Typically, varicose veins are caused due to insufficient blood flow, blood pools in the veins form bulges in the surface of your skin. This most commonly occurs in the legs, rectum, and genitals. What if this takes place when you are pregnant? How will you tackle this discomfort during that crucial time? Usually, it will cause major discomfort and irritation, also, it will go away after childbirth. Further, in this blog, let’s see why pregnant women get varicose veins.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins will look knotted, and bulging ropes beneath the surface of your skin will cause itchiness and pain, which are also common during pregnancy. Moreover, before knowing why pregnant women get varicose veins, it is important to understand the role of veins in your body. Veins play a crucial role in transferring blood to different parts of the body and getting back to the heart. Simply, the vein’s role in blood circulation is inevitable.
In the veins, there will be a small flap-like structure referred to as valves. These valves are responsible for controlling the one-way blood flow towards the heart. The blood will move forward when it opens, and to avoid flowing backward it will be closed. Whenever there are issues with these valves, they will get weak, and then the blood flow direction will change. This pooling will twist and enlarge the disturbed veins, this issue is present in your skin’s surface and visible to the naked eye, this is known as varicose veins.
Also, you should not confuse varicose veins with spider veins, which will also disturb numerous pregnant women. But the similarity between both conditions is that the veins will be visible, but varicose veins will have an enlarged and twisted appearance, so you will experience pain and discomfort. In contrast, spider veins are smaller, and resemble branching patterns on the skin, and you will never feel the pain.
What are pregnancy varicose veins?
As we mentioned above, varicose veins are common during pregnancy, notably in the third trimester. When you are pregnant, the varicose veins will affect your legs, ankles, and external genitals. In case, the varicose veins arise around your rectum or anus it is known as hemorrhoids, and this is common during pregnancy.
How do varicose veins develop?
Veins typically carry blood from various parts of the body and deliver it to your heart. Valves play a significant role in maintaining blood flow in the proper direction. When the weakening occurs in walls and valves, blood can back up from pools in your veins. When you will experience swelling and bulging veins during pregnancy from the surface of your skin.
What are the signs of pregnancy varicose veins?
In the initial stages, you won’t experience any symptoms. But sitting or standing for an extended period will worsen your signs. Further, symptoms include:
- Heavy feeling in your legs
- Itchiness
- Leg cramps
- Throbbing pain in your lower legs
- Inflammation in ankles and legs
We can notice pain and itching in the hemorrhoids. Further, bleeding will occur when straining during a bowel movement and wiping. Simply, you will start noticing bright blood on toilet tissues.
Why do pregnant women get varicose veins?
During your pregnancy, due to changes in hormones and the weight of your growing baby, you will develop varicose veins. This happens due to:
- Increased progesterone, the hormone, will relax your blood vessel walls and decrease valve function.
- Increased blood volume in your body
- The growing infant may create pressure on the blood vessels in your pelvis, which can change blood flow in your legs and pelvic region.
All these factors will disturb your blood travel against gravity that is from your legs to your heart. Notably, one of the common issues faced by pregnant women is constipation, and which can cause hemorrhoids.
What triggers pregnancy varicose veins?
The common factors that trigger pregnancy varicose veins include:
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Diet:
Binge intake of sodium or lack of water and fiber intake can make you retain water and increase the chances of developing varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
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Genetics:
In case your mother or grandmother has varicose veins, you will also develop this condition.
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Weight:
It is not so strange to develop varicose veins if you are carrying more weight.
How to diagnose varicose veins?
Based on your symptoms, a healthcare provider will examine your legs, genitals, and rectal area. In case you are experiencing severe symptoms, doctors will suggest a doppler ultrasound to check the blood flow in your deep veins and surface. This condition will result in complex conditions like pulmonary embolism.
How to treat varicose veins during pregnancy?
Varicose veins are harmless and will go away after your delivery, in case you feel like your symptoms are getting severe, reach out to healthcare providers, they will suggest the best treatment option that suits your condition like varicose veins surgery in Coimbatore or varicose veins removal. But, you can take proactive steps to relieve your symptoms and prevent them from getting worse, like:
- Don’t sit or stand in a particular place for an extended period to maintain your blood flow.
- First, ensure with your providers and start exercising daily.
- Avoid consuming more amounts of sodium, which can result in swelling.
- During pregnancy sleep on your left side to avoid pressure in your inferior vena cava. This is a crucial vein that transfers blood from your legs to your heart.
- When sitting, uncross your legs to enhance circulation.
