symptoms during pregnancy
women s health issues
Swelling During Late Pregnancy
Usually during pregnancy, swelling is Normal, pregnancy-related edema Less commonly, swelling during pregnancy results from a disorder (see table). Such disorders can be serious. They include the following; Preeclampsia and Eclampsia None Peripartum cardiomyopathy (heart failure that develops late in pregnancy or after delivery) Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) None Inpreeclampsia,a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy, blood pressure and protein levels in urine increase. Fluids may accumulate, causing swelling in the face, hands, or feet and additional weight gain; most, but not all, women with preeclampsia have swelling. If severe, preeclampsia can damage organs, such as the brain, kidneys, lungs, or liver, and cause problems in the baby. blood clots form in veins located deep within part of the body, often in the legs. Pregnancy increases the risk of this disorder in several ways. During pregnancy, the body produces more of the proteins that help blood clot (clotting factors), probably intended to prevent too much bleeding during childbirth. Also, changes during pregnancy cause blood to back up in veins, making clots more likely to form. If the pregnant woman is less mobile, blood is even more likely to back up in leg veins and clot. The clots may interfere with blood flow. If a blood clot breaks loose, it can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, blocking blood flow there. This blockage (called Pulmonary Embolism (PE) ) is life threatening. Peripartum cardiomyopathyis a rare but serious condition that causes shortness of breath and fatigue, as well as swelling. The risk of preeclampsia, deep vein thrombosis, and peripartum cardiomyopathy are increased by various conditions (risk factors). High-risk factors for preeclampsiainclude Preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy A pregnancy with more than one fetus High Blood Pressure that was present before pregnancy Diabetes Mellitus (DM) None Kidney disorders Autoimmune Disorders None Molar Pregnancy (abnormal growth of the placenta with or without a fetus due to an abnormally fertilized egg) Moderate-risk factors for preeclampsiainclude First pregnancy Obesity Family history of preeclampsia African ancestry Lower income Age 35 or older In vitro fertilization Personal history factors (for example, previous infants with low birth weight or small for gestational age, previous adverse pregnancy outcome, more than 10 years between pregnancies) Fordeep vein thrombosis,risk factors include the following: A previous episode of deep vein thrombosis Inherited blood clotting disorders Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Post-Thrombotic Syndrome that prevents blood from flowing normally A disorder that makes blood more likely to clot, such as cancer or kidney or heart problems Smoking and Other Tobacco Use None Immobility, as may occur after an illness or surgery Obesity Forperipartum cardiomyopathy,risk factors include the following: Age 30 or older A previous diagnosis of Overview of Cardiomyopathy or other heart problem African ancestry A pregnancy with more than one fetus Preeclampsia High Blood Pressure that was present before pregnancy 