What causes foot, ankle and lower leg swelling after vaginal birth? received epidural. no swelling during pregnancy.

If unilateral - DVT?: While it is common to have swollen lower extremities postpartum as fluid shifts occur after delivery, this is usually bilateral. If the swelling is unilateral and/or accompanied by pain, would recommend seeking evaluation to confirm not a deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity, which has potential serious medical complications (e.g. Pulmonary embolus).

Not unusual: Now that you have delivered, your body is in the process of returning to its normal fluid balance. You may push fluid into the tissues before it ultimately gets released in the form of urine. It may take 2-3 weeks for your swelling to disappear, but it will go away.