Does the swelling not go away even after childbirth? Postpartum swelling, don't wait any longer!

# Does the swelling not go away even after childbirth? Postpartum swelling, don't wait any longer! Hello, this is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Following the exciting first meeting with your baby, many mothers are surprised by their reflection in the mirror. Unlike before pregnancy, your whole body is swollen, and your ankles and fingers have thickened so that your wedding ring no longer fits. Are you experiencing this? Although postpartum swelling is said to be a natural phenomenon, it often does not go away easily over time, leading to worry and stress. You might spend sleepless nights with vague anxiety, wondering, "Will this swelling really go away?", "When can I return to my former body?" Postpartum swelling is not simply a aesthetic problem, but an important issue directly connected to the mother's overall health. In this column, we will clearly explain the fundamental causes of postpartum swelling and Korean medicine solutions. 💡 **[Core Answer]** 3 most common causes of "Does the swelling not go away even after childbirth?": ① Blood stasis stagnation in the uterus / ② Decreased qi and blood circulation and kidney function burden / ③ Tissue relaxation due to Relaxin hormone changes Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic approaches with **constitutional improvement** to enhance the fundamental recovery power of the body weakened by childbirth, resolving not only swelling but also postpartum winds, fatigue, and other symptoms together. ## Why does body swelling last so long after childbirth? Postpartum swelling occurs when the water metabolism balance of the body is broken due to increased blood volume and body fluid during pregnancy, large energy expenditure during childbirth, and uterine recovery. In particular, Korean medicine emphasizes the concept of 'blood stasis (瘀血)', which refers to waste-like blood that remains undischarged inside the uterus after childbirth. Such blood stasis hinders qi and blood circulation and causes fluid retention throughout the body, becoming a major cause of postpartum swelling. In addition, relaxin hormone secreted during pregnancy and childbirth relaxes joints and ligaments to prepare for childbirth, but remaining relaxed even after childbirth worsens fluid retention and induces joint pain. Thus, postpartum swelling appears as a complex imbalance inside the body, not simply because there is a lot of moisture. ## How does Korean medicine treatment help improve postpartum swelling? Korean medicine treatment focuses on restoring the mother's overall physical condition beyond simply reducing postpartum swelling. It aims to replenish qi and blood damaged by childbirth, help uterine recovery, discharge stagnant blood stasis and waste, and recover the body's natural circulation function. In particular, postpartum herbal medicine helps uterine contraction and smooth lochia discharge, effective for blood stasis removal. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment promote blood circulation and activate metabolism, contributing to edema reduction and helping correct misaligned pelvis. In a 2017 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the effects of meridian acupressure massage on body composition, edema, stress, and fatigue in postpartum women were investigated. In this study involving 39 mothers (19 experimental group, 20 control group) recruited from a postpartum care center in Gwangju, Korea, the experimental group received 90 minutes of meridian acupressure massage daily for 5 days, showing statistically significantly greater reductions in body composition and edema measurements compared to the control group. The researchers concluded that meridian acupressure massage can promote return to pre-pregnancy body composition. These studies suggest that Korean medicine approaches can be effective in managing postpartum edema, and Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic provides delicate care tailored to each mother's condition based on these treatment principles supporting systemic circulation improvement and body waste elimination. Furthermore, according to a meta-analysis study published in Nihon University, Japan in 2019, comparing Kyukichoketsuin (KCI) and Western medicine drugs for the usefulness of postpartum recovery, there was no major statistical difference between the two treatments in uterine recovery, but for patients complaining of severe postpartum pain, the herbal medicine KCI was found to be much superior in improving pain. Postpartum pain often appears with swelling, and this study shows that traditional Korean medicine treatment can contribute to relieving overall discomfort in postpartum women. