Definition
Lymphatic drainage is a form of physical therapy used to treat lymphedema. Lymphedema is caused by the storage of lymph fluid in the tissue. As a component of complex physical decongestion therapy, lymph drainage is firmly established in patient treatment and enjoys great popularity.
Through specific procedures performed by a physiotherapist, the lymph flow is stimulated and the edema is thus decongested. Lymphatic drainage also follows its general pattern of action during pregnancy. There is no separate lymph drainage for pregnancy. General information on this topic can be found here: Lymphatic drainage
Indication for lymph drainage during pregnancy
During pregnancy, about two thirds of women suffer from water retention in the feet and legs. The exact causes for these “heavy legs” are not conclusively clarified. Many factors come together which ultimately lead to the oedemas.
In general, no lymph drainage is necessary. Most oedemas are caused by a slight weakness of the veins towards the end of pregnancy. The venous valves become leaky and the blood cannot flow back to the heart as well.
As a result, the pressure in the vein increases and parts of the blood are pressed into the surrounding tissue. This explains the typical edema on the ankles and lower legs. After birth, the water retention normalizes again, so that lymph drainage is almost never necessary.
It is therefore hardly ever prescribed by a doctor. Of course, this service is available to private patients, but strictly speaking there is no indication for it. However, it is different in the case of real pregnancy edema.
This occurs in the context of a pregnancy-related nephropathy (a kidney disease) – or high blood pressure. In this case, drug therapy and manual lymph drainage are indicated. However, it must be noted that lymph drainage in the abdomen and pelvis area must not be performed during pregnancy.
Chronic lymphedema of the legs, which already existed before pregnancy, can also be an indication for lymph drainage. Since doctors have only a very small contingent available to prescribe lymphatic drainage, it is generally rarely prescribed during pregnancy. Lymphatic drainage is only prescribed when it is absolutely necessary, for example in cases of pronounced nephropathy or high blood pressure.
Pregnancy edemas occur in the context of so-called gestoses. These are pregnancy disorders such as high blood pressure (pregnancy-induced hypertension), pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome. The cause of the edema is a reduced performance of the kidneys (renal insufficiency).
As a result, less water is excreted and water retention occurs in various parts of the body. In addition to medication, manual lymph drainage can also be considered as a therapeutic measure. Provided that there are no contraindications, lymphatic drainage is a good way to treat the pronounced oedemas.
In most cases, a combination therapy is used, which includes, for example, the wearing of compression stockings. However, whether lymphatic drainage is advisable must be clarified individually from case to case. Many pregnant women suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome during their pregnancy.
Water retention in the tissue causes a nerve (nervus medianus) to become constricted at this bottleneck – the carpal tunnel. Typical symptoms are pain in the arm and hand at night, tingling in the fingers and numbness in the thumb and index finger. The question of lymphatic drainage is often asked in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy. However, lymph drainage is not indicated in this case and does not lead to an improvement of the symptoms. Other methods of treatment, such as wearing a splint or treatment with cortisone, are possible, however.
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