Swelling and pins & needles? Updated

My feet, legs, and hands are getting to be really swollen. i thought it was because I was on my feet all day at work again... but I have been laying down with my feet elevated for a few hours now and there is no improvement. I am starting to feel a pins & needle feeling in my hands, stomach, feet and legs. Is this normal for 33-34 weeks?

Update:
Update:
I called the midwives after reading all of your posts. She said swelling can happen especially towards the end, and being on my feet all day is probably the cause. She said the swelling can cause the pins and needles feeling and numbness. She said to keep drinking a lot of water but to put lemon juice in it to prevant my body from retaining extra water. She also said to sleep with my legs elevated by putting blocks or pillows onder my mattress. I have an appiontment next week so she said I can wait until then to be check unless I get a headache or dizzyness.
I had the most horrible day at work today and never got to sit down at all. Now that I am home I have my feet up, but there is a pain in my leg behind my knee that feels like a bruise. And my feet are numb.
At least I had an easy pregnany until last week.

Message edited 4/2/2008 6:06:21 PM.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Are you drinking enough water? are you eating things high in salt? I would really watch your salt intake the last couple of weeks and make sure you drink plenty of water, I got very swollen at the end of my first pregnancy because my BP was high. If you start to really feel uncomfortable call your Dr!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I did have potato chips around lunch time
I am getting worried now because my feet are pretty numb.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Posted by julz33

I did have potato chips around lunch time
I am getting worried now because my feet are pretty numb.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Thanks. I am going to bed now and if it isn't better in the morning I will call the dr. I never had a problem with blood pressure and I just started swelling a few days ago. I know swelling is normal late in pregnancy but I never expected the pins & needles and numbness.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Watch your salt intake and drink lots of water. The pins and needles could be the beginning of carpal tunnel.

But I have to tell you Jul with the humidity in the air today I have been VERY swollen all day and that really has not been an issue for me before today!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Check if your insurance has a 24 hr hotline. Mine did, and I didn't even know about it. Sometimes they give good prenatal perks.

If you call the 24 hr line, they can answer the question for you.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

That can be from the water retension....feel better!!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Are you drinking a lot of spots drinks? They are high in sodium and can make you retain extra water. Definitely call the doctor in the morning if you don't feel better. My friend had this from 35 weeks on and it ended up being nothing serious, just uncomfortable. She is a teacher and her OB made her stop work at 38 weeks.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Drink twice the amount of water you think you need to and eat things like watermelon and pineapple, they have tons of water.
I'll tell you this, it's normal to swell as the baby gets bigger. He could also be sitting on a nerve, which might be causing the pins and needles.
Sleep on your left side, that reduces swelling.
Also, if you can, lay on your bed with your legs directly up the wall. So, your butt will be up against the wall, kind of like you're sitting on the wall. I swelled terribly at the end of my pregnancy and this always helped.
Just remember that when you have the baby, you're going to sweat and pee all the water out! That's fun, too

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I would echo what the other woman have said. Watch your salt intake.

Regarding the pins and needles, I have been having that problem since the start of the 2nd trimester. The doctor said that I have carpal tunnel brought on by pregnancy and also pinched nerves in my elbows. She said there isn't anything I can do about it during the pregnancy.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I hope you feel better

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I had pins and needles and then carpal tunnel in both hands in the third trimester. The doctor told me its normal, but if I was ever concerned that it was much worse, to come into the office and they would check my urine and BP (to check for pre-eclampsia)

Message edited 4/2/2008 10:27:46 AM.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I had this and the end result was Preclampsia

get it checked please veryyy impt!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Yes. This is one of my worst symptoms.

I've had this since week 28. Now the swelling is so bad that I can barely close my fist or grip a pen.

As long as your BP is okay, it's just another wonderful symptom of PG.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I would call your doctor just to be safe. Even before I got pregnant, I had a BP monitor at home. I bought a cheap manual one with a digital read from CVS and had it double checked against the readings at the doc's office for accuracy. It's pretty useful to have around!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I am feeling much better today. I am still a little swollen but the pins & needles feeling is gone. Unfortunatley, I have been on my feet running around all day today. After this lunch break I am going to try to stay sitting at my desk for the rest of the day.

To answer some of your questions, I definitely drink enough water. I have about 90-100 oz per day of water. That is not including other liquids such as milk, iced tea, frtui juice. I do eat a lot of salt tough (chinese food, potato chips) so I am going to cut that down ASAP!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

That is great that you are feeling better today. But make sure you relax a little!! And also, keep in mind that most CVS stores are24 hours and they always have a BP monitor that can be used by the public... just in case you want to check your BP. Preeclampsia is serious!! Just wanna make sure you are watching your BP!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Does Preeclampsia come on so suddenly? I have always had really great BP throughout this pregnancy.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Thanks for worrying
Now that I am sitting for a while I am starting to feel the pins & needles sensation again. I might call my midwife this afternoon just for peace of mind.

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

I am reading my posts and realize that I may be sounding like a psycho. Not my intent... After what happened to poor Gerty, I just am more emotionally invested in everyone who posts on here. I hope the sensation goes away. Please call your midwife just to play it safe!

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Re: Swelling and pins & needles?

Keep sitting, Julie! Don't work so hard - it's not worth the risk and the clients/management can wait!