Can Anything Be Done To Prevent Them
Walking or swimming help your circulation generally and are beneficial while pregnant. Specific exercises like calf raises and walking on the spot are good for helping blood flow in the legs.
There’s no sure way to prevent varicose veins when you’re pregnant. However, they might be less likely to develop if you:
- don’t sit for too long
- stop wearing high heels, if you currently wear them
- put your legs up, higher than your hips if possible, when you are resting or sitting
- avoid wearing anything too tight around your waist or pelvis
How Can I Prevent Varicose Veins And Spider Veins
You may not be able to prevent varicose veins and spider veins, especially if they usually happen in your family or when you are pregnant. There are other parts of your life that you cannot control, such as getting older, that can also contribute to varicose veins and spider veins.
There are steps you can take at home, like exercising and losing extra weight, that can make you healthier and may prevent new varicose veins or spider veins from forming. These steps may also help your legs feel better by relieving pain and discomfort.
Pregnancy Varicose Veins Treatment
Compression stockings are a good treatment and support for varicose veins. They come in many styles, strength levels, and sizes. They can be purchased online, but a prescription submitted by your doctor to a medical supply store can give you a stronger option. Just make sure they are not too strong.
The stockings are graded by pressure value with a measurement of millimeters of mercury . Doctors recommend anywhere from 20 to 30 mmHg strength, which is considered moderate- to high-pressured. The lowest strength available is 8 15 mmHg.
Warning: Some moms have tried horse chestnut extract . Please note that eating the flower, raw bark, leaf, or seeds of this plant instead of the extract is poisonous and can be fatal. In fact, the safety of the use of horse chestnut extract, even with the poison parts removed, is unknown. So, it is best to avoid it while pregnant or breastfeeding. Doctors discourage the pursuit of elective surgery to get rid of the veins during pregnancy. The veins usually fade after birth.
You May Like: Is It Safe To Use Vagisil Cream While Pregnant
Tip #3 Elevate Your Legs
If you need to sit in one single position for a longer period, it may help to elevate your legs on another piece of furniture or a small stool. Propping your legs and feet up on pillows throughout the day can also help improve circulation and alleviate swelling and discomfort. You may also wish to try stretching and massaging your legs as often as possible.
Managing Discomfort And Pain From Leg Veins In Pregnancy
Along with support hose, there are several other things you can do to help with the discomfort and pain caused by leg veins. During pregnancy, the uterus exerts pressure on the inferior vena cava. This vein is responsible for transporting blood from the legs and feet to the heart. If the vena cava is restricted in some way, blood will pool in the feet and legs, leading to varicose veins. This is why your OB/GYN likely advised you to lie on your left side when resting or sleeping, as it prevents excess pressure on this vein. Drinking plenty of water can also help your body maintain a proper fluid balance.
Other options for treating leg veins during pregnancy include maintaining the weight recommended by your OB/GYN and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing. If your veins continue to bother you after you have given birth, you will benefit from a consultation with a vein specialist.
Recommended Reading: Is Kinesio Tape Safe For Pregnancy
When Should I Call The Doctor About My Varicose Veins
Varicose veins can develop at any time during your pregnancy and may get larger the deeper you get into your journey. Most of the time, they are more of an unsightly annoyance, but a rule of thumb is to have a conversation with your doctor as soon as you notice them. Leg pain, leg swelling , fatigue, and varicose vein formation could all be due to a more chronic underlying condition.
If your varicose veins are hurting, it is your bodys way of telling you something is very wrong. And without the proper treatment, the appearance and symptoms of varicose veins during pregnancy may worsen over time.
How To Prevent Varicose Veins From Getting Worse
Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to enhance the blood flow in your legs. As a result, you can prevent your varicose veins from getting worse. Try these things.
1. Exercise regularly.
Your leg muscles are your biggest allies. Why? They help your veins push blood to the heart. This is very useful since your muscles are working against gravity. Any leg exercises will also help prevent the appearance of new varicose veins.
2. Lose weight if youre overweight
Youre placing more stress on your legs if you are overweight or obese. Losing weight can also keep new varicose veins from forming. Theres a lot of benefits to losing weight other than helping with varicose veins. It also reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
3. Avoid standing or sitting for a long time.
Todays office workers are at greater risk of developing varicose veins or making them worse. Remember to take a break at least every half hour and stand up and walk for a short while, even if its just to the break room and back. This forces the leg muscles to move blood toward your heart more than when youre in a sedentary position. If your job requires you to stand for long periods of time, try to schedule a similar break to sit for a while.
4. Dont wear tight-fitting clothes.
This can place more pressure on your legs, which can make varicose veins worse.
