Swelling After Delivery

Honey, you definitely need to call your doctor first thing this morning. This could be a leak from the epidural puncture.

Good luck to you and keep us updated.

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I had the numbness in my arms and overall swelling. Also had an epidural and pain on my left side. Come to think of it, it was my left arm that had all the numbness. Interesting. Best to check with your doctor, but hopefully it's nothing to be concerned about...

1 mom found this helpful

I would definitely call your doctor. This same thing happened to me, although I was never given an explanation. My doctor prescribed some medication to help with the swelling. What concerns me about the swelling you have is that it is limited to one side. I would talk to your doctor right away.

I am not sure if anyone else suggested this but you need to get into your doctor as soon as possible if not the E.R. It is not normal to be swelling like that after having a baby and there could be something seriously wrong. I would be having it checked out just to be on the safe side.

Swelling is fairly common after an epidural. The fluids given to prevent blood pressure drops tend to cause swelling at 5 to 7 days postpartum. The swelling may be just a result of the swelling, but I would recommend a phone call to your OB or anesthesiologist just to be sure. This shouldn't be anything major, though.

Get back to the doctor

I had my son 12 weeks ago and I too experienced swelling after I came home from hospital. I was given a spinal block for my c-section. When I went back to have my staples removed 5 days after my c-section I showed the doctor how my feet and ankles were swollen and he prescribed an anti-anflammatory. He never explained why I was swollen but it did go away within a few days.

I would check with the anesthesiologist as well. Call the hospital, L&D and ask to speak with the anesthesiologist. I recall them telling me to call them after my spinal for my C-section if I had any problems. I would get their take and then call your doctor and compare notes. My personal thought is that it is related to your epidural. I had ankle swelling really bad after delivery. About two weeks after, I decided to accept my limitations and got horizontal and it went away almost immediately. However, your situation doesn't sound the same. I would also Google "epidural, complications, swelling" and see what you can learn.

Congrats on your baby and I hope you find some answers.

Hi S.
Get to your dr. immediately.

You need to contact your doctor...and also rest as much as possible.