Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

I gave birth on Wednesday via vaginal delivery. First of all...incontinence...I have lost all control of my bladder and once i start having an issue it's impossible to stop. How long does this last? Any pointers? Is there anything I can do?

Second issue...feet swelling. I have NEVER EVER had my feet swell to such extremes! Before I left the hospital I was told to drink more water (uh...see above...yet I do it anyway for BFing purposes). Ok so that has not helped. I was told to walk. Well it seems the more I'm on my feet walking or otherwise the worse it gets. It feels sometimes like they are going to pop! Again, what can be done?

TIA!

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congratulations!

As far as the first issue, I can't offer advice, because I had a c-section. But, I heard that it is normal and does go away.

As far as the swollen feet, mine were terrible. I looked like Fred Flintsone, and I actually thought that my feet were going to burst open. I was scared!

Water, water, water. It will go away in about a week.

Good Luck

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

First...CONGRATS!!!

I can't help with the first issue, but I can with the feet swelling. I had a c-section, and my feets looked like the Sherman Klumps from The Nutty Professor I could barely fit in my Uggs to go home from the hospital.

Walking does help to some degree, but I felt the longer I stayed on my feet, the more swollen they got, so make sure to elevate your feet also.

It took about a week for them to return to normal, so unfortunately, just give it some time.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Try kegel exercises for your first issue. As far as the swelling it will go down it will eventually recirculate in your bloodstream and you will pee all that excess fluid away, you just have to give it some time and yes drink, drink, drink.

ETA: Where are my manners, CONGRATS!!!

Message edited 11/11/2009 11:48:58 PM.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congratulations!!!!

First Issue - I am 4 months PP and still have this issue a little bit. Not nearly as bad, I reallly think the Kegels and time have helped tremendously.

Second Issue - My ankles and feet were swollen for about a month. The first two weeks were the most severe. Do drink the water and walk as much as you can. I found the walking helped a lot, even though it was painful.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congrats!!!

For the first issue, as PP mentionned, Kegels do help some. But for the most part I found that it will just get better with time. At 3 months PP I dont really have a problem anymore.

FOr the swelling, I had bad Adema throughout my pregnancy and then after birth, my swelling got even worse, so I've been there! I found that walking made it worse, so I tried to keep my feet elevated as much as possible. Drink lots of water. After about 2 weeks, the swelling went down. It was a combination of sweating and peeing all the water out that eventually made it go down. I remember those first 2 weeks I was pouring sweat out of my feet and hands

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congratulations..

For your first issue, like others said... Kegals. I ended up with a C, so I didn't really go through this.

2nd issue.. I never got swollen during pregnancy, but when I got home from the hospital my feet swelled up so bad!!! I got really nervous and called the doc. They told me the same thing... plenty of water, elevate legs and relax. I think the elevating and not walking around helped me the most.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congratulations!!

I also had a section, so incontinence was one of the few things I didn't have. But kegels should help return your muscles back to normal and help.

Try to elevate your feet and lay on your left side whenever possible. This helps increase circulation and blood flow. Should help reduce the swelling.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

congrats!
The first issue I didn't really do anything about but it got better about a week after.
As far as the swelling...I tried to drink a lot of water, stay off my feet and limit my sodium intake. My feet were so swollen that they hurt.

Good luck and enjoy that baby!

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

congrats!

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

I could have written this exact post 7 months ago.

To help on the first issue, the second you think you may have to go to the bathroom, get there. It gets much better but I was completely freaked out about it at the time. Even a month later, when I would sneeze I would feel a little come out. However, I think I had more stitches than I could count(I had a horrendous tear all the way to my...well I don't think I need to tell you where, you can just imagine). Within 1.5 months I did not have a problem at all.

My feet never swelled during pregnancy but leaving the hospital I could barely get my feet into my sneakers. It went away maybe 10 days later.

I know it's difficult but you have to remember that your body just went through a major trauma. In a month you will be much better! I wasn't prepared for the incontinence thing as no one told me about it so I hope I have helped you a bit.

Congrats on your new little bundle!

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

I didn't have swelling, but did have very bad incontinence. In fact, this time I am bringing more pants to the hospital because i soaked through all the ones I brought last time the first day and FH had to bring me more. To get better, it was a combination of kegels and time. But, I got preggo again 4.5 months later, and it came back bad by about 12 weeks into my second pregnancy. I'm hopeful it will go away again after I deliver this time.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

Congratulations! I had a c-section so I can't help you with the first issue. I had severe swelling during pregnancy. It continued for the first week PP. It got much better after that.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

the bladder problem will go away in a few days. I had an epi so i was numb down there for a while and couldnt tell if ihad to go or not. the nurses make you try shortly after and i sat there for a while and felt like i had to but couldnt. I found that leaning over on the toilet to kind of squeeze my bladder helped get it out the first few days. Everything is swollen in there and a mess so nothing really works they way it should.

then as stuff wore off the feeling came back but it would hit pretty hard and i couldnt control it. It was like that for almost a week afterwards. So what you're feeling is probably very normal.

The feet swelling i had bad before delivery. that was a lot of my weight gain at the end..all water weight. It took a good 2 weeks for my legs and feet to look normal. Im 3 weeks post partum and back to my regular weight and i can see my ankles again.LOL.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

For the first issue, do kegels all the time! I do them every time I breastfeed, and I have had no issues.

As for the swelling, it does go away, you just have to be patient.

Re: Hi everyone...just gave birth and need some help with 2 things

First off...congrats!

For the feet swelling someone told me to eat a lot of asparagus cause that makes you pee...it worked for me. I kept my feet up and in a week my feet went back to normal.