5. Be sure to put your feet up.
6. Wear support panty hose.
7. Invest in compression hose.
Also Check: Vagisil Safe For Pregnancy
Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
ByKaity Velez July 14, 2016
When you found out you had a baby in there, you expected your belly to grow, but why is it that nobody told you about varicose veins during pregnancy? Up to 55 percent of women are affected by vein issues, including varicose veins which can often be triggered by pregnancy. Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Yan Katsnelson sheds some light on how to prevent getting varicose veins during pregnancy, and if you do, how to deal in a natural way.
What causes varicose veins?
Many women first develop varicose veinsor find that they get worseduring pregnancy. As your uterus grows, it puts pressure on the large vein on the right side of your body , which in turn increases pressure in the veins in your leg.
Veins are the blood vessels that return blood from your extremities to your heart, so blood in your leg veins already works against gravity. When you’re pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases, adding to the burden on your veins. In addition, your progesterone levels rise, causing the walls of your blood vessels to relax.
Genetics also play a role it’s estimated that about half of people who have varicose veins have a family member who also has them.
What pregnant women can do to prevent varicose veins?
Are there any particular diets or exercises women can do to prevent varicose veins?
What should women do if they develop varicose veins during pregnancy?
Is it possible for them to go away naturally?
What kind of treatments are available?
Over 18000 Procedures Performed
Dr. Kenneth Harper, founder of Vein Specialists of the South, has evaluated more than 22,000 patients and performed over 18,000 procedures since 2000. Dr. Harper is a leader in comprehensive vein care, having focused on diagnosis and treatments for varicose veins, spider veins, venous ulcers, and leg swelling since 1997.
You May Like: Can You Get Lasik While Pregnant
When Do Varicose Veins Form During Pregnancy
For 70% to 80% of women who develop varicose veins during pregnancy, symptoms typically appear in the first trimester – often within the first two to three weeks of a woman becoming pregnant. As pregnancy progresses, varicose veins may become more pronounced as the veins are subjected to increasing stress.
Why Are Varicose Veins Common During Pregnancy
Thanks to increased blood volume during pregnancy, women have a 40 percent higher chance of getting varicose veins.
The blood volume in pregnancy increases sometimes as much as 20 percent, but the number of veins remains the same. This means that there’s more work to be done by the vascular system, as blood can collect more in the veins of the feet and legs. On top of that, the uterus starts growing, which puts a lot of pressure on one of your largest veins right behind it, called the inferior vena cava. This causes compression and more collection of blood in those veins of the lower extremities.
This increase in blood volume begins as early as the fourth week of pregnancy and peaks around 28 to 34 weeks. So, as pregnancy progresses, varicose veins likely will worsen throughout the second and third trimester. When the uterus grows bigger, those veins can become more visible and symptomatic, such as showing redness around the area and feeling crampy.
Don’t Miss: Donating Plasma While Breastfeeding
Should I Be Concerned About Developing Varicose Veins
About 28 percent of women will develop varicose veins during their pregnancy. Varicose veins may itch or hurt, but are generally harmless in the short term. A small number of women are more at risk for developing blood clots in their veins. If the skin over your varicose veins begins to cause you pain, become discolored, or prone to bleeding, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
What Are Common Pregnancy Vein Symptoms
Although some women may not experience any issues during pregnancy, others may struggle with debilitating varicose vein symptoms. These can include:
- Pain, discomfort, itching, or burning in affected areas
- A feeling of heaviness in the legs
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
- Pain that is relieved when legs are elevated
- Muscle cramps, especially at night
- Skin issues surrounding swollen veins
Read Also: Vagisil Cream While Pregnant
Get A Handle On Constipation
Constipation isnt fun, and the extra iron youve been taking in your prenatal vitamin can bind you up in record time. To help fight that feeling, eat plenty of fiber, drink a lot of water, and if youre still having trouble, you might want to check with your doctor about taking a stool softener. This can help cut the straining and grunting down to a minimum to prevent hemorrhoids from forming.
Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
To prevent varicose veins, its essential that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. These are some healthy habits you should follow:
- Dont wear shoes without heels. However, dont wear shoes with excessively high heels either.
- Avoid baths and showers that are too hot. Also, avoid environments where the temperature is too high.
- Its not good to expose your legs to the sun for a long period of time.
- Sleep with your feet slightly higher than the rest of your body.
- Avoid sitting too much or staying still. When you need to do so for work reasons, perform small exercises throughout the day. This will keep your blood flowing.
In short, these simple recommendations will allow you to eliminate varicose veins during pregnancy. Dont hesitate to use these tips to prevent this issue.