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch provides faster and healthier recovery through customized treatments considering the mother's constitution and health status, relieving various physical discomforts as well as postpartum swelling based on these research results. ## Create a body that does not swell again with Dalimchae's 'Constitutional Improvement' At Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, we apply **constitutional improvement** treatment principles to solve various postpartum problems including postpartum swelling. This aims not to temporarily alleviate symptoms, but to increase the fundamental recovery power of the body weakened by childbirth and improve constitution to create a healthy body so symptoms do not reappear. The mother's body is in a state where joints and ligaments are relaxed due to the influence of relaxin hormone after childbirth, and qi and blood are greatly damaged. If proper care is not provided at this time, blood stasis and waste accumulate inside the body, leading to various postpartum diseases such as postpartum syndrome, chronic fatigue, and joint pain. At our Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, we closely diagnose individual constitution and current physical condition and prescribe customized herbal medicine that removes blood stasis and replenishes qi and blood. This herbal medicine helps rapid uterine contraction and lochia discharge, and strengthens weakened organ functions to normalize body water metabolism. In addition, we combine acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture treatments to promote blood circulation, relieve edema, and help recovery of weakened joints and ligaments. Restoring body balance and cultivating the power to heal oneself is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic's constitutional improvement treatment. This process goes beyond simply reducing swelling to contribute to creating a more healthy and energetic body than before pregnancy. Mothers suffering from other related diseases such as postpartum syndrome or postpartum depression can also improve their overall quality of life through this constitutional improvement. Especially for those looking for Songdo postpartum oriental clinic, our Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic's systematic postpartum care will be of great help. ## Self-Diagnosis Checklist for Postpartum Swelling If you check 3 or more of the following items, you need to consider Korean medicine treatment related to postpartum swelling: * □ Swelling sensation in fingers or ankles persists even after 1 month of childbirth. * □ Face or eyelids swell when waking up in the morning, and legs swell severely and heavily in the evening. * □ Wedding rings or watches do not fit well, or sock marks remain deep. * □ Accompanied by heavy body, severe fatigue, and dull movements. * □ Urine volume seems small or bathroom visit frequency has decreased. * □ Weight increased a lot during pregnancy, and weight loss remains slow after childbirth. * □ Accompanied by postpartum syndrome symptoms such as joint pain, chills, and systemic pain along with swelling. * □ Swelling does not go away even while breastfeeding. **Judgment Criteria:** * **3+ items:** Suspected postpartum swelling and blood stasis stagnation. Consider systematic Korean medicine postpartum care. * **5+ items:** Immediate expert consultation and visit recommended. Starting custom treatment after accurate diagnosis at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic is important. ## FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Postpartum Swelling **Q. How long does postpartum swelling last?** A. Generally, swelling starts to subside as urine and sweat excretion become active from 3-4 days after childbirth, and in case of breastfeeding, most swelling usually subsides around 1 month after childbirth. However, swelling may persist longer depending on individual constitution, weight gain during pregnancy, and childbirth process. **Q. Is it safe to take postpartum swelling herbal medicine during breastfeeding?** A. Yes, it is safe. Postpartum herbal medicine prescribed at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic focuses on the mother's body recovery and is carefully formulated so as not to affect breastfeeding. According to studies in the Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology, the effect of taking herbal medicine on infants during breastfeeding is reported to be extremely minimal or none. **Q. Can postpartum swelling heal naturally?** A. Mild swelling can be naturally resolved with proper rest, nutrition intake, and light activity. However, if swelling is severe or lasts long, simple natural recovery is difficult. If fundamental causes such as blood stasis stagnation or qi/blood deficiency are not resolved, it can lead to chronic edema or postpartum syndrome, so getting expert help is recommended. **Q. Can postpartum swelling and postpartum syndrome be treated together?** A. Yes, they can be treated together. Both postpartum swelling and postpartum syndrome often stem from body qi and blood circulation imbalance and blood stasis stagnation after childbirth. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic's constitutional improvement treatment simultaneously improves the root causes of these two conditions to help overall postpartum recovery. Postpartum swelling is not a problem to endure and solve. You do not have to ignore the body signals sent for a long time anymore. When approached in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together. Where life blooms. Herbal medicine is definitely Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check symptoms similar to yours first through Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic homepage AI consultation! Medical Review | Women & Pregnancy Care Standard, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch, Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Postpartum Care Column) #PostpartumSwelling #PostpartumEdema #PostpartumCare #PostpartumSyndrome #SongdoPostpartumClinic #ConstitutionalImprovement #BloodStasis #SongdoOrientalClinic Pregnancy & Postpartum - Infertility & Pregnancy Preparation