeks since conception. Unlike its name might imply, many women have been nauseated at all hours, day or night.

3. Step 3

   You have heartburn, a condition that may happen to you infrequently. At the beginning of your pregnancy, heartburn can be controlled with Tums or Rolaids. But later during your pregnancy, you should avoid any medication before discussing it with your doctor.

4. Step 4

   You notice changes taking place in your breasts. This can happen within two weeks of conception. Many women say that their breasts are tender to the touch and that they are experiencing a tingling feeling. Others experience no changes at all. Toward the end of the first trimester, you will notice a darkening of the area around your nipples as your body prepares to care for the baby.

5. Step 5

   You feel the need to urinate more frequently. That is caused by the pressure exerted on your bladder by your growing uterus. Frequent urination can also be caused by infections, diuretics, diabetes or stress. If you find later that you are not pregnant, you should see your doctor about your condition.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a home pregnancy tests as they are more accurate and easy to use than ever before. If you get a positive result, make a prenatal appointment with your doctor to confirm your findings.

How to Get Pregnant Fast In The Most Natural Way Possible

A lot of women have luck (or bad luck) in getting pregnant quite easily. Even if they don't mean to, they immediately conceive. Some other women, however, have it the other way around and have a completely hard time. If you are among the latter, then you may find yourself seeking help now that you plan to start a family. Here are several steps which you can follow in order to get pregnant naturally.

{The Medic Guide Accessible Here}

Step 1

The first step to get pregnant is to have a partner. Do you have one already? Well, if you don not have one yet, then go find yourself one first. You can't expect to make a baby by yourself, can you? If you're married, then the partner would most likely be your husband (who else?). But if you aren't, you can have your boyfriend as your partner or even your friend (if in case you just need a donor so that you can have a baby all by yourself)

Step 2

Then, once you have a partner already, stop using contraceptives. Most women on the pill don't get pregnant right after they stop, since the body still takes time to readjust from all the chemicals and hormones. This isn't to say that you won't become pregnant immediately as well, because some women also do.

Barrier methods, like male and female condoms however, may have direct effects when they are ceased.

Step 3

Is Your Lifestyle Healthy? Take time to reassess your lifestyle (and your partner's as well). For the body to become efficient in any manner (and that includes fertilization) , it has to be free of toxins and stress. A healthy lifestyle can be achieved by doing the following:

- Eat healthy. Foods rich in nutrients are the way to go. Organic foods are also better choices in comparison to ordinary produce because they are grown without the use of chemicals and pesticides that are linked to problems concerning fertility.

- Give Up With The Cigarettes. Stop smoking right away. Smoking hits two birds with one stone when it comes to conceiving since it affects the woman's ovulation and the man's sperm count.

- Any form of caffeine should be avoided. Caffeine also has detrimental effects on a woman's chances of getting pregnant. Too much caffeine (more than two cups of coffee or its equivalent for tea and soda) can increase a woman's chances of having a miscarriage.

- Regular exercise keeps you fit and healthy. It also prepares your body for pregnancy. Exercise helps regulate your sleeping patterns also.

- Sleep is another important factor. People who have adequate sleep have more leptin. Leptin is a hormone that plays a vital role in the fertility of a woman.

Step 4

aka Vitamins and Supplements. Now is the best time to start taking prenatal vitamins (Folic Acid). Take at least 400 mcg of folic acid now, and increase to 600 mcg once pregnant. Doing so plays a huge role in lowering the risk of your baby developing neural tube defects.

Herbal supplements are just as important as vitamins and mineral supplements as they balance the levels of the hormones. Calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6 are just some of the important minerals and vitamins. Some herbs that are just as essential are:

- ginkgo biloba

- Chamomile

- saw palmetto

- ginkgo biloba

- Chamomile

Visit your health care provider first before taking in any supplement.

Step 5

Of course, you should also record the duration of your menstruation. Mark down when your menstruation started and then observe that every month. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, then there's a big possibility that like most women, your whole cycle lasts for about 28 days, making your ovulation period fall at around the-- day of the cycle. But of course, this can vary from woman to woman.

Step 6

Have regular and unprotected sex a couple of days before and around the time that you ovulate. Remember that sperm cells survive for 48 to 72 hours inside the reproductive tract, so have sex on the days leading up to her ovulation time (which would be days 12 to-- of the menstrual cycle for an average woman.)

- While this may not be scientifically proven, plenty of people find the missionary position quite helpful. This is because the missionary position (especially the version where a pillow is placed under a woman's hips) places the cervix closer to the sperm. Try lying in bed after sex as well, because this gives the sperm more chance to reach the ovum.

- Relax. Some couples are too pressured and try hard enough to get pregnant that they eventually end up getting stressed out. Try to relax and keep the whole thing fun, and remember to keep the emotional intimacy there.

Step 7

Do a pregnancy check test once you miss your monthly period.

