Numbness and Tingling in Feet During Pregnancy: Causes & Concerns

Question
I'm 38 weeks pregnant. Normal blood pressure, no gestational diabetes, nothing like that. But I do have some minimal swelling. I have a desk job, and by the middle of the day, my lower legs and ankles and feet are rather large. My OB doesn't have big concerns about it, which is good. She said it's part and parcel with the pregnancy. I've noticed, however, in the last 24 hours my left food is numb and tingly...all the time. Is this also associated with the swelling, do you think? I don't want to call and make an appt for something that is also considered 'normal' for many pregnant women. It's not painful, but it sure feels weird. Perhaps, is the baby sitting on a nerve? Or maybe it's something else that needs to be addressed?


Answer
It is normal to have swelling and numbness in your lower extremities, in late pregnancy. This can be due to pressure on the sciatic nerve as well as fluid build up in the lower extremity. During pregnancy, the valves in your leg (that control blood flow back to the heart from the veins) stop working and you pool fluid in your feet and lower legs. This leads to swelling and numbness in your feet. I would recommend elevating your feet as much as you can (even while working). Good Luck.