Pregnancy & Varicose Veins

Pregnancy is a wonderful thing but sometimes there are other little “gifts” along the way. Nausea, sometimes bed rest, and starting in your second trimester you might start to develop varicose veins.

Why is that? Well it’s science, a pregnant mother’s increased blood supply is circulating for herself and her fetus can make veins bulge. Additionally, sitting with the uterus on the top of the thighs also can impact circulation and does not help blood return to the heart. Many time these vein bulges (varicose veins) that arise during pregnancy can start to disappear around three months after birth. Getting pregnant again, however can bring them back again.

Many women that developed varicose veins before they became pregnant will find that they get worse during their pregnancy. As the uterus grows, it puts pressure on the large vein on the right side of your body, which in turn increases pressure in the leg veins. Symptoms are often more than just the unsightly veins that we commonly think of. Signs can also include itching, swelling, and a small amount of pain. However, they are most often harmless and almost all mothers wait until after delivery (and usually another three months) for any needed treatment.

While most cases of varicose veins are relatively mild and treatment can wait until where after delivery, there are exceptions. One of which is a condition call superficial venous thrombosis. What you’ll notice is a vein that starts to feel like “tough” and rope-like. The area around the vein will become tender, painful, feel hot, and may exhibited a reddish hue. Those symptoms are created by the small blood clots that have developed. Again, these usually aren’t serious but you should let your primary care physician and OBGYN know. They can monitor the area to ensure the area doesn’t become infect.

Other symptoms that you should make your doctor know about are any sores, skin color changes, or if your legs start to experience significant swelling.

So what can you do the lessen the impact of varicose veins during your pregnancy? The answers are surprisingly simple:

  1. Exercise: Take daily walks around the block to maintain good circulation.
  2. Weight Control: Talk to your OBGYN about weight recommendations for both your height as well as your pregnancy stage.
  3. Elevate: Use pillows to prop up your legs when lying down, put your feet up if you’re watching television, etc.
  4. Sit Correctly: Don’t cross your legs while sitting, it hurts circulation.
  5. Sleep: If you can, sleep on your left side. It relieves your vein of the weight of the uterus and increases blood flow.
  6. Compression Wear: Most of the time it will be either compression stockings or support hose.

Use these simple tips and if you still have those unsightly veins after delivery give us a call at SDVI and we can use your quick and pain-free treatments to give you back your great pre-pregnancy veins.