Abstract
Objective: A purpose of this study is to investigate postpartum edema of which the most of puerperal women complain. Method: The body composition of 192 women who was taken postpartum care in Postpartum Care Center of Dongguk University Oriental Hospital from February, 2001 to January, 2002 were analyzed by Body Composition Analyzer. Result: Puerperal women with pitting edema and severe systemic edema were 45(23.4$\%$) cases of 192 puerperal women. It were no difference between the group of pitting edema and control group for age, full term delivery, height, prepregnancy body weight and postpartum body weight. But the group of pitting edema who was taken cesarean section delivery was higher than control for postmature body weight and body weight of admission. And the group of pitting edema was significantly higher than control for weight gain during pregnancy period, postpartum BMI, index of. edema. And after administration of herbal medicine, the group of pitting edema was significantly reduced than control for body weight, BMI, index of edema, total body water, total body fat and total muscle quantity during the same period. Conclusion: This study suggests that weight gain during pregnancy period affects postpartum edema, and index of edema measured by body composition analyzer is effective for the diagnosis of postpartum edema. And after administration of herbal medicine, postpartum edema was significantly reduced.