Swelling of the feet after childbirth

As you know, pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes for a woman, but changes in the hormonal system and blood composition, as well as increased pressure in the vessels of the limbs, can lead to edema on the legs during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Check whether there are swelling of the legs, can be by pressing on the skin, in case of accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues, the skin will remain a pit from the pressure.

Causes of edema

Varicose veins, kidney disease can provoke swelling of the legs, heart failure, lack of protein in the diet and thyroid disease are also included in the list of reasons why excess fluid is retained in the body.

For pregnant women, small swelling of the legs is a variant of the norm, they arise against a background of altered hormonal background and increased stress on the veins due to excess weight.

With healthy blood vessels, the woman's legs swell after the birth of the baby, but it happens that after the birth, they become even more. This is due to a malfunction of the venous valves.

Pregnant women and women who have given birth have deep vein thrombosis on the lower extremities (clotting of the blood vessel with blood clot and disturbance of blood flow), which is associated with blood stagnation and its thickening as a result of the body's "preparation" for blood loss during childbirth. To form and attach a thrombus, you also need damage to the internal vascular wall. During pregnancy, it is possible because of a cold, vaginal examination or an autoimmune disorder. The risk of developing venous thrombosis rises during delivery, especially with caesarean section.

Treatment of leg swelling

Physiological post-natal edema of the legs usually pass independently and do not require treatment. You can accelerate this process if you follow simple recommendations:

- make foot baths with sea salt;

- use a contrast shower for the legs;

- massage feet with ice cubes;

- drink the collection of herbs with a diuretic effect (sporesch, horsetail, birch buds);

- drink less liquid in the evening;

- to sleep with raised legs.

If the legs are swollen, special exercises can be performed to improve blood flow in the limbs:

- rotation of the feet inside and out;

Alternation of compression and dilution of toes;

- lifting from the floor with bare feet of a pencil or any other small object;

- jumping on socks and standing on the socks for several seconds;

- Extension and flexion of fingers (sharp).

If the puffiness does not go away for 3 weeks, or if you are worried about heaviness, pain in your legs, you should go to see a phlebologist. You can not hesitate to visit a doctor with unilateral swelling, as well as swelling and redness of the legs.

Most likely, the doctor will recommend to undergo duplex angioscanning of veins, which will help to determine the condition of the vessels of the legs (surface and deep).

It is desirable to do this procedure for all women giving birth, especially to those who have additional predisposing signs:

- age over 35 years;

- overweight;

- smoking and taking hormonal contraceptives;

- presence of varicose veins in family members;

- cramps of calf muscles, heaviness and pain in the legs.

Depending on the cause of edema formation, the physician will select the medicinal products aimed at strengthening the vascular wall and improving the blood flow.

Do not engage in self-medication, because it can negatively affect the health of the mother and baby.

Prophylaxis of leg swelling

Prevent foot swelling after childbirth is possible, for this during pregnancy you need to follow simple but effective recommendations:

- alternating the load and rest, massage the feet;

- sleep better with slightly raised legs;

- reduce the intake of liquid and salt, especially in the evening;

- You can wear special compression pantyhose.