Swelling in the left leg is when the left leg is larger in size than normal, and may look different in shape.
What causes it?
Most women experience some swelling in pregnancy, especially in their feet and ankles. Swelling, also called edema, can happen because the body tends to retain more fluid, and circulation slows down during pregnancy. Swelling in the left leg may be associated with deep vein thrombosis, which occurs more often in the left leg than in the right. Rapid swelling in the left leg may also be associated with preeclampsia or cellulitis.
Tips?
If gradual, mild swelling is your only physical symptom, your swelling may be normal and can often be reduced. Try sleeping on your left side to help your circulation. Wear compression socks during the day, reduce the amount of salt in your diet if needed, and elevate your legs when you are sitting or resting. Make sure you are moving around intermittently, too, because sitting for long periods of time can prevent fluid from moving healthily around the body. Some people find warm soaks can also help with swelling. If you’re dehydrated, your body will hold onto any fluid it can, so be sure to drink enough water – even if that seems like the wrong thing to do for swelling, it isn’t!
There are some symptoms that, when accompanied by swelling in the left leg, definitely warrant a call to your OB provider. Because conditions like deep vein thrombosis are more likely to occur in the left leg, it’s a good idea to be aware of swelling on this side. Call your provider immediately if the swelling is very large, red, hot and painful or if the swelling happens very suddenly and is accompanied by elevated blood pressure, headache, changes in vision or upper abdominal pain. You should also call your provider if you have swelling with a fever or if you notice swelling and have a history of heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources
- Wee-Shian Chan, et al. “Anatomic distribution of deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy.” CMAJ. 182(7):657-660. Web. April 2010.
- “What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis?” NHLBI. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS, Oct 28, 2011. Web.
- Geeta K Swamy, MD, et al. “Swelling During Late Pregnancy.” MerckManuals. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, 2017. Web.
- Roger W Harms, MD. “What causes ankle swelling during pregnancy – and what can I do about it?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Aug 5, 2014. Web.
