Varicose veins can develop at any time during your pregnancy, but they tend to become larger and more prominent in the later stages of your pregnancy. After giving birth, these leg swellings will recede and will likely appear pre-pregnancy again. However, if there is no improvement in the veins in question after a period of time has passed, it would be beneficial to undergo a varicose examination.
What are the causes of varicose veins during pregnancy?
The extra volume of blood you produce during pregnancy is crucial to supporting the two growing bodies. However, it puts extra pressure on your blood vessels, especially those in your legs, which must work against gravity to push all that excess blood back into your heart.
Add to that the weight gain and the pressure your sprouting uterus puts on your pelvic blood vessels, and the vaso-relaxing effects of the extra progesterone your body produces, and you have the source of varicose veins.
What can I do about varicose veins while pregnant?
There are some tricks you can try that can help minimize varicose veins that occur during pregnancy, or at least keep them under control.
Here are some solutions and tips:
Increase blood flow: Elevate your feet as much as possible and keep your legs elevated while sitting. While standing, transfer your weight to the other leg as you place one foot on a low stool. Flex your ankles often and break the habit of sitting cross-legged.
Get moving: Exercise is key to preventing varicose veins – so go for a walk or two every day or do some circulation-boosting exercises. Research shows it’s especially helpful to get around in the water, so if you can get to the pool.
Be comfortable: Make sure to wear well-fitting clothing, including underwear, that does not bind specifically to the upper legs. Don’t wear tight belts or socks with tight elastic tops, and stay away from tight shoes and high heels.
Watch your weight: Keep your weight gain as low as your doctor recommends during pregnancy. Extra weight only increases the pressure on your already overworked circulatory system.
Don’t neglect your daily vitamin: A balanced pregnancy diet can help keep your arteries healthy. Be sure to eat lots of foods that contain vitamin C, which your body uses to produce collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that repair and protect blood vessels.
Can I prevent varicose veins during pregnancy?
Some people believe that wearing compression stockings, exercising, and elevating your feet can prevent varicose veins, but they are not surefire ways to avoid this particular pregnancy symptom. Still, the tips and remedies mentioned above are definitely worth a try and can be helpful.
When can I expect my varicose veins to disappear?
You probably don’t like the look of varicose veins, and itching and pain bother you. In most cases, your varicose veins will shrink or disappear completely within a few months after birth.
But if you have another baby, the same veins will likely reappear. Like many other pregnancy symptoms, including stretch marks, varicose veins tend to be inherited, so you’re more likely to have them if your mother had them during pregnancy.
When should I consult a doctor about varicose veins during pregnancy?
Varicose veins treatment is not recommended during pregnancy. It is most appropriate to be examined by a Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist after birth and to start the treatment of varicose veins, which is deemed appropriate, in a controlled manner.
