Swelling of the legs after cesarean: causes and treatment
Often in women, there are swelling of the legs after cesarean section( photo is in this article).And they do not pass for a long time. And there is not only the heaviness in the legs or walking, but in addition there are such sensations as fatigue of legs and even pain.
Causes of edema
After cesarean legs can swell due to several factors. Most often, the cause of this ailment lies in the pre-natal period, if before the conception of the child in the limbs accumulated fluid. 
But there are other common causes or provoking factors when leg swelling after cesarean occurs:
- Thrombosis .In the legs blood clots are formed, clogging the blood vessels. The outflow of blood is disturbed, and as a result, swelling in the legs occurs.
- Blood thickening. This process occurs throughout the entire pregnancy. Due to it, large blood loss during labor is excluded, if there are problems with blood coagulation or its density, damage to blood vessels. In this case, edema after cesarean increases even more.
- Varicose veins.
- Endocrine system disorders. Kidney or heart disease.
- Lack of proteins in the body.
- Cold.
- Autoimmune disorders.
What should I do when my legs become swollen?
The above reasons can be forcibly eliminated. Some of them pass by itself( for example, a cold).But the best option is to see a doctor. He will put an accurate diagnosis and determine the cause of edema. The doctor can prescribe treatment with the help of medicines, and with folk remedies, by selecting fast and safe mother and child.
Swelling of the legs after caesarean section: treatment with medication
If after caesarean started to swell, you need to wait two weeks. Usually this process goes by itself. Blood is restored by composition and returns to the state it was before delivery. 
But if the edema has not gone and in two weeks, you need to contact a phlebologist or a therapist. Most often medications are prescribed:
- for the treatment of a disease that caused swelling of the legs;
- diuretics;
- vitamin complexes;
- venotonicks( "Flebodia", "Antistax" and "Detralex");
- heparin ointments( Essaven, Lyoton);
- anticoagulants, which inhibit the process of blood clotting( for example, "Warfarin");
- physiotherapy( wraps, phono and electrophoresis, laser therapy);
- anti-inflammatory drugs( Movalis, Voltaren, Diclofenac).
Swelling of the legs after cesarean section: treatment, reviews of folk remedies
For the elimination of edema of the legs, medication is sometimes unacceptable( for example, with lactation).There is a high probability that active substances will enter the breast milk and may adversely affect the baby. In this case, it is best to drink infusions and make baths. They are prepared only from natural products. 
When the swelling of the legs after cesarean begins, you need to do special exercises: every day, four times to lift your legs up and keep them in this state for 15 minutes. At this time, unloading of veins occurs, and swelling subsides. As often as possible it is necessary to walk on toes, in a lying state, move fingers and feet in different directions. A week after cesarean, you can begin to exercise carefully the exercise "bicycle".
It is necessary to wear elastic jersey, which increases the tone of the vessels. Ideal fit compression tights or stockings. You can simply wrap your legs with elastic bandages. In the evenings, make compresses or baths. Every day, feet should be massaged.
Baths and infusions
When do leg edema after caesarean section, how long do they last? Usually they pass for one or two weeks. To make the process happen faster, you can use the bath. Very good contrasts. Cold and hot water is poured into two tanks. The legs are held alternately( 2 minutes each).In the bath you need to add broths from herbs( plantain, chamomile, oak bark, etc.) or sea salt.
Another bath is also quite effective against swelling. In a liter of warm water you need to dissolve a couple of teaspoons of baking soda, one tablespoon of mustard powder and four tablespoons of salt. Keep your feet in the bath you need until the water cools. In addition, every day you can additionally drink infusions of mint or flax. But not more than one glass. 
Diet
When there are foot swelling after cesarean section, it is best to follow a special diet. Or at least include in the food( or remove from it) some products. To dilute the blood in the diet it is necessary to include:
- tomatoes;
- cranberries, sea buckthorn and Kalinin;
- grapefruit, grapes and lemons;
- infusion of dried apricots;
- cranberry juice;
- grape juice;
- herbal tea;
- drink plenty of water.
And vice versa, with swelling it is necessary to exclude from the diet any carbonated drinks, tea, coffee and cocoa.
Prevention of
Swelling of the legs after caesarean section is a rather unpleasant and sometimes painful condition. It is better to warn any disease than to treat it later. Therefore, during pregnancy, you need to carefully monitor your health. Sitting should be as little as possible, rest better in a horizontal position.
Put a roller or cushion under your feet. You need to eat right and control fluid intake. Use salt as little as possible. Take vitamins. Take regular examinations at the doctor's office.
With edema that occur after cesarean, even convulsions may begin. In this case, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor and not engage in self-medication. In other cases, puffiness is usually well removed by folk remedies within three weeks.