After childbirth, you may focus on caring for your newborn, but managing your own health is also important. You may notice some swelling in the first week after giving birth. This extra fluid, called postpartum edema, can build up in your legs, arms, or face before your body flushes it out.
The swelling usually goes away on its own after a few weeks, but it can sometimes signal life-threatening high blood pressure or blood clot problems. Learning key warning signs helps lower your risk for serious health problems in the 12 months after delivery, or the postpartum period.
This is especially true for people of color. Death from problems linked to pregnancy is two to three times more likely in Native American, Alaska Native, and Black women. Knowing when to call the doctor can help you lower your risk for life-threatening conditions after your baby is born.
Postpartum health risks
Your risk for health problems can also change after pregnancy as your body heals. You’re more likely to develop high blood pressure and bleeding issues during the 12 hours after you give birth.
In the months following delivery, your risk for infection and heart problems go up. In fact, cardiomyopathy causes 40% of deaths linked to pregnancy during this time. Learning which symptoms to watch for can help you lower your risk for postpartum issues and stay focused on healing your body.
Postpartum Swelling: What Is It?
When your cells and tissues hold more fluid after pregnancy, it can lead to swelling. Extra fluid gets trapped in some parts of your body, such as your:
- Hands
- Arms
- Legs
- Ankles
- Feet
The fluid buildup is very common during the postpartum period and can get worse in the first week after giving birth. It usually gets better over time, but hydrating can help your body release the extra fluid.
Slowly heal and get active again
Walking and moving around also helps move the fluid away from swollen tissues. You and your doctor can make a postpartum workout plan that fits your needs. This way you can get plenty of rest and slowly start getting active again so you can:
- Let your uterus shrink back to its normal size
- Allow your hormones to rebalance
- Help your breasts adjust to making milk
- Not overdo it while your body heals
What Causes Postpartum Swelling?
Common reasons for mild swelling after pregnancy include:
Breast engorgement. This commonly happens a few days after delivery. Your breasts swell up with milk and may feel full, tender, or sore.
Hemorrhoids. These are painful swelling of a vein in your rectum, which can bleed or itch after a bowel movement. They happen during your pregnancy or delivery from straining and pushing.
Water retention. This is when your body holds on to water. It is also called postpartum edema (swelling). Higher progesterone levels can cause swelling in your hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs.
You might be able to ease this type of mild swelling at home.
How to Ease Postpartum Swelling at Home
Postpartum swelling is also known as postpartum edema. After giving birth, your body normally holds on to water because of the hormone called progesterone. You’ll still be able to bend your fingers and toes with this type of swelling, but you may also get:
- Swelling or puffiness of the tissue directly under your skin, especially in your legs or arms
- Stretched or shiny skin
- Skin that retains a dimple (pits) after being pressed for several seconds
- A bigger belly size
- Swelling that lasts for a week or two
For the following mild swelling-related conditions, you can try these at-home tips.
Breast engorgement
Breast discomfort usually goes away once you start breastfeeding regularly. If your breasts are swollen, your baby can have a harder time latching on. Talk to your lactation consultant. They can help you with:
- Ways for your baby to latch on
- Nipple shields
- Other ways to make your nipple longer and harder
Hemorrhoids
You can try these tips to help with hemorrhoids:
- Soak in a warm bath.
- Apply cold witch hazel to ease the pain.
- Ask your doctor about using an over-the-counter spray or cream for pain.
- Eat fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain bread and cereals.
- Drink lots of water.
- Try not to strain when you’re pooping.
Your hemorrhoids should shrink over time, but if they don’t, talk to your doctor about other options.
Water retention
These may help bring mild swelling down in your arms, legs, or other parts of your body:
- Eat potassium-rich foods such as bananas, potatoes, avocados, and spinach.
- Keep your feet elevated.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Wear compression socks.
- Drink water.
- Avoid salty foods, as sodium makes you hold on to more water.
- Go for a daily walk to get more circulation.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Get a massage.
When to Call the Doctor About Postpartum Swelling
Sometimes, swelling can signal a serious condition and help you recognize:
- Blood clots that usually occur in your leg or thigh, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Postpartum preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure condition that actually happens more often after giving birth
Here’s a checklist of the key signs to watch out for after delivery and how they’re different.
The worst headache
Even though headaches are common after pregnancy, if you get the worst headache of your life, get help right away. This serious headache:
- Doesn’t go away after you hydrate or take medicine
- Starts suddenly, like a clap of thunder
- Is usually on one side of your head
- Throbs and may come with blurry vision
Flashes, spots, or blurry vision
Higher blood pressure and hormones can change your vision. Let your doctor know right away if you get vision changes that include:
- Flashes of light
- Bright spots in your vision
- Blind spots
- Not being able to see at all for a short time
- Not being able to focus or blurred vision
- Seeing double
Serious swelling
Some swelling is normal after a pregnancy, but get medical help right away if you get swelling that:
- Makes it hard to bend your fingers or wear rings
- Causes facial edema, making it hard to open your eyes
- Leads to your lips and mouth losing feeling
- Is on one side of your body, such as an arm
- Is painful or tender in one calf or leg
- Might hurt to touch
- Hurts your foot when you move it to stand
- Is red, swollen, and warm to your touch
Nausea and vomiting
This feeling of being sick is typically beyond any normal type of nausea or vomiting that you’ve had before. You may not be able to keep fluids down for more than eight hours or eat for 24 hours.
