pregnancy - water retention

[nellypope]

I am about 7 weeks pregnant and I seem to be carrying excess water! I haven't weighed myself but it seems to be very apparent around my ribs/upper abdominals! Is this normal?

Also....can I go swimming?

[sqad617]

How do you know it's water?

[nellypope]

It appeared very quickly, it's very much like a "water balloon" in consistency, it's too high to be trapped wind or stomach issues and it's far too early for me to be "showing".

Any ideas, I am aware that water retention is a real sympton but not sure at this early stage.

[sqad617]

It certainly sounds a bit odd, so might I suggest that you make an appt. to see your GP so that he can examine the swelling in your belly, nelly.......sorry, couldn't resist it but it is a serious answer.

Swimming?...no problem.

[Velvetee]

I was showing at 7 weeks and the bump starts quite high up from under my bust, although it's dropping slightly now.

I think I was retaining water for the first few weeks, as I noticed before I knew I was pregnant, that I looked a bit like the Godfather, with my puffy cheeks and neck, but that's gone now.

Swimming is a good exercise for pregnancy, but do check with your GP first. The rule of thumb generally is, if you were a regular swimmer or exerciser before pregnancy, then you can normally carry on, within reason unless you are classified as High Risk.

[nellypope]

Thanks you have put my mind at rest! It was weird as I literally looked about a stone heavier where the before I looked like me! But you're right it's kinda disapearing now ;-)

Thanks again!