Postpartum swollen feet?

[eri_flores]

Is it just me? I'm having WAAAAAY worse swelling of the feet than I ever had during the pregnancy. Just hit me day 4 and they are pitting and painful and awful. Is this just sitting around a lot because of my slow recovery? Something to do with my fluids being out-of-whack from lots of blood loss? Along with the swollen breasts, it's not a very welcome symptom.

[mkoontz]

It can be because your blood system is starting to return to normal. The extra blood in your body is being removed - leaving extra fluid.

It helps to drink lots (and a little lemon in the water helps too) - the usual don't drink coffee or tea.

Did you birth in hospital with an IV??? Sometimes they put lots of fluid in and it can take a while for the body to deal with it on top of everything else.

Hope you feel better soon.

[dctexan]

Erianna - I have heard about this. I think it is usually attributed to IVs during labor. However, it might just also be the extra fluid left over from being preggo. Apparently you have two wonderful weeks of peeing and sweating like crazy to help get rid of all of that extra fluid. How's the babe?!

[Alohamelly]

I had no swelling during my pregnancy but have a little bit now in my feet. It isn't too bad, but if it bothered me enough, I'd call my midwife.

[BabyDakota]

try dandelion root supplements and tea. it is fine for bfing, and worked well for me after my last pregnancy.
also, soaking your feet in warm water with pau d'arco tincture can provide relief (worked for me too last time)
An epsom salt bath would be helpful too.

[mamamoo]

i am also having swelling that is worse than during pregnancy, and a headache for the last 4 days. I don't know why....no iv's, home, water birth. I hope it goes away soon...

[PiePie]

1 of my mws said to expect this, and that it would go away in about 7 days. good luck.

[eri_flores]

Originally Posted by mamamoo

i am also having swelling that is worse than during pregnancy, and a headache for the last 4 days. I don't know why....no iv's, home, water birth. I hope it goes away soon...

Yeah, same here (no water birth, though). Thanks for the replies and suggestions... my mw said also nettle tea might help. Since I had really severe bleeding, I think the 'fluid shift' is sort of greater than it might be... I'm chalking it up to that. The headaches seem to have lifted. Now if I can just get these nipples toughened up! Off to see if there's a thread, or start one for first-time nursers!