Hello, wonderful mums-to-be! Today, let's dive into the fascinating science behind swelling during pregnancy and discover effective ways to manage it, along with a special shoutout to our go fourth®️ graduated compression tights and socks!

So, why does swelling occur during pregnancy? It's all about the body's incredible adaptations to support the growing bub. Here's the scoop:

Increased Blood Volume: During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to your baby. This increased blood volume puts pressure on your blood vessels, especially in the lower extremities, leading to swelling.

Hormonal Changes: Hormones like progesterone and relaxin play key roles in relaxing muscles, joints, and blood vessels to accommodate your growing uterus. While this is essential for a healthy pregnancy, it can also contribute to fluid retention and swelling.

Fluid Retention: Your body retains more fluids during pregnancy to support the expansion of blood volume and help with nutrient transport to your baby. This excess fluid can accumulate in your legs and feet, causing swelling.

Let’s talk about some practical tips to manage swelling and keep you feeling comfortable and fabulous:

Stay Active: Engage in gentle exercises like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga to improve circulation and reduce swelling.

Elevate Your Feet: Whenever possible, elevate your legs above heart level to promote drainage of excess fluids and reduce swelling. You can also try using a footstool or resting your legs on pillows while lying down.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins and excess fluids from your body, aiding in reducing swelling.

Healthy Diet: Incorporate foods rich in potassium (like bananas, spinach, and avocados) to help regulate fluid balance and minimise swelling.

Now, let's talk about the science behind our graduated compression tights and socks and how they can be a game-changer for managing swelling during pregnancy:

These innovative products utilise graduated compression technology, which means they apply gentle pressure to your legs, starting from the ankle and gradually decreasing towards the thigh. This graduated pressure helps improve blood circulation, reduce fluid retention, and alleviate swelling and discomfort.

By enhancing blood flow, our compression gear supports the natural drainage of fluids from your legs, preventing them from pooling and causing swelling. Plus, the added support can help alleviate fatigue and discomfort, allowing you to stay active and comfortable throughout your pregnancy.

So, whether you're tackling your daily tasks, enjoying a workout, or simply relaxing, our go fourth®️ support wear tights and socks have got your back (and, your legs and feet)!

Say goodbye to swollen feet and legs and hello to comfort and support with continuall. Because every mum deserves to feel amazing during this incredible journey of motherhood.

- Blog written by Dr Aisling Bolton (co-founder @ continuall)

Registered Osteopath

Bachelor of Science (Osteopathy)/Master of Health Science (Osteopathy)