How to eliminate maternal edema

Although swelling and edema in the lower body often occur in the late stages of pregnancy, this swelling will not disappear quickly after giving birth. There may be postpartum edema. There are several different factors for postpartum edema, such as endocrine system disorders and changes in hormones. It is not ruled out that edema is caused by inflammation of the uterus or the body is in the recovery stage.

1. Causes and symptoms of postpartum edema

Postpartum edema is mainly caused by water retention in the body and the inability to be discharged smoothly. However, the causes of postpartum edema vary depending on the symptoms. Mainly divided into the following categories:

1. Postpartum edema is caused by the enlargement of the uterus, which affects blood circulation and causes edema. On the other hand, due to the influence of progesterone, the body's water metabolism becomes worse, and edema will occur.

2. The endocrine system in the mother's body is affected by the changes in pregnancy hormones, which causes changes in the body's water metabolism function. Due to a special physiological need, the body's water metabolism function will retain some excess water, which will manifest as edema, and lower limb edema is a typical symptom.

3. If the mother's edema occurs in the lower limbs and does not exceed the knees, then this edema is generally a problem left over from edema during pregnancy. This edema is normal. With the increase in urination and sweating after delivery, the edema will gradually disappear and will return to normal in about four weeks after delivery.

4. If the mother develops systemic edema that lasts for a long time and is accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite, dizziness, and painful urination, she needs to go to the hospital for examination. It is necessary to check whether there are any diseases in the heart, kidneys, liver, etc., and whether there is any coagulation or venous thrombosis.

2. What soup to drink after childbirth to reduce edema

In traditional Chinese medicine, for postpartum edema, Chinese medicine will use a diet therapy method that nourishes the kidneys and activates blood circulation to remove body water:

1. Job's tears and red bean soup: Wash and soak 20 grams of raw job's tears and 30 grams of red beans for about half a day, drain and set aside. Boil coix seeds with water until half soft, then add red beans and cook until done. Add rock sugar, turn off the heat after it dissolves and let it cool before eating. This soup helps to beautify the skin, replenish qi and blood, and promote diuresis and reduce swelling. It can strengthen the stomach and intestines, replenish blood, and also achieve the effect of promoting lactation.

2. Brown sugar ginger soup: Wash the ginger with skin and pound it into granules. Put ginger and brown sugar into a clay pot, add appropriate amount of water, and boil over high heat. Then continue to simmer over low heat for 45 minutes and drink it while it is hot. This soup can dispel wind and cold, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, accelerate blood circulation, stimulate gastric juice secretion, aid digestion, strengthen the stomach, and stimulate appetite. The ginger with the skin has the effect of promoting diuresis and reducing swelling.

3. Carp with fermented bean paste: 250 grams of carp meat with bones, 30 grams of fermented bean paste, 10 grams of onion, 10 grams of ginger, 10 grams of garlic, 15 grams of wet starch, and appropriate amount of seasoning. Pour salad oil into the pot, heat it over high heat until the oil is hot, add the fish pieces and fry until golden brown, then remove from the pan. Leave a little oil in the pot, add chopped onion, ginger, garlic, and bean paste, add soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, fish pieces, and fresh soup, add MSG, and thicken with wet starch. Carp tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It can promote diuresis and reduce swelling, relieve gas and promote lactation. It is especially suitable for people with weak constitution, phlegm and damp constitution, pregnant women with edema and postpartum women.

4. Corn silk and Imperata root drink: 50 grams each of corn silk and Imperata root, decoct together, add appropriate amount of white sugar and take in several times. Suitable for Yang water.

5. Red bean and carp soup: 60 grams of red beans, 1 carp (deintestines), 10 grams of ginger, stew together without salt, eat the fish and drink the soup. Suitable for Yin water.