a related swelling question

llizzyb

I was under the impression that the reason most women are so swollen after a section is because the majority of them had long labors beforehand (with fluids, pitocin, etc.) and then got pumped full of more fluids for the actual C-section. Basically, all equaling a lot of time with the IV bag.

Do you swell as much with a scheduled C-section? 

toriwc

I had a ton of swelling after my scheduled c/s, but to be honest, I was really swollen beforehand anyway, so it wasn't a big deal for me.  I peed like crazy for 5 days, and then I could see my ankles for the first time in 20 weeks.  It was great.

cottonlily84

I had no labor whatsoever, I had a totally unexpected/unplanned c/s.  I had IV fluids starting when they realized I needed to section to about 24 hours later (pit, pain meds, saline, etc)  As far as I know I wasn't given anything that wouldn't have been giving to someone who had labored first. 

I swelled so badly I called the dr after I was discharged begging for advice what to do.  I never call the dr so it was really bad.  I never had a bit of swelling when I was pregnant.  But I was trying to hobble down the hallway to the NICU and back several times a day and it was so so painful.  The nurse said to take it easy, lie down with my feet elevated above heart level at least twice a day and keep drinking water.  She said it just gets way worse after a section before it gets better and there's nothing else to do about it.  About a week later the swelling was gone.