Swollen Feet During Pregnancy: Causes, Relief, and Prevention

What You’ll Learn Today

• Swelling in pregnancy may occur because of increased maternal blood volume and extracellular fluid, which expand by approximately 40–50% during pregnancy.¹
• Swollen feet during pregnancy usually peak in the third trimester.¹
• Elevating feet, staying hydrated, and cutting sodium can help reduce swollen ankles during pregnancy.
• Face or hand swelling during pregnancy, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and other symptoms may signal preeclampsia and require immediate medical attention.
• Swelling present in only one leg, especially if associated with tenderness, redness, or warmth, could suggest a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis), and immediate medical attention is needed.²

Swollen feet during pregnancy are super common, especially later in pregnancy when your body is working overtime to support your baby. This fluid retention helps everything expand—including your feet—and it usually vanishes post-delivery in around 7 to 10 days with a vaginal delivery.³ If you received extra fluids during a C-section, then it may last a little longer.

Until then, we’ve got advice on how to ease swollen feet during pregnancy.

Why Does Swelling Happen in Pregnancy?

Your body pumps out about 50% more blood and fluids to keep your baby thriving—and this contributes to the development of puffiness or edema.¹ This extra fluid helps your uterus expand and cushions your baby, but it can also collect in your lower body due to gravity and pressure from your growing uterus on blood vessels.⁴

The most common areas affected are feet, ankles, and legs.

What Causes Swollen Feet During Pregnancy?

Feet and ankles tend to swell the most because they’re farthest from your heart, and gravity pulls fluid downward all day. Other reasons you might have swollen ankles in pregnancy include:⁴

• Increased blood volume (up to 50% more than normal)
• Uterus pressure on the veins returning blood from your legs
• Hormone changes cause your body to retain more fluid
• Standing or sitting for long periods
• Warm weather that makes blood vessels expand

When Does Swelling in Pregnancy Begin?

Although pregnancy swelling can be experienced at any time, it’s often most noticeable around the fifth month of pregnancy and can increase during the third trimester.¹

When do feet start swelling in pregnancy for other women? Some women notice swelling in pregnancy as early as the second trimester, while others don't experience much until closer to delivery.

How to Relieve Swollen Feet During Pregnancy

Want to know how to help swollen feet? Try these tips.

At-Home Remedies

• Elevate your feet above heart level when sitting or lying down.⁶
• Apply cool compresses to swollen areas several times a day.¹
• Swim or float in a pool—water pressure naturally compresses tissues.⁴
• Wear compression stockings (ask your doctor first).⁶
• Massage your feet gently toward your heart.⁶

Lifestyle Adjustments

• Stay hydrated—drink more water daily to flush excess sodium.⁶
• Limit salt intake, but don't eliminate it completely.⁶
• Take short walks to improve circulation (avoid standing still).⁴
• Sleep on your left side to reduce pressure on major blood vessels.⁷

How to Prevent Swollen Feet During Pregnancy

Here are some tips on how to prevent swollen feet during pregnancy:

• Avoid tight clothing around the waist and legs.⁷
• Wear comfortable, supportive shoes (skip the high heels).¹
• Stay cool and use fans or air conditioning when possible.¹
• Follow a pregnancy nutrition guide with balanced sodium and potassium.¹

Other Common Types of Swelling in Pregnancy

When does swelling begin in pregnancy for other parts of the body? It varies, but here are a few other places where you might see some puffiness.

Swollen Ankles

Swollen ankles during pregnancy often accompany foot swelling and follow the same causes and remedies. Elevating feet when sitting is especially helpful.

Swollen Hands

Swollen hands during pregnancy can make rings feel tight. Remove jewelry early and soak hands in cool water for relief.

Face Swelling

Why do pregnant women have a swollen face? Face swelling during pregnancy usually happens because of fluid retention, but it can also be a sign of preeclampsia, so you’ll want to contact your healthcare provider right away.¹

When to Call Your Doctor About Swelling

Some swelling during pregnancy is normal, but contact your doctor if you notice:

• Sudden face swelling during pregnancy or hand swelling. This could be a red flag for a serious condition called preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is excessive swelling accompanied by other indicators such as high blood pressure and headache.⁴
• Painful swelling in just one leg. This could signify a blood clot, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT tends to only affect one leg, usually the left leg, and will likely cause a feeling of heaviness or pain when standing.⁷
• Swelling that doesn't improve with elevation or rest.

Support Your Pregnancy Journey With Enfamil

Swollen feet during pregnancy are uncomfortable but usually harmless. Simple changes like the ones we’ve covered can totally transform your comfort. For even more comfort during your pregnancy journey, join Enfamil Family Beginnings^®. This program guides you through every puffy moment with coupons and infant formula samples that can support your baby’s development.

References:

1. https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy/swelling-during-pregnancy/↗
2. https://www.cdc.gov/blood-clots/about/index.html↗
3. https://www.uwmedicine.org/sites/stevie/files/2018-11/Taking-Care-Yourself-After-Birth-English.pdf↗
4. https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/swollen-feet-pregnancy↗
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-weight-gain/art-20044360↗
6. https://www.fhcsd.org/prenatal-care/swelling-in-pregnancy-when-to-worry/↗
7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/swelling-during-pregnancy/faq-20058467↗
8. Khosla K, Jin Y, Espinoza J, Kent M, Gencay M, Kunz LH, Mueller A, Xiao Y, Frank Peacock W, Neath SX, Stuart JJ, Woelkers D, Harris JM, Rana S. Signs or symptoms of suspected preeclampsia - A retrospective national database study of prevalence, costs, and outcomes. Pregnancy Hypertens. 2024 Jun;36:101124. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2024.101124.