Causes of Swollen Eyes During Pregnancy and How to Overcome It

When you are pregnant, not a few women who experience swelling in certain body parts, including the eyes. Swollen eyes during pregnancy can interfere with appearance and often make pregnant women uncomfortable. So, what is the cause and how to overcome it? Not only complaints of swollen eyes, pregnant women can sometimes experience swelling in other body parts, including hands, face, or feet. If not accompanied by other complaints, such as blurred or ghosting, headaches, and pain, then the possibility of swollen eyes experienced during pregnancy is not a dangerous thing.

Causes of Swollen Eyes During Pregnancy

Swollen eyes during pregnancy occur due to a buildup of fluid in the connective tissue around the eye. This condition can occur at any time during pregnancy, but usually begins to appear in the second trimester and will be increasingly visible in the third trimester. Swollen eyes during pregnancy are usually not a dangerous thing. This complaint can arise due to several things, such as:

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
• Increasing the amount of blood and body fluids during pregnancy.
• Fatigue due to lack of sleep, for example because of nausea or often wake up to urinate at night. Fatigue due to lack of sleep can cause the eyes to become swollen and dark circles appear around the eyes.
• Many consume caffeinated drinks or foods that are high in salt.

Various Ways to Overcome Swollen Eyes When Pregnant

To deal with complaints of swollen eyes during pregnancy, there are several steps to treat swollen eyes that pregnant women can do independently at home, including:

1. Compress the eye with cold water

The first way you can do it is to give a cold compress to the swollen eye. Cold compresses can narrow blood vessels, reducing fluid buildup around the eye tissue and relieving swelling. To use a cold compress, wrap the ice in a cloth or soak a clean cloth in a container of cold water, then squeeze and place it over your eyes for 10-15 minutes. This step can be done up to 2-3 times a day.

2. Compress the eye with cucumber slices

Using cucumber slices that are placed on the eyes also can reduce swelling. In addition, the high water content in cucumbers can also moisturize the area of ​​the skin around the eyes. Before compressing the eyes with cucumber slices, you should store cucumber in the refrigerator to get a fresh sensation on the skin. Compress the eye area with cucumber for 15 minutes and do it while lying in a comfortable place.

3. Change your diet

To avoid or reduce the risk of swelling that occurs during pregnancy, pregnant women are advised to eat nutritious foods and reduce salt intake. This is because consuming too much salt can cause body fluids to accumulate, so the eyes will become swollen.

4. Elevate the position of the head while sleeping

When sleeping, use two or more pillows to prevent the buildup of fluid that causes swelling in the eyes. In addition, position the body facing to the left to facilitate blood circulation and make sleep more soundly. If Bumil feels insecure with her swollen eyes, Bumil can also use cosmetics to disguise swelling and dark circles around the eyes. Use face makeup specifically designed for the eye area and choose colors that match the skin. Swollen eyes during pregnancy are classified as normal and only occur temporarily. Usually this condition will subside by itself after giving birth. However, if the swollen eye that Bumil feels appears along with other complaints, such as pain in the eyes, red and watery eyes, dizziness, impaired vision, and does not improve despite the handling steps above, then you should immediately consult with your doctor further to get an examination and proper handling.