post pardum ?

[ellymay]

Ok so I know I should know all about this seeing is I have only done this 3 other times LOL but I have never felt like this before and am wondering if it is normal or not, for starters my legs, feet hands nad face have all the sudden gotten swollen they had swelled up some in the hospital but yesterday they like ballooned up and my poor feet look horrible and I was wondering if that is normal and 2nd my stomach HURTS I mean it feels like I have done a million crunches and it hurts to sit up to walk to move basically and it is very sore to the touch as well and my back HURTS just about as bad as my stomach I really feel like I have been hit by a car or something and I have NEVER had that before by now w/ my other ones I am fine not even hardly sore in the slightest but not this time it just isn't getting better and I am still having to walk slowly and not lift too much and I hate it and am not sure if I should call my doc about it in the am or not.

[Mama2-4]

I think the pain and soreness in your belly are normal...I always feel like I have had the workout of a lifetime after delivery.

For the swelling, are you up on your feet more than you should be these days? Try taking it easy keep your feet elevated and usually by 2 weeks post-partum the swelling will be almost totally gone. Also, watch salt intake and of course drinking lots of water helps too!

[RasJi7]

I don't know anything about after labor as this is my first but just wanted to send some Hope you are feeling better soon! Since I am a first timer I would probably on the phone with my midwife just so she could tell me I am normal

[True Blue]

That does not sound normal AT ALL. How is your blood pressure? I know pre-e can develop after the baby is born. Do you have a fever? You could have an infection. I would definitely call your doctor this morning!

[Fletchersmama]

I think you should call the doc too. Maybe normal for you, but it may be an infection! Please make sure! Hope you feel better soon

[ellymay]

Actually I haven't done hardly anything my dh has been wonderful doing all the house work and me just sitting around and resting.
My BP in the hospital was staying pretty high but I was just assuming it was from the horrible cramps I was having which have gotten much better since yesterday but then I was thinking well maybe it is high still from the pain in my back and stomach. I haven't had a fever or anything just achy feeling in addition to the other. I just feel like I can't hold myself up.

[True Blue]

Please call your doctor. Better safe than sorry! Your symptoms just sound excessive and the swelling isn't a good thing. It could be nothing, but it could also be something. Let us know what happens!

[smokeylo]

Yeah, THAT much swelling and pain can't be good -- you deserve better rest post partum. Call your doc. Update us when you can!! xoxo

[nausicaamom]

I had wicked after pains this time 'round, in addition to all of the incision pain from my c-birth. I was reading that it gets worse after ech pregnancy as your uterus has to work harder to contract back down. They last for a good week or so for me and definitely worsened every time I nursed.

My swelling is slowly going down. I was retaining water like crazy the last several weeks of my pregnancy and they gave me 4 bags of fluid the day of my c-birth. For me, I know my pressure is still a little elevated (had PIH for the last month), and no matter how much I stay off my feet and drink, the swelling is taking it's own sweet time. I'll be two weeks tomorrow and it's definitely down to mid-calf at this point (was above my knees), so I know it will be a bit before it's all gone in my legs, but it was gone from my hands and face after 5-6 days.

One thing that helps my feet feel better is walking - it helps get the fluid moving and the swelling goes down dramatically after just walking a block or two. You may want to look into some compression hose to help as well - they can definitely help you legs feel better and look better too. Lastly, do follow your gut - if you feel something is wrong, definitely call your doc. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon - sausage feet and hands are no fun .

[ellymay]

I will call him in the morning and see what he says, I can deal w/ the swelling even though it is agrivating but the pain in my stomach really bothers me especially sense it is sensitive to the touch IDK hopefully it is nothing but I will def call in the am.

