Water retention while breastfeeding -- is this normal?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I had my baby 2 weeks ago and I gained 30 pounds during pregnancy. I have shed about 20 pounds in the last 2 weeks and I'm pretty happy with that. However, my rings fit until week 37 of my pregnancy and I thought that they would fit again after I had the baby. However, my rings are not even close to fitting and my fingers feel as though they have arthritis in them (this started after the birth of the baby -- I did get pumped through with a lot of fluids but it has been 2 weeks and I thought the fluid would all be gone by now). Is this normal? How long does it usually take for all of the water weight to shed? Or am I not going to be able to fit into my rings until after I wean the baby?

Thoughts please

[Anonymous]

I had a birth with no IV fluids and had a very similar issue. It was awful and most people brushed it off as carpal tunnel from carrying the baby. However it happened with all three of my children and didn't resolve until after I weaned. (And I was still lugging them around, which led me to believe it wasn't related to carpal tunnel.) It was annoying but I found avoiding too much sodium helped a bit. (My hands would be numb after we ordered Chinese take out...)

Hope it resolves quickly for you and it might, since you had IV fluids.

[Anonymous]

I was pumped full of fluids too, and around 2 weeks post-partum I started having the night sweats, BADLY. As in, I had to change the sheets every morning. It lasted for a few weeks, but I think it got rid of the fluids.

Also, I think once your breasts regulate to the amount of milk your baby needs that it will make a difference. Everything is all out of whack for a little while.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but so glad to read the PP's post. I am nearly 3 weeks post-partum and have been horrible night sweats where I drench my side of the bed. I thought it was hormones, but now I am realizing it might be all the fluids that were dripped into me after my birth. Good to know it will subside!

[Anonymous]

The same thing happened to me (in terms of my fingers)! The last few weeks of my pregnancy, my fingers swelled a lot, and my rings wouldn't fit anymore. At my 6 week post partum visit, it had not gotten any better, and in fact, I was convinced I had developed arthritis in my hands. Every morning when I woke up it was so hard for me to make a fist and open it. Very weird. My doctor wasn't much help - he said he wasn't sure what it was. It did end up resolving- but not until about 3 months pp (I breastfed until DS was 6 months). So, I wouldn't be too concerned. Mine just went away gradually, and now, I can (barely) get my rings on!

[Anonymous]

My swelling definitely got worse after I gave birth (c-section). I actually called the dr. because I thought something was wrong! He said it was basically hormones plus your body shedding weight and re-distributing fluids and stuff. It got better for me after about 2 months. I dont think i squeezed my rings on until closer to 10-12 weeks. Remember its not just the water its also all your ligaments swelling too.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of your replies. It is good to hear that in a few months I may be able to wear my rings. I continue to shed the weight but my fingers are just so large now! They don't look that swollen but the joints have definitely gotten larger.