If your blood pressure is normal then you may wish to look at a few options to help relieve the symptoms of fluid retention. Some women have found these treatments, or a combination of them helpful; others find they make little difference. Not all these methods may appeal to you and the results will vary from woman to woman, depending on your body's individual response to them. Check with your caregiver when considering treating your fluid retention.
Lifestyle choices
Natural therapies
Lifestyle choices
Slowing down
Physical activity
Looking at your diet.
Drinking lots of water
Slowing down. Put your feet up as much as possible. Rest them up on another chair if doing desk work or studying. Put them up at the end of the day for at least 20 minutes. Some women will wear full support stockings if they are on their feet all day. Wearing comfortable flat shoes may help.
Physical activity. Try some gentle, regular exercise such as swimming or yoga.
Looking at your diet. Are you getting enough protein? (This includes lean meat, chicken, fish, beans, nuts, brewers yeast, milk, yoghurts, cheeses, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, seeds, wheat, Spirulina).
Restricting salt during pregnancy is unsupported by research so far and is not generally recommended. Salt intakes should not be excessive, but determined by personal taste. You can read more in
sodium.
Drinking lots of water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep the kidneys functioning well. Contrary to popular belief, you are better off drinking more water when you have fluid retention, rather than restricting your fluids.