Let’s face it–carrying, on average, a seven pound baby in your belly is no easy feat. Coupled with your extra weight gain, swelling, varicose veins. . . feeling uncomfortable is putting it mildly. But then, you push that baby out and new aches and pains come to light, some of which stay around for months, even years. Breezy Mama turned to Ginger Garner MPT, ATC, PYT, ERYT500 to answer our readers most common complaints. From aching tailbones to incontinence to swelling–see what causes these ailments and what you can do to feel like yourself again.
One woman is still very swollen (so much so that a wedding ring won’t go on), though she gave birth four months earlier. Is this normal or is it a sign of something else?
No, swelling such as she describes does not sound normal. My first response is to turn to differential diagnosis. Meaning, a medical practitioner needs to determine if there is an underlying cause of concern for her swelling. A few preliminary questions she should ask herself are:
- Is it related to eating or what she eats?
- Is it related to activity?
- Is it weight related?
- When is the swelling worse?
- What is her blood pressure?
- Does she have headaches?
- Does she have leg pain?
- What are her dietary or nutritional habits?
Eating processed foods, which are typically loaded with sodium, sugar, and other food additives could contribute to the swelling; however, I would suggest she see her physician or practitioner to determine the root cause of the problem. If it is related to eating or food, then she could have an allergy or may need to cut out processed foods high in salt and sugar.
On the other hand, if the swelling is unrelated to food or has no pattern, this is a more concerning reason to seek immediate medical attention. Swelling could be a sign of [Read more…] about Body After Childbirth — Explaining Those Aches and Pains