Belly pain
You might also get severe belly pain that doesn’t go away. The pain in your belly (abdomen) may feel like it is:
- Sharp
- Stabbing
- Cramping
- Getting worse over time
You may also feel like the pain is in your chest, shoulder, or back.
Dizzy or faint
If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, go to the nearest medical center, especially if you:
- Faint or pass out
- Have dizziness that doesn’t go away
- Have lightheadedness that keeps coming back
Bleeding
Some bleeding from your vagina after giving birth is normal. Get medical help right away if the bleeding is:
- Heavy, soaking through one or more pads after an hour
- Passing blood clots larger than an egg or bits of tissue
- Vaginal discharge with a bad smell
Fast breathing or chest pain
Go to the nearest emergency room if you get:
- Tightness or pressure in the center of your chest
- Pain traveling to your neck, back, or arm
- Changes in your heartbeat, such as a pounding in your chest, skipped beats, or irregular rhythm
- Trouble catching your breath, such as when talking
- Dizzy, faint, or confused
Fatigue
This type of fatigue can cause:
- Serious weakness that comes on suddenly, not chronic tiredness
- Draining of energy that you can’t sustain all day
- You to stay in bed because you’re too tired to care for your baby
- Feelings of sadness after delivery
Chills or fever
Let your doctor know right away if you have:
- Chills that make you shake, even if you don’t have a fever
- A temperature of 100.4 F or higher
Feeling down or sad
Postpartum depression is more than the baby blues because it doesn’t go away after a few weeks. Get help right away or go to the nearest emergency center if you:
- Have serious sadness that isn’t going away
- Feel hopeless or not good enough
- Don’t feel in control of your life
- Feel anxious all the time
- Have thoughts that are hard to get rid of
- Have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
If you are having feelings of harming yourself or your baby, please go to the nearest medical center, call 911, or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free emotional support.
Tell your doctor that you’ve been pregnant
It’s also important to let your doctor know that you’re in the postpartum period. This helps them give you the best diagnosis and treatment. After delivery, you’re at higher risk for:
- Heart and blood vessel problems, such as cardiomyopathy
- High blood pressure conditions, such as preeclampsia
- Infections such as sepsis
- Bleeding issues and blood clots, such as DVT
- Depression and anxiety, such as postpartum depression
Knowing these warning signs helps you treat any problems early so you can focus on healing.
Takeaways
Swelling commonly happens in your hands, feet, and face in the weeks after you give birth. This extra fluid usually goes away without treatment. But it can signal a life-threatening condition, especially for women of color who have a higher risk of dying from problems related to pregnancy. Go to the nearest emergency center if you have signs of preeclampsia or deep vein thrombosis, such as a serious headache, belly pain, vision changes, high blood pressure, or a painful, red, or warm area in your leg or thigh.
Postpartum Swelling FAQs
Why are my feet and ankles more swollen after delivery than during pregnancy?
It’s normal to have extra fluid (swelling) in your feet and ankles after delivery. That’s because your body is getting rid of the extra water from pregnancy, which can take time to leave your body. If your swelling doesn’t go away after a week, let your doctor know.
Get medical help right away if you have chest pain or trouble breathing because it may signal a serious condition.
How much weight can you lose from postpartum fluid loss?
At first, the pounds you lose are usually fluid. Before you leave the hospital, you’ll lose about 10-20 pounds. In fact, most women lose half their baby weight around six weeks after giving birth (postpartum).
It takes about 6-12 months before you’re back to your prepregnancy body again. If you’re breastfeeding, you may want to lose weight more slowly because your body needs the extra calories and weight to make milk.
Does C-section delivery cause more postpartum swelling than vaginal birth?
You can have more swelling after a C-section. Some conditions are more likely to happen after a C-section, such as:
- Infection, including swelling, redness, and pain around the wound
- Bleeding conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, which can make your thigh or leg swell
Is heavy night sweating normal with postpartum swelling?
After having a baby, your hormone levels change, especially at night. This commonly leads to postpartum sweating. You may wake up soaked for the first few weeks after delivery. Night sweating is one way your body gets rid of the edema or extra fluid from your pregnancy.
It’s also common for this extra fluid to cause swelling in your hands, feet, and face. But if the night sweats and swelling don’t get better or go away after two weeks, see your doctor. They can run tests to check for thyroid problems, diabetes, or anxiety.