- Wear a comfortable dress to avoid the pooling of blood in your legs.
In case, your varicose veins continue after assigning a birth, discuss regarding this with your doctor about the treatment options, in case you are in the advanced stage they will suggest varicose veins removal. The treatment options include laser therapy, sclerotherapy, surgery, and varicose veins removal.
How can pregnant women prevent varicose veins?
During your pregnancy, you can prevent varicose veins by enhancing your blood circulation. For instance:
- Switch positions to avoid sitting or standing for a long time.
- Don’t cross your legs when sitting.
- Sleep on the left side.
- Wear a maternity dress and socks.
Even when you develop varicose veins during pregnancy don’t bother about it, because usually, it will go away after the child’s birth. Also, when giving multiple childbirths, the chances to prevent varicose veins will decrease then you can consider varicose veins removal.
How to get rid of varicose veins post-pregnancy?
If you are no longer pregnant or not breastfeeding, you can try both non-surgical and surgical options. Further, let’s see a few things that you can try to prevent varicose veins and increase your chances of recovery from varicose veins without treatment:
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Get moving:
Apart from standing and sitting often, and keeping your legs elevated, the most important thing you need to do to prevent varicose veins is to stay active. Even simple lifestyle changes like frequently moving and holding your body will greatly improve your condition. Exercise will greatly assist in things moving with your circulatory system. Further, exercise is the finest way to lose weight. When pregnant it’s common to gain weight, in case if you put on unhealthy weight it can develop adverse effects like varicose veins. By doing yoga and gentle stretching, you can refresh your body. Walk daily and do vigorous cardio and strength training once you are cleared for more strenuous activities.
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Modify your diet:
You should make changes to your diet because a healthy diet helps in varicose vein removal, limiting the symptoms, and promoting better vein health. Prefer foods with fiber and avoid eating less saturated foods and processed foods with more salt to prevent varicose veins.
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Wear compression garments:
Wearing compression garments is the next step that helps your varicose veins go away on their own. Notably, compression stockings will support your legs by helping your blood to get back to the heart rather than staying in the legs.
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Limit alcohol and smoking:
Consuming alcohol and smoking will potentially impact the natural healing process of varicose veins post-pregnancy. Due to this your healthy circulation will get disturbed and add more strain on your blood vessels, then you should get varicose veins removal.
Further, smoking disturbs varicose veins in two main ways. The toxins present in tobacco impair blood vessels and reduce blood flow, disturbing your body’s natural way of resolving varicose veins. Smoking will also surge inflammation, disturbing the healing process.
Binge alcohol intake will result in dehydration, which will worsen varicose veins. Vein health can be maintained with proper hydration, and consuming alcohol in excess amounts can compromise it. Further, alcohol can dilate blood vessels, eventually, your symptoms of varicose veins will get worse.
When to get medical help?
In most cases, varicose veins are not so serious, in a few cases the signs may get worse so you should consider getting medical help. Those signs include:
- Bleeding from the vein
- Getting ulcer on the varicose veins skins
- Pain, inflammation, and redness in your leg, which could indicate a blood clot.
During your pregnancy, it’s better to visit a medical professional specializing in vein conditions. Because your obstetrician will offer guidance, further vein specialists like vascular surgeons are also recommended. Vascular surgeons are capable of diagnosing and treating different vascular conditions like varicose veins. Doctors with in-depth knowledge of the circulatory system can offer a precise diagnosis and treatment to manage varicose veins effectively.
Simply, if you are planning to get pregnant and have a personal or family history of varicose veins or develop varicose veins when pregnant, consider getting help from the best vascular surgeon in Coimbatore to get the desired outcomes.
During pregnancy should I be worried about varicose veins?
Varicose veins can cause discomfort, if it is painless it is generally harmless. Simply, developing varicose veins during pregnancy is a common thing and also 1 in 4 mothers will face this issue. Also, it is crucial to be aware that few women are at increased risk of developing blood clots in their veins, which is the result of varicose veins. In case you are experiencing complex changes in your body like pain, discoloration, or a tendency to bleed, it’s a warning sign that you should visit your doctor to get varicose veins removal.
Final thoughts:
In conclusion, we can say that varicose veins will affect several mothers during pregnancy and are not harmful to you or your baby. Even this is also one of the ways in which your body responds to your pregnancy. Mostly they will disappear after childbirth. If your discomfort or signs are not going away even after childbirth, talk to your doctor. But your doctor will treat your condition after the arrival of your baby.
