Viral Photo Shows Just How Different Pregnancies Can Be On The Body
Fitness blogger shares side-by-side photos of her swollen feet
Pregnancy does some weird things to your body, that’s for sure. Swollen feet (Sigh.) Hemorrhoids. (Ouch.) Indigestion. (Blegh.) Weird cravings and even weirder dreams. (WTF?) Not only does pregnancy do some wild things to your body, but each pregnancy is completely different. Not just from woman to woman, but even from pregnancy to pregnancy. Fitness blogger Chontel Duncan recently posted a photo of her feet to show just how different each pregnancy can be.
“Creating foot phobias all around the world with this post but this is the raw truth on how bad my fluid got towards the end of my first pregnancy,” she quipped in an Instagram post. “Second time round I have done nothing different but have absolutely no fluid retention.”
The extremely swollen foot on the left is from her first pregnancy, and many of us are groaning in solidarity. We can practically feel the skin stretching and the shoe straps digging in. My own feet looked like a blown up latex glove at the end of my first pregnancy so I can totally feel her pain.
The photo on the right is from Duncan’s second pregnancy. Just look at the taut skin and ombré toenails. Paint us green with envy.
If you’re feet looked (or look) more like the left than the right, don’t fret. Swelling during pregnancy, which is also called edema, is extremely common because the body produces 50% more blood and body fluids for the developing baby. In fact, all that extra fluid accounts for about 25% of the weight gained during pregnancy.
Edema doesn’t just blow up feet either; it can also cause swelling in the hands, face, legs and ankles. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the extra fluid softens the body so it can expand as the baby develops, and also prepares pelvic joints and tissues for delivery.
While a normal amount of swelling is common, especially when the weather is warm or after standing for a long time, excessive swelling can sometimes be a sign of preeclampsia, so talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.
Duncan recently gave birth to her second son last week, so she’s busy soaking in the baby love right now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSQWF1gFlH/?taken-by=chontelduncan
Congrats go out to Duncan and her family, and if you currently have water balloon hooves instead of feet, take heart. You’re normal, and you won’t look or feel like the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man forever.
H/T Refinery 29
