Wedding rings are a big deal, as is evident by their huge market. The worldwide wedding ring market is currently valued at $101.7 billion and is expected to become $181 billion by 2034.
With a steady CAGR of 6.6%, it’s safe to claim that suppliers must evolve their ring designs to match public tastes. We all love to be super scrupulous while picking out the ideal wedding ring, from its stylish band to the precious gemstone.
Despite our most careful efforts, the truth is that it’s possible for your ring to not fit comfortably at times. One common reason is the changes the body undergoes during and after pregnancy.
Are you aware of the postpartum wedding ring dilemma? You may have a first-hand experience of it now. This article will discuss in detail the anatomy of a post-pregnancy ring fit. We will also share some useful tips in case your ring doesn’t fit well.
Change is the Only Constant During and After Pregnancy
If a woman’s body is designed to create a new life and an entire organ, one must accept change as the only constant during this delicate period. While most changes are natural physiological processes, some may be uncomfortable.
They may also leave behind an unpleasant aftermath. For instance, many women develop stress urinary incontinence (SUI), especially after labor and delivery. It is a condition marked by an involuntary leakage of urine. The Cleveland Clinic shares vaginal birth to be the most common cause due to increasing stress on the pelvic floor muscles.
Similarly, various changes can make one’s fingers swell. Let’s look at the main factors that may lead to changes in finger size postpartum –
- Fluid retention: Pregnancy hormones tend to cause fluid retention in the body, thereby leading to swollen fingers and toes.
- Hormonal adjustments: The hormone relaxin, produced to help the body stretch during childbirth, may also affect the hand joints and fingers.
- Weight fluctuations: Most women put on weight during pregnancy for various reasons, including baby growth, increased blood volume, and fat reserves. Even after shedding off the extra weight, the fingers may sometimes be slightly larger than before.
Useful Tips to Resolve the Postpartum Ring Dilemma
To understand the postpartum ring dilemma for what it is, you must know two crucial things. First, a lot of pregnancy and childbirth-related changes are pretty normal and temporary. This includes the aforementioned SUI, which resolves once the birth canal has healed.
Secondly, it’s not wise to make any postpartum decisions hastily. From the same example, many women rush for surgical SUI treatments that involve inserting a transvaginal mesh.
Involuntary urine leakage can be difficult to deal with but it nowhere compares to the risks of the treatment. TorHoerman Law notes organ perforation, severe pain, and bleeding as some of the complications.
Awareness regarding the dangers is spreading rapidly via the transvaginal mesh lawsuit. Perhaps a replacement ring cannot cause such serious complications. However, it’s largely a matter of ‘when’ to opt for a resize.
Your body will continue to change for weeks or months after childbirth. Give it the time required to heal and follow these useful tips to resolve your postpartum ring dilemma.
Do Not Resize Your Wedding Ring Right Away
This point is the culmination of our previous discussion. It’s wise to give your fingers, along with the rest of your body, the time they require to heal.
Once complete healing has taken place, you may be surprised at how your ring fits comfortably again. Now, this process varies from woman to woman.
Some women can fit into their wedding rings just a few weeks after childbirth. Others ease into it only after months. Don’t stress yourself about the timeline and be patient with your unique journey.
Use a Temporary Ring Adjuster
While you’re patiently waiting, some temporary solutions might help. A temporary ring adjuster or sizing beads may offer a secure fit without the need for resizing.
If your fingers get back to their normal thickness and the ring fits comfortably once again, viola! You do not need to resize. Another option is to simply keep your ring aside until you can wear it again comfortably.
Wear Your Ring on a Different Finger
For many women, their wedding ring fails to fit the ring finger. In other words, it may continue to fit some other finger.
If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using a temporary ring adjuster or taking your ring off, just wear it on a different finger. It could be the middle or the pinky finger but this change is only until your size returns to normal.
Be Okay With the Possibility of a Redesign
If months have passed and your ring still doesn’t fit, likely, it may not fit anymore. Now is the time to take the big step of resizing.
Unfortunately, some rings cannot be resized. If that’s the case, be open to the possibility of a redesign. The wedding ring band can be changed to include different diamond details. It may be a completely new ring but most of the materials will be the same as the original one.
Ways to Tell Your Ring is Not the Right Size
Now, let’s look at a couple of checklists to help you understand whether your ring is too small or too large for your finger. Your ring is too small if –
- You’re unable to close your hand into a fist with your ring on
- It leaves a mark when you take it off
- It won’t sit comfortably at the base of your finger
- Skin bulges from the sides of the ring
- You’re unable to spin it on your finger
Some women may see the opposite effect after they’ve returned to their ‘normal’ size post-pregnancy. They find their ring too big for the ring finger, as indicated by the following signs –
- It easily spins on the finger on its own
- You feel like the ring will fall off if you put your hands down
- It glides up and down throughout the length of your finger
You should assess your ring based on the above-mentioned checklists only after your body has healed. Some women’s bodies take as long as seven to eight months for complete postpartum recovery. So, give yourself plenty of time!
Let’s end the dilemma once and for all. Your wedding ring will most likely not fit the same, during or after pregnancy mainly due to weight changes. The amount of weight gain will be even higher in the case of twins or triplets.
Mostly, this is temporary and your ring will fit comfortably once again. If for some reason it does not, we hope this article has helped you understand your possible options.