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Pregnancy and postpartum · South Berkeley
Swollen legs are common. That does not mean you have to put up with them.
This is a small and straightforward part of my practice, and I like it for exactly that reason. Healthy women, one specific uncomfortable thing, and a technique that suits it well. Often people arrive because their midwife or acupuncturist sent them, which is generally a good sign that somebody is paying attention.
- Common reason
- Swollen legs in pregnancy
- Also
- Abdominal fluid after birth
- Often via
- Midwife or acupuncturist referral
- First step
- A free phone call with me
The two things people come for
Legs during, abdomen after.
During pregnancy the most common complaint is swollen legs, and it can be genuinely miserable by the third trimester. Gentle lymphatic work moves fluid out and the relief is usually immediate and obvious.
Afterwards, the most common thing is a feeling that fluid is still sitting in the abdomen and not shifting. Same technique, different focus.
Neither of these is a long-term condition. This is a bit of support for something specific, and then you get on with your life, which is quite busy at that point.
What to know
Small, gentle and specific.
This is support for healthy women dealing with something uncomfortable, not care for a chronic condition.
Swollen legs and feet
The most common reason to come, and one of the most responsive things I work with.
Abdominal fluid afterwards
A feeling of fullness or heaviness that has not resolved on its own.
Hands and fingers
Rings that no longer fit. Frequently improves quickly.
Positioning
Side-lying, supported, for as long as you need it. Comfort is the whole business here.
If it happened last time
Swelling in one pregnancy makes it more likely in the next. Worth mentioning even years later.
Rest
A great many people simply fall asleep, which at that stage of life may be the actual benefit.
One thing to check first
Talk to whoever is caring for you.
Tell your midwife, obstetrician or doctor that you are considering lymphatic drainage, and tell me what they said. In most straightforward pregnancies there is no issue at all, but they know your situation and I do not.
Sudden or severe swelling, particularly in the face or hands, or swelling with headache or visual changes, needs medical attention rather than a massage appointment. Please call them, not me.
Afterwards, once you are recovering normally, there is generally nothing to wait for.
Worth saying plainly
Where my part ends.
Sudden swelling is medical
Especially in the face or hands, and especially with headache or visual changes. Call your provider the same day.
I am not a prenatal specialist
I am a lymphatic specialist who works with pregnant people for one specific thing.
I do not know your pregnancy
Your midwife or obstetrician does. What they say goes.
I cannot tell you what is normal
They can. I can help with the discomfort once they have.
Before you call
Questions I get asked.
Is lymphatic drainage safe during pregnancy?
In most straightforward pregnancies, yes, and it is very gentle. But tell your midwife or doctor you are considering it and tell me what they said, because they know your situation.
Can it help swollen legs?
That is the most common reason people come, and it is one of the more satisfying things to work on. The relief is usually noticeable straight away.
What position will I be in?
Side-lying and well supported, for as long as you need. Comfort dictates everything here.
How soon after birth can I come?
Once you are recovering normally there is generally nothing to wait for. If you had a caesarean or any complication, check with your provider first.
My legs swelled in my last pregnancy. Does that mean anything?
It makes it more likely to happen again, and it is worth mentioning. I have seen someone swell dramatically after an unrelated surgery years later, and the explanation turned out to be a pregnancy where the same thing happened.
When should I call my doctor instead?
Sudden or severe swelling, particularly in the face or hands, or swelling with headache or visual changes. That is a same-day call to them, not an appointment with me.
You may also want
Related to this.
The next step
Tell me what is swollen.
Fifteen free minutes on the phone with me. Tell me where you are in your pregnancy or how long ago you gave birth, and what your midwife or doctor has said, and I will tell you honestly whether I can help.