What should you know about severe swelling in pregnancy?

Mild swelling in the feet and ankles can develop as pregnancy progresses, particularly after standing. Swelling that appears suddenly, worsens quickly, or involves the face and hands can be a warning sign of Pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition linked with high blood pressure and strain on organs. Other warning symptoms include a severe headache, visual changes, pain below the ribs, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, or feeling very unwell.

Swelling in one leg with pain, warmth, redness, or breathlessness may have a different urgent cause. The appearance of swelling alone cannot identify the reason, so an assessment may include blood pressure, urine, blood tests, and checks on the baby.

Contact your maternity unit or obstetric team promptly for new, severe, or rapidly increasing swelling. Rest on your side, remove tight rings, and note when the swelling began and which areas are affected. Do not take blood-pressure medicines, water tablets, or pain medicines without medical advice. Keep your antenatal appointments, because blood-pressure and urine checks can reveal a problem even when you feel well.

Seek emergency care now for severe headache, flashing lights or blurred vision, severe pain under the ribs, seizures, confusion, chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or sudden one-sided leg swelling with breathing symptoms. Call your maternity unit urgently for swelling of the face or hands, reduced fetal movement, or feeling suddenly unwell.

What are my blood-pressure and urine results? Could this be Pre-eclampsia? Which symptoms mean I should return immediately, and how should I monitor fetal movement at home?