Baby Talk May2019

Bump to Birth
Postnatal Support
Eat bananas
Too much sodium causes water
retention. Bananas and other
potassium-rich foods can help to
lower the amount of sodium in the body,
balancing it out so that it works in sync with the sodium
in your body. Other than in bananas, other foods rich in
potassium include apricots, peanut butter, avocados, yogurt
and spinach.
Cut off the coffee and/
or tea for now
Caffeinated drinks such as
coffee, tea, etc cause our bodies
to lose water. As a survival
mechanism, a postnatal body
may react to this by retaining as
much water as it can to avoid
dehydration. To avoid this, cut off
all caffeinated drinks for now and
replace them with safe herbal teas
such as rooibos, for instance and
plain water. Or if you prefer, try
sparkling mineral water. The aim
is to stay hydrated and keep the
swellings at a minimum.
Get a foam roller
Foam rollers, when used correctly, can help in improving
circulation and reducing the buildup of water in the body. Use
it on your legs to help hasten your blood flow by encouraging
the blood to move through the veins more quickly. You can
get a foam roller from most sports stores and even online
stores. Or, you can ask your doctor to recommend one.
Try a postpartum massage
Massaging can promote circulation, thus it may help with
the swellings too, by helping to eliminate the excess fluids
trapped in the body. Do ensure though that you pick a
trained massage therapist or one who is familiar with treating
postpartum clients. In the Malay culture, most bidans are
trained in these kind of massages.
When to consult with your
doctor:
• When you notice a sudden swelling
that wasn’t there before
• When you press down on a swollen
area and it leaves an indentation in the
skin
• If there is pain, redness, irritation, or
increased swelling in one leg, for it may
be signs of a blood clot
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