Step 8
Get A Guide Here

Tips & Warnings

*
Consistency Diligence is key, so don't give up on your first try. Continuous effort is very important.
*
Lighten up for sex. Keep the experience a sensual one and not as a chore.
*
Always consult a health care provider before you start on anything.
*
Beware of pregnancy myths that abound. Read up before you start following any hearsay.
*
Have yourself as well as your partner tested for any disease or illness before starting on your endeavors.

The Best Pregnancy Diet

"What IS the best pregnancy diet?"

This is one of the most important questions every woman who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant should be asking. It is so important because you are soley responsible for the feeding and nourishment of your baby.

** Read PregnancyBible

The best pregnancy diet is one that will supply all the nutrients needed to support optimal fetal development (such as brain, nervous and skeletal system) while also giving the mother her needed nutrients. It's the diet that will curb food cravings and prevent unhealthy weight gain, which could put both the baby and mother at risk for many health complications.

Specifically, it will consist of the foods listed below:

High quality protein (grass-fed meat, eggs from cage free grass-fed chickens)
High quality dairy (raw, grass-fed: cheese, cream, milk and butter)
Organic or locally grown fruits and vegetables
Soaked grains and nuts
Stocks (bone broths)
High quality fat
High potency fish oil
Lots of filtered water daily

Eating the above foods will provide all the necessary nutrients a mother and developing baby needs, such as:
B Vitamins
Calcium
Iron, Zinc and Copper
Magnesium
Vitamins A,C and D
Healthy Omega3 to Omega 6 ratios
Conjugated Linolenic Acid (healthy fat)
Foliate
Cholesterol

This means that you will gain a healthy amount of weight and have less to lose after pregnancy. Why? Because by giving your body and your baby what is needed, you won't be tempted to overeat or be a victim to food cravings! And that's just another reason why it's the best pregnancy diet.

For your complete guide to exercising and eating right during pregnancy, check out The Fit and Healthy Pregnancy Guide

Food plans for your entire pregnancy are all laid out for you, complete with recipes and grocery lists, making it easy to nourish your body and your baby.

Your Fit and Healthy Pregnancy Coach

Irem Bright, MD

You May Like To Download and Read

1. THE PREGNANCY PLAN

2. THE PREGNANCY BIBLE

3. THE PREGNANCY CARE GUIDE

4. HOW TO VIEW YOUR BABY IN THE WOMB USING YOUR BEDROOM PC

** Read PregnancyBible

google, yahoo

6 Natural Ways To Pamper Your Pregnancy

If you're like most women, the moment you discover you're pregnant, your whole world turns upside down! But while all eyes remain focused on baby, sometimes you may begin to feel that you - and your needs - are fading into the background. You might even feel a little guilty about wanting some special attention at this time.

According to Colette Bouchez, author of Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy, no woman needs - or deserves - a little pampering care more than a mother-to-be! If you're a working gal - and especially if you are already caring for one, two or more little ones at home, then Bouchez says taking even just a few moments a day for yourself, can go a long way in not only helping to relieve your tension and stress, but also ensure your baby is happier and healthier as well.

To help set you in the right "diva direction" she offers these tips for pampering your pregnant body, mind and spirit!

• Revel in a lavender foot soak! Fill a small plastic basin with warm water to which you add up to 5 drops of essential oil of lavender. Immerse both feet and soak for ten minutes. Studies conducted at the Nagano College of Nursing showed how just one 10 minute soak not only increases circulation to legs and feet, but also brings about measurable changes in the autonomic nervous system - the area of the brain that controls stress and anxiety.

• To soothe sore, swollen, tender tootsies fill a 16 ounce soda bottle with water and put it in the freezer. After it's frozen, place on the floor and roll your foot back and forth over the bottle to relieve aches and spasms.

• To safely soothe dry pregnancy skin try this Sweet Spot Honey Moisturizer: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels, and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on for ten minutes, rinse with warm water.

• For a relaxing aromatherapy bath combine 2 drops each of oil of neroli, lavender and lemon, with 6 teaspoons of apricot kernel or sweet almond oil. Add to a warm tub and soak away your worries! Caution: Ideally, bath water during pregnancy should be no hotter than 100 degrees. If you like it warmer - up to 102 degrees - don't soak for longer than 10 minutes.

• For a super relaxing nap - and yes, you should take them often - try 15 minutes snoozing on a lavender pillow. By dusting a pillow case with lavender powder, or tucking a potpourri of lavender flowers under your pillow you might find you fall into a more gentle, relaxing nap. Do however choose only French or English lavender. Spanish lavender can be very stimulating.

• To pamper your pregnant belly - and help reduce your risk of stretch marks - soak a washcloth in small dish of warm milk, and apply to your tummy. Re-dip and re-apply for up to 15 minutes, then add a rich moisturizer like pure cocoa butter.

YOU MAY WISH TO READ ONE OR MORE OF THESE, OR HELP A FRIEND,COLLEAGUE/RELATIVE WITH IT:

1. Pregnancy Plan

2. Pregnancy Bible (Old and New Testament)

3. Preg Care Guide for young and old moms

4. Watch your Baby's Position; VIEW Here