If you sit at work, for long hours then it is bound to happen, though. I would stand up, do simple stretching exercises, run up and down the stairs, drink water and eat small amounts of food every 2-3 hours (actually cutting down your main food intake). I would skip the canteen all together. You load up on salt, additives, coloring, sugars even in simple salad dressing. The only thing that probably isn't loaded with water retentive stuff in a canteen would be muesli.
Some contraceptive pills make people retain massive amount of water, I am not sure if you are on the Pill but would check if the water retention is hormonal (rather than simple lymph drainage), maybe you need it readjusted.
I am also one who retains a lot of water and especially during the time of the month...
I took 15 kilos during this pregnancy and most is from water. I already lost 8 kilos the first 2 weeks post-partum and I am still quite swollen. In my legs but also my arms, fingers, etc...
I drink around 1.5-3 liter of water daily (I am feeling constantly incredibly thirsty).
After the birth of my daughter I had a huge trouble to get rid of the water. We found out that I had thyroid problems. I am now well controled so I shouldn't have the same trouble this time.
I am only 2 weeks post-partum so I know I have to take it easy and wait.
Good morning!
I know what you are going through as I have the same problem. Since my second and last pregnancy I have had fluid retention in my left leg. It seems to appear just below my knee and around my ankle. I have had lots of appointments with my Doctor in the UK and also had a few lymp drainage massage's aswell. For me the only solution I have found to help is going to the gym and doing plenty of cross trainers/step machine workouts. This seems to keep the fluid down. Also if you are on your feet alot, you must put them up when you get a chance. The warm weather also can make the fluid appear with mine. So at the moment I am looking into joining a gym and helping the fluid dissapear as the warm weather is here and it makes me so self aware of my leg!! Take care and I hope you manage to find a solution to the fluid. C
Grapefruit.. It's nuts but it really does work well. Add in a 1 hour brisk walk a day and you'll be happy with slender gams the next morning.
But do watch out because you can not eat grapefruit if you're taking certain medications as it can alter the effect of the meds.
Great thread, learned a lot.
I agree with the soup experience too, for some reason it aggravates the problem.
I'm finding this thread very informative, as I'm in early pregnancy and already have achy legs, especially at night. It's a nice addition to the nausea and fatigue! Anyway, thanks everyone for all the tips, which I will keep in mind to avoid retaining excessive water.
Do get a prescription at the doctor's for the stockings and get properly measured at the pharmacy, it's covered by health insurance. The stockings are a pain, but the result is worth the bother.
I had a pair of those stockings, they are a menace, I hated wearing them.
Yogi Frauen Tea from Migros, really helps me. BUT, it only helps if I drink a Liter of the tea in the morning. Of course not all at one go, but i can drink 2glasses soon after I awake and the rest until about 10am.
If you dont like the taste of tea, drink it cold, then the taste is not as strong.
Basmati rice and Asparagus is great for water retention
Water retention reducing soup 50g barley
200g asparagus
Bunch fresh coriander
1 tsp fennel seeds
No salt
Simmer for 1 hour
Helpful for reducing water retention, fluid accumulation and easing urinary difficulty.
Be careful with the grapefruit during pregnancy. I forget what the connection is - but I had a pregnant coleague who ended up in hospital after eating grapefruit. When I mentioned it to a doctor friend, she nodded and mentioned the connection.
Drinking more water, healthy eating, lower sodium (table salt) regular exercise are all good advice. If considering any herbal remedies, do check with your doctor first, as there can be side effects.
Try "anti-stax" pills, you can buy it OTC in any pharmacy, does wonders for me.
Btw, am on thyroid medication and this can be taken with that without any problems accordinng to my physician (if you still have thyroid problems).
Wow ! Didn't know that. Thanks for that.
It's good to know for other people.
You know I'm still trying for a little one
I have those and I think they are awfully warm especially in this weather. But contrary to many people I like wearing them because I think they get me some relief.
I agree... they are awful, especially to put on when you are 38 weeks pregnant... every mornign I feel like I ran a marathon BUT without them my feet look really piggy by end of the day and I can hardly bend my toes So no choice...
It doesn't make sense... beyond being dangerous if eaten with some medications, I don't see what would be dangerous in case of pregnancy. I did a web search to see if there is something, and could not find anything... rather the opposite, multiple nutrition sources suggest grapefruits as an excellent source of minerals and vitamins during pregnancy.
Could you explain why is it dangerous?
How long it takes to get rid of the fluid in the postpartum? I am having fluid all over my body (face, hands, arms, legs, etc), my weddings rings are still too tight and I am still wearing my preggos jeans....
I am in my 3rd week postpartum.
Nil, stop STRESSING!! You are only in your 3rd week! I needed 9 months, to lose every last ounce, without dieting, but with mild exercise. You body still need time to recoperate, when you gave birth your uterus was about 15 times heavier (not including its contents!) and holds at least 500 times more than before you conceived. Apparently it takes about 6 weeks for your uterus to be the normal size again.
Its tough to combat fliud retention, post par-tum, because, of breastfeeding, you cant drink many herbal Teas, and cant not ingest any other medication.
I cant take any diuretic meds because i have very low blood pressure. *crap*
In my culture, and especially in the last generation, the mother returned to her home to have the baby, and she stayed in her mother's care for 40days therafter, and enjoyed her mother's pampering.
I often see women with tiny little babies, and flat stomachs , these included my sister-in-laws ! But we are all different, and I noticed that if your cervix is far back, and your uterus, you tend to carry the baby differently. And do not end up the the excessive skin problem, not to mention the stretch marks.
btw I used a great gel, from Dr.Spiller which reduced the stretchmarks miraculously (the dermatologist told me that only plastic surgery would help)
On month 24 here and I am finally within a couple kilos of my pre-pregnancy weight. OK, not water retention, but really, give yourself a break.
I will say, after my first pregnancy I didn't notice as much, but definitely after 2nd and 3rd my feet never returned to their previous size (meant new shoes for me ) and I think your body can change shape a little bit too. So don't be surprised if things fit differently now. I was in those preggo pants long after babe was here. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of those where the weight magically dropped due to nursing. In fact, I haven't actually met one of those people, just heard people claim to be that way...actually, I think I just ate too much!
Yep same for me! With my first, I didn't lose anything as long as I was breastfeeding.
What is annoying for me is the amount of water I retain. If at least I can get rid of that, I'll have a better idea of what is left to deal with in the near futur!
I keep telling me to give myself a break but a glance in the mirror and I feel all crap again.
Maybe I should sell all those mirrors!
It made me wonder when I heard that nursing helps you reduce weight - in fact it does not and it is even dangerous if you diet while nursing because all the pollutants that were stored in your fat will get into the milk.
Maybe I was just lucky but I got back to normal very fast which I relate to not nursing and going back to work. But after three weeks - Nil, give me a break. Going back to your old self so fast is only possible for models or actresses who have a personal trainer and work out 8 hours per day. How long did it take you after your first baby?
Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't expect to be back in my own self right away, just to get rid of this whole extra fluid retention I have. If fat is left, like I said I can deal with it later when I'll have the ok from the doctor.
I don't remember how long it took with my first. But like I said, I couldn't lose anything until I stop breastfeeding. My body doesn't like being overdose of hormones.... This is probably what is going on right now because of this shift of hormones after the birth.
I can drink a lot of water and take 2 kilos which will go in few hours and visit to the loo. But it doesn't drain what is already in the body.