Severely swollen toes/feet/etc after birth

mamaluzi · December 2014

Hi all! So I had Norah on late Sunday night

During pregnancy, especially the very end, my ankles/feet gave me the usual swelling issues, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, it's now been 4 days since her birth and my entire leg from toes to knees are like balloons: tight, shiney skin, feeling of bending skin when I try to flex my toes or bend my ankles, and occasional numbness due to fluid build up. The doctor at the hospital said ankle swelling was fine, but I don't know if he looked at my feet or just my ankles (my feet look much worse), and I also don't think he knows how drastically swollen they are...they don't even look like my legs anymore

Is anyone else dealing with this? Tips to bring down swelling besides normal elevation and compression socks?

Carebella · December 2014

I'd been lucky enough to avoid swelling the whole pregnancy but not post

I know it was a result of transferring to the hospital and the insane amount of fluids they pumped in me. I can home weighing the same as when I went in and my feet were like Sasquatch's. It was uncomfortable to go up and down stairs. After 3 days of drinking tons of water, keeping my feet up, and wrapping them in a cold wet towel it started to go down. Not sure how much the towel helped but it at least felt great so maybe try that and making sure you drink a lot of water. It will get better!

Curlyfries851 · December 2014

My calves and feet were pretty bad. I drank water, put them up, and took Epsom salt foot baths

Love4Science · December 2014

My feet were disgusting. They were like two big sausages and normally I have very thin feet. Dr. said it was for all the fluids that I got because of my epidural. It's normal and should go away in under two weeks. Until then wear slippers so you don't have to look at them.

dsp2013 · December 2014

Unfortunately, it's normal. I had swelling from 20 weeks on that turned into pitting edema during third tri. It was at it's worst after I delivered. If you had IV fluids, especially pitocin, it can increase the swelling.

For most it goes away in the first two weeks. Mine just cleared up around four weeks, but I was also pretty swollen for months.

Lots of fluids and rest will help. Hope you get some relief soon.

mamaluzi · December 2014

Wow, thank you everyone!! I was really worried that there was something wrong - I didn't find anything on google about post-preggo swelling - so thank you! I remember now that, duh, I couldn't drink anything at all during my 19 hr labor due to nausea so they pumped me full of fluids!!! I'll try your suggestions and hopefully that will help

AnnieRoo13 · December 2014

I didn't have any swelling during pregnancy but I had very swollen ankles for a week to 10 days post giving birth. It was more just annoying than anything. No more advice than PPs gave, but I wanted to say that you're not alone!

gldnbearz · December 2014

I called the OB clinic about 5 days PP to report that my ankle/feet swelling seemed worse than 3rd tri. RN informed me that the IV fluids can contribute to that and that it would resolve in a couple of weeks.

I kept drinking water and keeping feet elevated when possible. Not sure how much that helped versus time just passing.

Singingmama10 · December 2014

MIne were horrible! I put cabbage leaves on them and it seemed to help.

howin23 · December 2014

I had IV fluids for close to 24 hours so was insanely swollen as well. Avoid salt and anything with much sodium, and drink lots of water. The risk of preeclampsia in the month after delivery is very real and sodium increases the risk.

silverwings72 · December 2014

Lots of water and my doc gave me two ace bandages to wrap them in. At night I wrapped from my feet to my ankles and it helped a lot.

mander82 · December 2014

Mine got very bad after giving birth. It took almost 2 weeks to go back to normal. I did call my dr about it and she told me to limit my sodium intake. Basically I ate cereal for two days and they finally went down.

oklahomamom09 · December 2014

Mine got so bad today I had to wear flip flops home from the hospital, in the rain lol

My hands have swollen the worst tho. I didn't have any swelling all pregnancy and I can't take my engagement ring off and my hands hurt, no Bueno.

Nurses at the hospital all said its fluids like everyone else is saying

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