Some puffiness in the first week or two after having a baby is normal. This swelling is usually in your feet and legs, but it can also be in your hands and face.
In the first week after having a baby, a little bit of fluid build-up is very common. It’s called postpartum edema. This fluid build-up can make your feet, legs, hands, or face a little puffy. It can be puffy enough that when you poke your leg, the indent stays for a few seconds, like a foam mattress.
This swelling should clear up on its own within 2 weeks. It is caused by the hormone changes after having a baby.
Sometimes more serious problems can cause fluid-build up. If you have swelling along with any of the following, contact your doctor right away:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Redness, warmth, or pain in the swollen area, especially in the calf
- Changes in your vision, like seeing spots
- Headache that won’t go away
- New pain in your shoulder or belly
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sudden weight gain more than 2-3 pounds in a few days
- Fever
In the first week after having your baby, swollen feet are a maybe.
