Swollen Feet After Birth: What to Know and When to Call

After childbirth, some fluid remains in the body tissue. These fluids, when in excess, results in a condition known as edema. Edema leads to weight gain, swollen ankles, hands, or feet.

This swelling may sometimes lead to inflamed and stretched skin, and the external part of your skin may look shiny or puffy.

Many women experience mild postpartum edema after childbirth. This is because as your body is preparing for delivery, it retains water to enable the body tissue to conform to your baby's growth. After childbirth, this fluid becomes eliminated naturally.

Some women also experience swelling around the incision area after cesarean delivery.

Presently, edema's primary cause hasn't been established, but a change in progesterone and estrogen has been suggested to contribute to it.

When swelling needs urgent attention

Do not assume every change after childbirth is part of normal recovery. The CDC identifies severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm as an urgent maternal warning sign. Other warning signs include trouble breathing, chest pain, a headache that will not go away and extreme swelling of the hands or face.

Seek medical care immediately for urgent warning signs. Tell the healthcare professional that you recently gave birth, even if the delivery was months ago. Call 911 for an emergency.

How long do edema symptoms last?

The symptoms of edema increase when you stand for too long, especially when the weather is hot. However, symptoms often disappear a week after birth. By this time, the kidney can easily process and remove excess fluids from the body. But then, many mothers experience swelling feet, hands, or ankles several weeks after giving birth.

Engaging in mild exercises, eating a healthy diet, and wearing compression socks are some of the ways of controlling edema. They also contribute to speeding up the process and helping your body recover faster.

What causes postpartum swelling?

During pregnancy, the body produces almost fifty percent more fluids and blood than the usual amount to help your baby grow well.

These extra fluids help prepare your body to accommodate your baby as it develops and grows in your womb. It also helps prepare your pelvis tissues and joints for the stretching that takes place during delivery. These fluids also contribute to about 25% of the weight you gain during pregnancy.

The pushing that occurs during labor can force these extra liquids to other parts of your body, making them swell. Giving birth through cesarean delivery can also make the IV (intravenous fluids) result in edema or postpartum swelling.

Other notable causes of postpartum swelling include:

• Standing upright for too long
• Hot weather
• Stressful activities
• Consuming foods high in sodium and caffeine content
• Eating diets that have a low amount of potassium

Generally, minor swelling shouldn't be a cause for concern. It becomes a problem when it is accompanied by:

• Foul odor
• Severe pain
• Discharge
• Fever
• Redness

These symptoms are signs of an infection, and you should contact your doctor when you experience them. Swollen hands and feet may be pretty uncomfortable, but it shouldn't cause you pain. Discolored feet or legs could also be a sign of deep vein thrombosis, which can be very dangerous to your health.

In all, always remember that postpartum swelling or edema is completely normal after delivery. It only becomes a problem when you don't get relief from pain or the swelling after a few days or other uncomfortable conditions accompany it.

Ask for a recovery plan that fits your symptoms

Contact your maternity care team if swelling is new, worsening or worrying you. They can advise on the cause and on which comfort measures or activities are appropriate for your recovery.

Avoid following a generic list of remedies before concerning symptoms have been assessed. Advice about massage, exercise, compression garments or other measures should reflect your delivery, health history and current symptoms.