While pregnant, many women 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 causes it and how to fix it?

Not only complaints of swollen eyes, pregnant women can sometimes also experience swelling in other body parts, including hands, face, or feet. If it is not accompanied by other complaints, such as blurred or ghosted vision, headaches, and pain, then it is possible that the swollen eyes experienced during pregnancy are not dangerous.

Causes of swollen eyes during pregnancy

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

Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Increased amount of blood and body fluids during pregnancy.
Fatigue due to lack of sleep, for example due to nausea or waking frequently to urinate at night. Fatigue due to lack of sleep can cause the eyes to become swollen and dark circles appear around the eyes.
Consume lots of caffeinated drinks or foods high in salt.

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Various Ways to Overcome Puffy Eyes During Pregnancy

To deal with complaints of puffy eyes during pregnancy, there are several puffy eye care steps that pregnant women can do independently at home, including:

1. Compress the eyes with cold water

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

2. Compress the eyes with cucumber slices

Using cucumber slices placed in the eye can also reduce puffiness. In addition, the high water content in cucumbers can also moisturize the skin area around the eyes. Before compressing the eyes with cucumber slices, you should store the cucumber in the refrigerator first 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 your head while sleeping

When sleeping, use two or more pillows to prevent fluid buildup that causes swelling of the eyes. In addition, the position of the body facing the left to facilitate blood circulation and make sleep more soundly.

If pregnant women feel insecure about their swollen eyes, pregnant women can also use cosmetics to disguise swelling and dark circles around the eyes. Use makeup designed specifically for the eye area and choose a color that matches your skin.

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Swollen eyes during pregnancy are quite normal and only temporary. Usually this condition will subside by itself after giving birth. However, if the swollen eyes that pregnant women feel appear along with other complaints, such as pain in the eyes, red and watery eyes, dizziness, impaired vision, and does not improve despite the above handling steps, then you should immediately consult a doctor for further examination. and proper handling.

Causes of Swollen Eyes During Pregnancy and How to Overcome It