It is normal for a woman to have very swollen legs and feet after childbirth for about 3 days, and to achieve faster disinfection it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, especially water or diuretic tea, without sugar, because the more fluid to the woman to ingest, plus the kidneys need to function, which facilitates the elimination of urine and fights this fluid retention.
This swelling occurs mainly in women who undergo cesarean delivery because they spend more time lying down and need recovery from anesthesia, but it can also affect women after normal delivery, although in this case the swelling goes away faster because after normal delivery the woman has more ease in moving around. The swelling can last up to 6 days after the baby is born and if it lasts longer, you should talk to the doctor.
What to do to deflate legs and feet after childbirth
What it is recommended to do to disinfect the lower limbs after childbirth is:
- Ingesting a greater amount of liquids: being especially indicated the water or teas without sugar, which also favors the formation of more breast milk;
- Walking inside the room and indoors whenever possible: because the standing position and movement of the body, promote muscle contraction and help in venous return and also stimulates the exit of the lochia, which is the bleeding that the woman presents later of childbirth;
- Move your feet when sitting or reclining in bed: because contraction of the calf or 'leg potato' muscles is essential to stimulate the return of excess fluid from the legs and feet to the heart, moreover this helps prevent thrombosis deep vein;
- Elevate legs and feet by placing a pillow or cushion under your feet so that they are higher than the trunk, whenever lying on the bed or on the sofa;
- Doing a contrast bath with hot and cold water, dipping your feet in a bowl of hot water and then in cold water, and repeating this process for about 5 times is also an excellent strategy to eliminate swelling of the feet faster.
Watch these steps in this video:
Because the woman becomes swollen after delivery
During pregnancy the woman's body has about 50% more blood, but with fewer proteins and hemoglobins. After the baby's birth, the woman's body goes through a major transformation, more abruptly. Excess fluid in the space between the cells is a common and expected situation, and this translates into localized swelling especially in the legs and feet, although it can also be noticed with less intensity in the arms, hands and also in the region of the cesarean scar or of episiotomy.
Warning signs to go to the doctor
The swelling should last up to 8 days, reducing day by day. If the swelling is more present or lasts longer, you should seek medical help because you may need to check your blood pressure and check for any significant changes in your heart, kidneys or liver. You should also go to the doctor if you are:
- Pain in one leg;
- Redness in the potato of the leg;
- Cardiac palpitation;
- Shortness of breath;
- Very strong headache;
- Stomach ache;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Increased or decreased urge to pee.
It is not recommended to take any diuretic medicine on its own because it can mask symptoms that should be evaluated by the doctor, so diuretics should only be taken after a medical prescription.
