Swollen ankles

Are you finding it hard to wear your favourite pair of shoes?

Have you noticed that you have swollen ankles? If so, you don’t have anything to worry about, because swollen ankles are a perfectly normal and harmless, though uncomfortable, pregnancy symptom that most pregnant women experience in their third trimester of pregnancy.

Swollen ankles are more formally known as the condition edema and they are the result of your body retaining extra fluid in your tissues due to the additional pressure your growing uterus puts on your circulatory system during pregnancy. This extra pressure slows the return of blood from your legs, which in turn settles in your feet. If you are carrying multiples or excess amniotic fluid you may notice more than average swelling in your feet, this again is normal. You will also notice that at the end of the day and on warmer days the swelling is worse than in the morning or on cooler days.

Fortunately, your swollen ankles, which can make wearing your favourite pair of shoes an impossibility, return to normal soon after you give birth. In those few days when the swelling is going down you’ll probably sweat quite a bit and find yourself visiting the bathroom frequently. That’s just your body getting rid of all of that excess fluid.

How can I reduce the swelling?

When should I worry about my swollen ankles?