After my first week back at work, my ankles are starting to disappear! I guess its the price I pay for teaching science to America's youth on my feet all day while pregnant! You're welcome, America!!!
I naturally have bony and skinny ankles and after this week, they are not quite as bony or skinny. My socks leave marks for a while and I had to loosen my "running" shoes (running is in quotes because there is no way in hell I actually wear them to go running in these days!)
During my last pregnancy this swelling happened much sooner due to my working on my feet the entire time and my high intake of sodium and bad foods. I am pretty surprised that this is just starting up now at the end of my 34th week. It must be due to my restful summer! When 3 year old Emily napped, I at least laid down and put my feet up for a couple of hours!
It is really weird when this happens to your legs and ankles because when you look down, it is like you are looking down at some other persons feet!
"They" recommend support socks or stocking to keep the water from pooling at your ankles if you are on your feet all day.... The "They" I refer to must be a group of male doctors who have never tried on support stockings!!! It has been 90 to 100 degrees here in my home town and I will not be wearing those tight, hot, itchy stockings! That gives me only one option! Cankles, here I come!
HOW TO AVOID CANKLES: Well, I hate to tell you this, but you can't really avoid them all together - due to your extra (up to 50% more) blood and the fact that especially at the end of your pregnancy your body's cells naturally take on extra water and keep it in. The best you can do to try to avoid or minimize getting this crazy water swelling is to eat healthy and limit your sodium intake; and more importantly keep active - make sure you are keeping your circulation going by taking walks and not sitting or laying down constantly. Another thing that keeps your body circulating blood and water properly is to always lay/sleep on your left side. The left side is best for body circulation and digestion. Beyond that, if you are a work-on-your-feet all day kinda gal like me, you just have to put your feet up whenever you can and hope for the best!
ACTIVITY TO TRY: Water-weight cankles can be fun! You can press your finger in all the way down to your bone and leave a weird depression in your giant ankles! Its a fun trick to gross your husband out with!
To all my partners in the world of pregnancy cankles - I salute you! I know your pain - especially if you are vein like I am!!!
Remember if you are a first timer, this weight will go away. Your ankles will be back! It will not instantly go away upon giving birth, but over the course of about a week, you will sweat and pee excessively until all of the water weight and cankles go away! It is pretty cool! I remember that every morning when I woke up on my walk to the bathroom, I would look in the full length mirror and look a few pounds thinner! It is kind of amazing all of the things your body does while pregnant and after!
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