Postpartum swelling

•POSTPARTUM EDEMA• Swollen ankles and puffy cheeks might not be what you pictured for your first several days postpartum, but in fact, these are common symptoms that pop up in the days after childbirth.

Postpartum edema, water retention after childbirth, is caused by a build up of fluids in pregnancy coupled with the intravenous fluids administered in a hospital birth. This is to be expected for the first few days, and should naturally subside over the course of a week or two.

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Tips for managing postpartum edema:

Eat: Fewer processed foods (refined salt and sugars) and limit caffeine until swelling subsides. Increase your potassium-rich foods such as banana, avocado, squash and dark leafy greens.

Drink: Hydration is critical for proper fluid metabolism, so aim to drink your body weight in ounces of water each day. Nettle and dandelion root tea are great for supporting the kidneys in their function of removing excess fluid from the body. *Bonus: dandelion tea is great for nursing mothers, both to boost supply and to ward off mastitis!*

Elevate: Legs up the wall several times daily will help to drain fluids and relieve pressure. Gentle lymph massage is also helpful for supporting drainage and encouraging the proper movement of fluids.

Soak: Epsom salt baths are great for encouraging mineral balance and decreasing edema.

➡️ If you experience sudden swelling or if your skin becomes hot or painful to the touch, contact your provider as this can indicate something more serious like an infection.