Read Also: Is It Okay To Use Vagisil While Pregnant
Finding Extra Support For Vulvar Varicose Veins
After a couple weeks of worsening symptoms, I knew that I was going to need to do more. At the time, I still had three months of pregnancy ahead of me. Like so many moms right now, I have a lot to take care of each day. I have three kids at home and Im homeschooling two of them while working from home full-time. The prospect of daily pain that prevented me from carrying out the basics on my to-do list was enough to trigger a massive amount of anxiety.
At my doctors suggestion, I started looking at vulvar varicose vein support garments. I found one specifically made for varicose veins on the vulva. Its the V-Sling by Belly Bandit and yes, it is just as sexy as it sounds. This maternity support garment might not be my favorite thing to strap on at the start of the day, but it is giving me the support I need.
Improve Blood Flow And Circulation
Keep your blood moving by getting off your feet whenever you can. If you have young children requiring care, consider hiring a babysitter to give you a chance to rest for a few hours.
If you need to stand for an extended period of time, put one foot on a low stool. Alternate your legs to give each one a change of position. Flex your ankles occasionally to improve blood flow. If you have a habit of crossing your legs, now is the time to break it. You may lower the risks of spider veins this way as well.
Read Also: Can You Get Braces While Pregnant
Tip #7 Watch Your Sodium Levels
A high sodium diet can strain your veins and lead to painful venous symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to consume food with low amounts of sodium. We suggest eating plenty of whole foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, and swapping salt for flavorful herbs and spices. Limit processed and restaurant foods.
What People Say About Our Doctor
I found Dr. Apesos through another patient of his. I found that you need to know what kind of questions to ask him to get the information you want out of him because he isnt exactly the kind of person who is very detailed in his explanations. I am very happy with the results of my breast augmentation and he was very patient with me when I would freak out and call the office numerous times a week. I would definitely recommend him to others and from my experience, be patient, dont freak out, he knows what he is doing and if you follow his directions, youre outcome will most likely be a good one.
I found Dr.Apesos to be a very thorough doctor, who more than took his time to answer any and ALL of my question. His bedside manner was very pleasant as well, he new that I was very nervous the morning of my surgery and manage to make me laugh. He took his time to listen to what it is that I wanted & and to make sure that I was going to be happy with the results. He even gave my husband his personal cell after my surgery should we need him. I would without a doubt recommend him to anyone considering plastic surgery.
Don’t Miss: Can Donating Plasma Hurt An Unborn Baby
Varicose Veins Ruined My Pregnancy
Before having kids, varicose veins never really crossed my mind. I knew what they were. I remembered that my mom had something done with a vein in her leg sometime during my teens. But my own legs were smooth, strong, and functional.
Fast forward to my first pregnancy, which was smooth sailing. Two years later, toward the end of my second pregnancy, I had a small crisscrossing of faint blue behind my left knee. But everything faded quickly after delivery. I didnt give it a second thought.
Thats why the state of my left leg during my third pregnancy was downright horrifying. It started somewhere around the end of my second trimester. I felt a dull ache behind my left knee. I also noticed a little raised clot of spider veins to the front left side of the same knee.
And then it got much, much worse.
From my calf down, everything looked fine. But my left thigh was bumpy and rippled. It was crisscrossed with raised veins down the front and a network of vivid blue veins over the back. And it ached in a deep, awful way.
I was appalled. I quizzed everyone from my doctor, to my mother, to Google for causes and remedies for an answer to my panicked question will they go away after the baby comes?
Online research quickly told me I wasnt alone. It turns out that up to half of pregnant women will get varicose veins. And that makes sense.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, youre experiencing the following during pregnancy:
Varicose Veins During Pregnancy How To Treat
For many pregnant women, varicose veins during pregnancy are nothing more than a nuisance. Others, however, complain of itchiness, irritability, and severe pain.
If youre concerned about varicose veins, its important that you truly understand what they are, the things that make them worse in appearance, and how to treat these veins so you feel comfortable in your own skin once again.
This list tells you all you need to know about varicose veins during pregnancy.
Read Also: Can I Use Vagisil Cream While Pregnant
Read Also: Why Can’t You Donate Plasma While Pregnant
How To Avoid Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 22,940 times.
You’re probably ready to experience a number of pregnancy symptoms, but varicose veins can be minimized with several simple adjustments. Varicose veins are swollen veins that are visible near the surface of your skin. Pressure from your growing baby and the increased volume of blood flowing through the veins can cause varicose veins, so preventing swelling and reducing pressure is important.XExpert SourceFAAD Board Certified DermatologistExpert Interview. 26 March 2020. You can make lifestyle changes to improve your circulation and eat foods that reduce swelling in order to avoid varicose veins.