[neverdoingitagain]

Where, exactly, is the pain in your stomach? Upper abdomen(above the bellybutton) or lower abdomen?
If its upper abdomen it could be split abdominals. If its lower abdominals, it could be that your uterus isn't contracting properly, that you retained some placenta, that you developed an infection. If its upper, treat it like you would SPD. Roll onto your side, try not to use the abdominals excessively. If its lower, either go to the ER tonight, or book an appointment for tomorrow. Just get seen by a doctor ASAP

[ksera05]

you definitely need to be seen asap as there is such a thing as postpartum pre-e and it can be VERY serious

[ellymay]

it is right at my belly button a little above down to a little below my belly button and it goes all the way around my back but the front is what hurts to the touch and hurts when I walk or move around.

[Datura]

You should get seen immediately, even if you have to go to the ER. This could be serious stuff.

[neverdoingitagain]

Originally Posted by ellymay

it is right at my belly button a little above down to a little below my belly button and it goes all the way around my back but the front is what hurts to the touch and hurts when I walk or move around.

Ugh, yeah, thats what I have too. I haven't had it checked because I figured it was bruising from being stretched so thin in that area while pregnant. Here it is 6 weeks later and I still have pain there. I'm pretty sure its split abdominals, though I can't tell by myself. I've tried the techniques used to check, but I can't feel anything. Maybe you'll have better luck. For what its worth, I had swelling post-partum too. My bp was low though. Sometimes pharmacies have bp machines. If there is one nearby, maybe you should try to get it checked there today to check your bp. If its still high or has risen, I would go to the ER. If its not, I guess don't worry too much about it. Just do what you can to relieve it.
Good luck

[kathywiehl]

I had the same swelling with my 2nd dd. My doula at the time told me it happened to some women once in awhile and that it was harmless, but I was in the hospital when it happened so I'm sure the nurses checked me of postpartum pre-e (I've never heard of that btw)

At home, I'd probably call my midwife and ask her about it.

It was really bad. My feel looked like water balloons and I couldn't' walk because there was so much fluid. I could feel this weird jiggling feeling on my feet and legs when I did walk.

My doula sat with me and rubbed my feet and legs and pushed all the fluid up my leg to give me some relief. I remember her telling me that it's important to push it up to the hips so that the fluid doesn't collect around my knees. Maybe that would help you.

It turned out to be nothing but like I said, if it would have happened at home I might have wanted to go get checked out.

[flapjack]

I asked my midwife about most of this stuff yesterday. Oedema will often get worse after birth, afterpains frequently do get more intrense as the uterus shrinks, and basically, the hell of pregnancy continues Sorry for typos, cak.

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by kathywiehl

I had the same swelling with my 2nd dd. My doula at the time told me it happened to some women once in awhile and that it was harmless

My doula sat with me and rubbed my feet and legs and pushed all the fluid up my leg to give me some relief. I remember her telling me that it's important to push it up to the hips so that the fluid doesn't collect around my knees.

having just spent 3 days in post partum doula training, i am impressed with your doula. what a good idea.

i think that there is less harm in getting a second opinion than in doing nothing. so, i would also recommend calling your doc or a midwife. did you have pitocin or an IV that would contribute to swelling/retained fluids?

also, are you taking anything for the pain? i think it's motherease that makes a cramp bark/afterease tincture which can help with the cramping of your uterus as it contracts.

keep us posted though! hope you are feeling better asap!

[kathywiehl]

Originally Posted by Gunter

having just spent 3 days in post partum doula training, i am impressed with your doula. what a good idea.

i think that there is less harm in getting a second opinion than in doing nothing. so, i would also recommend calling your doc or a midwife. did you have pitocin or an IV that would contribute to swelling/retained fluids?

also, are you taking anything for the pain? i think it's motherease that makes a cramp bark/afterease tincture which can help with the cramping of your uterus as it contracts.

keep us posted though! hope you are feeling better asap!

She was a good doula. If anyone reading this needs a doula in Eastern PA, lmk and I'll give you her name.

FWIW, in my case I didn't have any interventions at all. No IV fluids or pitocin. It was a completely natural birth and this still happened to me.

[ellymay]

Yes I had IV fluids, it is better this morning and I am taking IB prophen for the pain.