Nine home remedies for swollen feet during pregnancy

But as exciting as it is, pregnancy comes with its own challenges (Shutterstock)

Being pregnant is one of those special moments only mothers can understand, waiting to meet a mini you is no doubt something exciting to look forward to.

But as exciting as it is, pregnancy comes with its own challenges. Carrying your little human for nine months is not easy. It can cause a lot of physical and emotional changes.

When you are pregnant you need to take good care of yourself and need to adjust some of your habits to avoid causing harm to both you and the baby.

Edema which is the swelling of your feet due to accumulation of fluids in your body tissues is a very common pregnancy problem which, unless severe, can be treated at home without the necessarily seeking medical attention.

With the help of home remedies, here are some tips on what you can do to help get rid of your swollen feet.

1.Consume protein, salt and other essential nutrients

Swollen feet during pregnancy can be caused by lack of some nutrients. Pregnant women, especially during their third trimester, carry about 20 pounds of extra fluids in their body. Consuming the necessary nutrients helps the body processes the extra fluid and eliminate them thus preventing swollen feet.

2.Nettle and dandelion tea

Try consuming one or two cups of this tea. It contains properties that help improve blood circulation in your body and balances the electrolytes in your body.

3.Chamomile and peppermint tea

While caffeine increases the number of times you go to the washroom meaning your body ends up losing much needed water and can result in hydration, chamomile and peppermint tea offer a great source of potassium and trace minerals which help improve blood circulation.

You can treat your edema at home without necessarily seeking medical attention (Shutterstock)

4.Consume potassium rich foods

Potassium helps the body balance salt to water ratio in the body. This will help reduce swelling caused by excess water in the body. Some of the foods rich in potassium include bananas, cabbage, avocados, kiwi, scallions, celery, spinach, sundried tomatoes etc.

5.Elevate your feet

Having your feet on the ground all day will cause them to be swollen. If you notice your feet are swelling lie down on a comfortable couch or bed and place a pillow beneath your feet and rest for 20 minutes Do this on a daily basis. This will allow blood and fluid to return to your heart and relieve the swelling.

6.Exercise for 30 minutes

It’s hard for a pregnant woman to move around all day but exercising can help relieve swelling of feet. Going for a walk, doing some yoga and light exercises is a great way of improving blood and fluid circulation in the body.

7.Wear compression socks

Wearing compression socks in the morning when your feet are not swollen will help keep pressure on your feet balanced by preventing fluids from collecting in your legs. This is because it improves blood and fluid circulation.

8.Massages

You can use your favorite oil to massage your feet on a daily basis to relieve the swelling. Massaging helps fluids to go back to the rest of the body thus improving blood circulation and help excretion of excess fluid.

9.Use cabbage leaves

Research shows that cabbage leaves can absorb excess fluids from your feet. Place some fresh cabbage leaves on your feet and cover with a cotton cloth. This will help the swelling go down.