In phytotherapy, remedies are used for swollen legs during pregnancy, totally safe for the mother and baby.

This period represents a critical moment for the legs of future mothers: during the third trimester of pregnancy, 70% of women have problems with swollen legs, varicose veins and water retention, as the blood flow increases by about 20% to better nourish and oxygenate the baby, with consequent overload of the blood vessels.

In the last stages of pregnancy, then, there is a tendency to water retention due to an alteration of kidney function, in particular as regards the filtration of proteins and mineral salts through the urine. This fact involves a swelling of the tissues, called edema, especially in the lower part of the body, legs, feet and ankles, especially if the pregnant woman spends a lot of time standing.

We see some natural remedies for swollen legs in pregnancy, from diet to movement, passing through very healthy habits .

Natural remedies for swollen legs

Given the impossibility of taking substances so as not to harm the baby, natural remedies for swollen legs consist of simple advice and small steps to make them lighter.

Sleep with your feet up

From the first months of pregnancy it is advisable to sleep with the legs raised : just insert a pillow under the mattress at the level of the feet or raise the bottom of the bed surface by about 15 centimeters. Rest, however, must always be comfortable.

During the day, as soon as you can, try to keep your legs up, even if only for a few minutes, but do it constantly, while sitting down and having your legs resting horizontally will promote circulation.

Make movement

Physical activity, in fact, stimulates the muscular pump by favoring the rise of blood from the bottom upwards. The most suitable activities for the health of the legs in pregnancy are swimming and long walks, with comfortable shoes and not too fast pace. The important thing is that the movement becomes a daily habit, dedicating at least half an hour a day.

Acqua-gym, exercise bikes and lymphatic drainage massages are recommended (if there are no contraindications by the gynecologist) especially as regards the swelling of the legs. Other types of gymnastic activity are not very useful and in the third quarter are in fact unworkable.

Follow a healthy diet

Avoiding all kinds of excesses, in particular sugar and fat . Go ahead instead to foods with a high fiber content, such as cereals, fruit, vegetables, dried legumes, which also help intestinal activity. Try to avoid smoking and follow a diet rich in folic acid, iron and calcium; and drink plenty of water.

Take baths and foot baths in water and salt

Pour about 200 grams of coarse salt into a tub of water, let it dissolve and soak for 10 minutes: with the footbath, due to osmosis, salt will remove excess fluids from the legs, ankles and feet.

Use anti-fatigue creams

For an immediate sensation of lightness and freshness you can use creams, gels or sprays, which attenuate the swelling in the legs, based on horse chestnut, butcher's broom, red vine and essential oils of the circulatory and anti-edema system .

It is necessary to apply these products adequately, through a light massage, from the ankles to the heart.

Here are the natural products for swollen legs

The reasons why your legs swell during pregnancy

In addition to genetic predisposition and factors that can contribute to exacerbating these disorders, such as the hot climate or activities that lead to long standing or sitting, in most cases, this is the consequence of the most important changes that occur during pregnancy:

• Hormonal changes : the levels of a hormone, progesterone, which contributes to venous congestion, increase during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Changes in blood flow : increases blood flow to and from the uterus to nourish the fetus, resulting in overloading of the veins. The uterus, becoming more and more voluminous, compresses the vessels of the legs, thus hindering the return of blood from the feet to the heart.
• Changes in body weight, which loads on the legs, weighing them down .
• Metabolic changes, including kidney function, which leads to water retention and edema (swelling), particularly pronounced in the lower limbs. This phenomenon is caused by small amounts of liquids escaping through the vein walls, which accumulate gradually in the tissues, causing swelling in the feet and also in the ankles.