Lymphedema & Pregnancy

Hi Alissa,

I just delivered 4 weeks ago. I actually had my lymphadectomy at 24 weeks pg. I had lymphadema throughout my pregnancy but controlled it pretty well by wearing support hose, maternity compression shorts, and by elevating when possible. It got really bad after delivery and the week following. However, now I'm back to normal. Best of luck!

Ashley

Hi Alissa,

I just delivered 4 weeks ago. I actually had my lymphadectomy at 24 weeks pg. I had lymphadema throughout my pregnancy but controlled it pretty well by wearing support hose, maternity compression shorts, and by elevating when possible. It got really bad after delivery and the week following. However, now I'm back to normal. Best of luck!

Ashley

Hi Alissa,

I just delivered 4 weeks ago. I actually had my lymphadectomy at 24 weeks pg. I had lymphadema throughout my pregnancy but controlled it pretty well by wearing support hose, maternity compression shorts, and by elevating when possible. It got really bad after delivery and the week following. However, now I'm back to normal. Best of luck!

Ashley

I have primary lymphedema with zero lymph fluid uptake in either leg. I was born this way, but ironically it was never diagnosed until 18 mos. after a SNB for melanoma in my left arm, which was unrelated, but finally brought me to a vascular doctor.

I have four children (all born prior to diagnosis), and my legs were stumps during the last months of each pregnancy – people would gasp when they saw my legs and feet. They went back to their previous state a few weeks after my kids were born (but still much larger than normal, as that was how they'd always been).

I wear 30-40 mmHg pantyhose now.  I went through the short-stretch wrapping to get the size of my legs down, which is really important if you haven't done that through a physical therapist. I wear non-prescription compression soft yarn socks to bed. The only time I'm not in compression is when I'm in the shower.

If you are wearing a compression garment every single day for all your waking hours, I doubt you will have any problems with a pregnancy. If you are only wearing one when you have a lot of swelling, it will be really hard to get on top it while pregnant and it could easily go out of control. 

My advice would be to get in full daily compression before you get pregnant so that it's a solid habit. Also, find a fitter that you can see on a regular basis to keep measuring and have you in the right pregnancy pantyhose as the pregnancy progresses. I would not do single leg compression as it will bind too much at the top of your leg – pantyhose sound awful, but they will support a pregnancy much better and eliminate binding.

If you are 5'4" or less, make sure you can get a petite size – it took me 9 mos. of pain and frustration before I found the type that worked for me (Juzo), I am 5'4" and even the "short" were too long, I needed petite. Lymphedma sucks, but once you find the right garment, it just becomes a habit like brushing teeth. Once you are in the right amount of compression, you can forget that you even have it and can do anything you want.

I have primary lymphedema with zero lymph fluid uptake in either leg. I was born this way, but ironically it was never diagnosed until 18 mos. after a SNB for melanoma in my left arm, which was unrelated, but finally brought me to a vascular doctor.

I have four children (all born prior to diagnosis), and my legs were stumps during the last months of each pregnancy – people would gasp when they saw my legs and feet. They went back to their previous state a few weeks after my kids were born (but still much larger than normal, as that was how they'd always been).

I wear 30-40 mmHg pantyhose now.  I went through the short-stretch wrapping to get the size of my legs down, which is really important if you haven't done that through a physical therapist. I wear non-prescription compression soft yarn socks to bed. The only time I'm not in compression is when I'm in the shower.

If you are wearing a compression garment every single day for all your waking hours, I doubt you will have any problems with a pregnancy. If you are only wearing one when you have a lot of swelling, it will be really hard to get on top it while pregnant and it could easily go out of control. 

My advice would be to get in full daily compression before you get pregnant so that it's a solid habit. Also, find a fitter that you can see on a regular basis to keep measuring and have you in the right pregnancy pantyhose as the pregnancy progresses. I would not do single leg compression as it will bind too much at the top of your leg – pantyhose sound awful, but they will support a pregnancy much better and eliminate binding.

If you are 5'4" or less, make sure you can get a petite size – it took me 9 mos. of pain and frustration before I found the type that worked for me (Juzo), I am 5'4" and even the "short" were too long, I needed petite. Lymphedma sucks, but once you find the right garment, it just becomes a habit like brushing teeth. Once you are in the right amount of compression, you can forget that you even have it and can do anything you want.

I have primary lymphedema with zero lymph fluid uptake in either leg. I was born this way, but ironically it was never diagnosed until 18 mos. after a SNB for melanoma in my left arm, which was unrelated, but finally brought me to a vascular doctor.

I have four children (all born prior to diagnosis), and my legs were stumps during the last months of each pregnancy – people would gasp when they saw my legs and feet. They went back to their previous state a few weeks after my kids were born (but still much larger than normal, as that was how they'd always been).

I wear 30-40 mmHg pantyhose now.  I went through the short-stretch wrapping to get the size of my legs down, which is really important if you haven't done that through a physical therapist. I wear non-prescription compression soft yarn socks to bed. The only time I'm not in compression is when I'm in the shower.

If you are wearing a compression garment every single day for all your waking hours, I doubt you will have any problems with a pregnancy. If you are only wearing one when you have a lot of swelling, it will be really hard to get on top it while pregnant and it could easily go out of control. 

My advice would be to get in full daily compression before you get pregnant so that it's a solid habit. Also, find a fitter that you can see on a regular basis to keep measuring and have you in the right pregnancy pantyhose as the pregnancy progresses. I would not do single leg compression as it will bind too much at the top of your leg – pantyhose sound awful, but they will support a pregnancy much better and eliminate binding.

If you are 5'4" or less, make sure you can get a petite size – it took me 9 mos. of pain and frustration before I found the type that worked for me (Juzo), I am 5'4" and even the "short" were too long, I needed petite. Lymphedma sucks, but once you find the right garment, it just becomes a habit like brushing teeth. Once you are in the right amount of compression, you can forget that you even have it and can do anything you want.