Photo: iStockphoto
First-time mom-to-be Sarah Mahimwala was shocked to look down one afternoon during a heat wave this past July and see that her feet had ballooned in size.
?I couldn?t see my tendons or ankle bones, even when I flexed my toes,? she says. ?I was shocked.? Although some swelling during pregnancy, called edema, isn?t usually cause for alarm, it?s important to keep an eye on your symptoms.
What is it"

Edema in the hands, feet and ankles is very common (especially during the heat of summer). Puffiness in the face and neck can also occur?especially after the 20th week, says Andree Gruslin, interim chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital. ?Virtually every woman will experience it to some degree.? Changes in blood chemistry cause some fluid to shift into your tissues, and by the third trimester, the weight of your uterus puts so much pressure on your pelvic veins and the vena cava (the large vein on the right side of your body that carries blood from your legs and feet back up to your heart), that blood can pool, forcing fluid retention below the knees.
When to worry

Edema accompanied by certain other symptoms can signal more serious underlying problems. Be on the lookout for more swelling in one leg than the other, accompanied by pain, which can signal a possible blood clot. A headache that won?t go away, along with vision changes (like blurriness or sensitivity to light), can be signs of preeclampsia (pregnancy-s...