Mrs Wrincs knows a lot of women get varicose veins from pregnancy. But she’s heard it can be preventable. Hopefully, we can find a way for her to prevent varicose veins in pregnancy.
I Am Not An Expert – This Is Not Advice
Disclaimer: I’m not an expert and don’t know what I’m doing. Even official advice can vary in different parts of the world. This is not an “Ultimate Guide To Everything You Should Know About Varicose Veins”. This is just me and my wife picking the next logical thing to figure out, researching it as best we can and writing it here to organise our thoughts. If it’s helpful to anyone, great. You should do your own research, speak to professionals (when possible) and don’t be offended if we didn’t come to the same conclusions you did. Please let me know if you have advice or disagree. Try not to call me names if I’ve said something stupid. But, if it entertains you, I can take it, so make it good.
We’re (my wife and me) doing this research together and I’m just the one who’s posting it.
Varicose Veins In Pregnancy
Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged veins, usually found on the legs and feet. To identify varicose veins, look out for:
- Blue or dark purple veins
- Veins that twist and bulge, resembling electric cords beneath the skin
- Pain or a heavy sensation
- Veins that itch or bleed
- Swelling, cramped muscles, throbbing or burning in the affected area
- Pain that worsens when you stand or sit for an extended period
Why Pregnancy Can Increase The Chance of Getting Varicose Veins
During pregnancy, your body sends more blood through to help the growing baby. Your increased hormones levels can cause the blood vessels to relax, which will increase the risk. The growing womb may also put pressure on veins and have an impact.
Should I Be Worried About My Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins can cause complications because they stop your blood from flowing properly. Most people who have varicose veins will not develop complications. If they do, it’s usually several years after varicose veins first appear.
In particular, there can be an increased risk of blood clots.
If they don’t cause you any discomfort, you might just want to mention them at your next pregnancy appointment.
But speak to your doctor if:
- your varicose veins are causing you pain or discomfort
- the skin over your veins is sore and irritated
- the aching in your legs is causing irritation at night and disturbing your sleep
Will Varicose Veins Go Away On Their Own?
Varicose are a common part of pregnancy and usually go away without treatment. But not always.
Varicose Veins Treatments
Speak to your doctor and they will help with treatment options. There are some home remedies to try before options involving radio waves, lasers and surgery.
You can see some more information on treatment options on this NHS web page.
Preventing Varicose Veins
There are no guarantees, but there are a few ways to reduce the chances of getting varicose veins:
- Wear compression socks. Get into the habit of putting them on at the start of the day. If they are the correct size and of good quality, there shouldn’t be any difficulty wearing them all day.
- Don’t sit or stand for long periods. Take regular breaks to move around. Set a timer so you don’t forget.
- Don’t cross your legs or ankles when sitting.
- When lying down, elevate your feet and legs to the level of your heart or higher whenever possible.
- Exercise every day. Just a walk around the block can improve circulation.
- Try to stay within the recommended weight range for your stage of pregnancy.
When To Start Prevention Techniques
Many medical experts recommend these methods of prevention throughout pregnancy, starting right from the first trimester.
How Mrs Wrincs Feels
Mrs Wrincs already thinks she’s spotted one. I think it may be a normal, blue vein that was already there. She sits at a desk so we’ve started setting a timer on Alexa so she gets up and walks around a little. She puts her legs on some cushions to watch TV in the evenings. We’ve also bought some compression socks.
She is a little worried about them but they aren’t the greatest worry through all this. In summary, she’s glad we’ve done this research and are now on top of it.
Everyone’s Different
Just to reiterate: This is our first child and I’m just researching and doing my best. This is just a log and breakdown of the information we’ve found and how we’ve interpreted it. I’m not an expert (very far from it); I’m just doing my best for our new family. If it’s useful to anyone, that’s great. This is not the “right answer”. This is just how an idiot and his wife approached a complicated topic.
Next Pregnancy Post: What To Do About Congestion In Pregnancy
Previous Pregnancy Post: Our Pregnancy To-Do List
First Pregnancy Post: I’m Pregnant. Now What?