Ideas to Beat the Pregnancy Swelling & High Blood Pressure

Last time I was pregnant I was lucky enough to have my 3rd trimester land in the cooler Louisiana months. I'd say cold, but it was a warm winter.

Even with that I had high blood pressure and more edema than I'd ever care to have again. So this time I'm doing a few things different in an effort to prevent the swell... and awful blood pressure for that matter.

First off, my doctor says high blood pressure is common in a first pregnancy and you have a much lower chance of suffering from it the second time. Fingers cross this holds true for me. I was induced early because I was steadily at a 146 over something and swollen as ever.

So far, the chances are already lower... but I'm not taking it at that and stopping.

1. Cucumbers & Watermelon

Any cold fruit and veg really. I bought a huge watermelon this week and am chopping it up this afternoon with plans to munch away. I am struggling to drink enough, so cold wet foods have been my friend. The upside, they've also seemed to help with my acid reflux. So step one... eat all the diuretic fruit and veg in a 10 mile radius.

I've actually come up with yet another cucumber recipe this pregnancy that I'm loving. I'll have to share it soon.

2. Maternity Swim Suits

I bought one and plan on sinking my big bottom in any reasonably deep puddle of water I can locate this summer. The floating really helps to relieve pressure and not only cools you off but helps with water retention.

3. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

I originally ordered it to start drinking a cup a day just to help with labor and uterine toning. I took a tincture last pregnancy that I swore helps labor go as fast as it did for a first baby and this was in it. After doing a bit of reading it seems that RR Leaf Tea also helps with hypertension... all the more reason to drink it.

4. Roasted Dandelion Root Tea

This tea is a natural diuretic that is pregnancy safe. I like to brew up a cup and pour it into a 60 oz pitcher. Then I cut a lemon, squeeze it in, toss the squeezed lemon in, and add about 1/4 cup of cranberry juice. (the sugar free sort). I then fill up the container with filtered water and attempt to drink the entire 60 oz that day. This will make you have to potty ladies, but it is great to reduce swelling if you find you've been retaining fluid.

I woke up the other morning with lips too large for the 2nd trimester after an overly salty meal and this cured the problem.

5. Exercise & Massage

Why am I listing them together... because the gym actually has hydro-massage beds. Exercise is great for circulation and maintaining a healthy BP and the massage just gets those fluids moving around your body better.

I think these are my main things at the moment, if I remember something I'm up to that I forgot to mention I'll add it later.

But let me know what you did to keep the water weight off and your BP down during pregnancy.