10 Ways to deal with swollen feet after childbirth

Pregnancy can sometimes make several parts of the body experience swelling, one of which is often seen in the legs. But instead of subsiding, these swollen feet can persist after delivery. This condition is known as postpartum swelling, aka postpartum swelling.

What causes swollen feet after childbirth and are there ways to treat this condition? Check out the full review below, let's go!

What causes swollen feet after childbirth?

During pregnancy, the body stores enough fluids to keep the baby in the womb.

This is what makes blood volume increase, even up to almost 50 percent.

As explained in the American Pregnancy Association, a pregnant woman's body produces more blood and fluids to support the baby's growth and development.

That is one reason why you gain weight during pregnancy.

Normally after you give birth, the amount of excess fluid will gradually come out little by little through urine and sweat.

But in certain cases, the fluid inside the blood vessels can leak into the body tissues, causing swelling (edema).

Although it can occur anywhere on the body, most cases of swelling after childbirth generally appear on the hands, feet and face.

Yes, apart from the feet, swelling conditions after childbirth can also appear on the hands, as quoted from the Ministry of Health Manatu Hauora.

In essence, this postpartum swelling occurs because excess fluid from the time of pregnancy has remained in the body even though you are not pregnant.

Postpartum or postpartum swelling can occur in any method of delivery, be it a vaginal delivery or a caesarean section.

Usually, the swelling in the body after giving birth will disappear in about a week or during the puerperium.

However, this condition can last longer if you have certain health problems.

These health problems include preeclampsia and high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy.

Immediately consult a doctor if swelling in the leg after childbirth does not improve for a long time.

That way, the doctor can find out the cause and suggest the right way to deal with the condition of your swollen feet after childbirth.

How to deal with swollen feet after childbirth?

So that the condition of this swollen leg can improve immediately and not get worse, try to keep the blood circulation in the body flowing smoothly.

So, apart from doing normal postpartum care and post-caesarean section, you also need to deal with swollen feet.

Here are some ways you can treat swollen feet after giving birth:

1. Avoid standing for too long

As long as the leg is still swollen, it is a good idea to avoid standing for long periods of time.

If in certain situations you are required to stand up, try to find time to sit down and rest every now and then.

Do not forget, you should not cross your legs or support one leg on top of the other at this time.

This is because crossing your legs while sitting can block blood flow so it doesn't improve swollen legs after childbirth.

2. Put your feet on a higher place

Too much standing can cause fluid to flow and build up in your feet.

So that, you can try to lift your leg and place it on a higher place.

This at least can help improve blood circulation and trigger water in the feet to flow throughout the body.

3. Drink lots of water

The buildup of fluid that causes swollen feet after childbirth is not really a reason to drink less water.

Conversely, drinking more water can actually help reduce swelling in the legs after childbirth, aka during the breastfeeding period.

This is due to lack of fluids or dehydration, which can lead to a buildup of fluids in the body which eventually causes swelling in the legs after childbirth.

4. Do moderate exercise

Taking the time to do light exercise after giving birth can be one way to recover swollen feet at this time.

Exercise causes fluid buildup in the legs, which can reduce swelling and increase blood flow to the body.

But before doing so, make sure you have consulted your doctor first to ensure your body's readiness to do sports.

You can try walking, yoga, swimming, and pilates.

It is important to always recognize the condition of your body during exercise in order to deal with swollen feet after childbirth.

Don't get too tired and try to stop immediately before the body runs out of energy.

5. Avoid too much salt intake

The balance of the amount of salt and water must be maintained properly in the body.

If the amount of salt or sodium you consume from food and drink daily is too excessive, the body can experience excess fluid buildup.

Instead of fixing swollen feet after giving birth, salt intake can actually worsen the condition.

Therefore, do not hesitate to limit your intake of salt from daily food and drinks, for example in food flavorings, chips, processed foods, packaged foods, and soft drinks.

6. Avoid eating processed foods

Just like too much salt intake, eating processed foods after giving birth should also be avoided if you experience swollen feet after giving birth.

The reason is, processed foods contain not a small amount of salt so that it can make it difficult to cure conditions of swelling in the feet.

Instead, you can eat more food sources of protein and fiber as a way to deal with swollen legs after giving birth.

This can be done by eating more eggs, lean chicken meat, lean red meat, tofu, tempeh, vegetables, fruits, and so on.

7. Reduce drinking caffeinated drinks

Previously, it was explained that the body needs adequate fluid intake as a way to deal with swollen feet after childbirth.

However, this effort cannot be achieved optimally if you like to drink caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate.

This is because drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, can trigger the body to lose more fluids so that it does not improve the swelling of the feet.

8. Wear comfortable shoes

Swollen feet after giving birth can be uncomfortable.

Therefore, try to treat your feet as best you can, for example by using comfortable shoes when you wear them.

This is intended so as not to limit the space for the legs. Conversely, avoid wearing shoes with high heels.

In addition to making it difficult for you to move freely, high heels will also make swollen feet uncomfortable.

9. Perform postpartum massage

So that the stiff muscles can stretch and relax again as before, you can do massage after giving birth, especially in the area of ​​the leg that is swollen.

In addition to relieving swelling in the feet, massage also makes the flow of blood and fluids in the body more smoothly.

In fact, massage can also help balance hormone levels and relieve stress in the body.

10. Use a cold compress

Source: Health Ambition

Another way that you can also use to recover swollen feet is by using a cold compress.

Wrap a few ice cubes in a handkerchief or small towel, then apply a compress to the swollen area of ​​the leg.

Using this cold compress can help shrink blood vessels, which can make your feet look swollen and enlarged.

When to see a doctor

In fact, swollen legs after giving birth can gradually improve in about one week.

The reason is, the body needs time to get rid of the fluid that has accumulated, including in the legs, during the previous pregnancy.

That is why one of the things that is important to do after giving birth is to urinate regularly because it can help remove fluids from the body.

However, do not delay to see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Swelling occurs suddenly.
• When the swollen part is pressed, an indentation appears in the skin, aka the skin does not return to its original state.
• There is pain, redness, irritation, and even increased swelling in the legs that leads to blood clots.
• Experiencing persistent or recurring headaches, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision that lead to symptoms of preeclampsia.
• There is chest pain and difficulty breathing, which can indicate cardiac complications after childbirth or what is known as postpartum cardiomyopathy.

If you have tried various ways to deal with swollen feet after childbirth but there have been no better results, or are getting worse, consult a doctor immediately.

No exception when the swelling only appears on one leg, and your calf and ankle feels painful and tender when pressed, consult a doctor.

This is feared to be a sign of a blood clot in the leg area. If necessary, the doctor may provide medication to treat swollen feet after childbirth.

Giving medication so that the swollen feet after childbirth is healed of course should be under the supervision and advice of a doctor.

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