Edema during pregnancy

Synonym

Water retention Pregnancy

Synonyms in a broader sense

Late stage edema is one of the most common conditions that can occur during pregnancy. While early pregnancy is mainly characterized by hormonal changes and the associated nausea (so-called Frühgestosen), completely different symptoms occur during the last months of pregnancy. In medical terminology, the development of these symptoms, which are typical for a pregnancy, is called gestosis (also known as pregnancy poisoning).

In general, it can be assumed that about 60 to 70 percent of all expectant mothers develop water retention (technical term: edema) during late pregnancy. These oedemas can be differently pronounced from woman to woman, as well as from pregnancy to pregnancy, and can occur in different parts of the body. Especially during the last months of pregnancy, the development of such edemas can be observed particularly frequently.

The water retention typical of edema during pregnancy can basically accumulate in the connective tissue of the entire body. Particularly frequent are water in the feet, the ankles and water in the hands. The occurrence of edema in the facial area is also not uncommon during late pregnancy.

The majority of expectant mothers find these water retention problems unsightly and disturbing, because especially in the last months of pregnancy the freedom of movement and well-being can be significantly restricted by the pronounced water retention. In addition, many expectant mothers are concerned about whether edema can become dangerous during pregnancy. In general, however, this concern can be negated.

Edema that occurs during late pregnancy is in most cases completely harmless. Immediately after birth, it can be observed that the typical pregnancy edema completely disappears without medical intervention. Nevertheless, affected women should consult a specialist (in this case a gynaecologist) as soon as possible to rule out possible underlying diseases. In particular, pregnancy-related high blood pressure (hypertension) can play a central role in this context.

Causes

There can be a variety of causes for the development of edema during pregnancy. Besides the pregnancy-specific reasons for the occurrence of such water retention, other organic causes must also be excluded. Edema is generally the result of an underlying disease.

Water retention is therefore not an independent clinical picture, but rather the symptom of a systemic disease. In the development of edema, restrictions in heart and kidney function or liver damage play a decisive role. In addition, changes in the venous outflow, for example leg vein thrombosis, can promote the development of oedema in the legs.

In addition, many of the patients affected can be diagnosed with an outflow disorder in the lymphatic system. In these cases one speaks of a so-called lymphedema. Although the occurrence of edema during pregnancy is usually not caused by a general disease, these possible causes must be excluded at all costs.

In expectant mothers, water retention is almost normal, especially in the last months of pregnancy. While the unborn child develops and grows in the womb, the body of the pregnant woman undergoes a number of changes. Above all, the increase in blood volume and the resulting increase in water retention can play a decisive role in the development of edema during pregnancy.

Due to these changes, the veins of the expectant mother have to work harder in order to adequately return the blood to the heart. As a result, the permeability of the vein walls may increase, allowing more water to enter the tissue. In addition, the abdomen, which becomes larger and larger during pregnancy, exerts enormous pressure on the pelvis.

This also makes it more difficult for blood to flow back through the venous leg. For this reason, edema occurs during pregnancy, especially in the legs, ankles and feet.In addition, the hands, fingers or even the face can also be affected by pronounced water retention. In this context, the expected date of birth seems to be of crucial importance.

Oedema of the face and upper extremities is particularly common in women who give birth in summer or early autumn. Based on these observations, it can be assumed that warm temperatures favour the development of oedema during pregnancy. Furthermore, prolonged sitting or standing is considered a risk factor for the formation of water retention during pregnancy.

The hormonal changes in the organism during pregnancy can also contribute to the development of oedema. Above all, the increased release of the hormone estrogen causes the tissue to loosen up. In this way, the female body should be prepared for the forthcoming birth. However, since the increased permeability of the venous vessels causes more water to be washed into the tissue, the loosening of the tissue leads to the development of edema.