Varicose-Vein Prevention Strategies
In addition to stretch marks, varicose veins are another unpleasant side effect of pregnancy. Even more than stretch marks, varicose veins tend to run in families. So, if you are, like me, unlucky enough to have a family history of varicose veins (both my mother and grandmother have suffered from them), then you are very likely to develop them as well. First varicose veins tend to develop during pregnancy because of the increased pressure on legs, greater blood volume, and hormonal effects.
According to my mother, she developed them in her early twenties, while she was pregnant with me (not that she was trying to make me feel guilty or anything!). Being well aware of my high likelihood of developing them too, ever since my mid-twenties I have been vigilant at checking for any early signs, but never saw anything worthy of concern. After I became pregnant, I finally started noticing some changes and more prominent darkening of a few small vein clusters on my legs. When I showed them to my doctor, she confirmed that those are, indeed, varicose veins.
Since then, I have been doing a lot of research on how to prevent them from getting worse. The good news is, it seems possible to be able to prevent varicose veins or at least minimize their appearance if you begin taking necessary measures early on. The bad news is, they also tend to get worse with each subsequent pregnancy, so the earlier you start taking care of them, the better off you will be.
The best way to prevent or minimize varicose veins is by reducing pressure on your legs:
- Avoid gaining too much weight vs. your recommended range. Not only will it be harder to lose afterwards, it will also put unnecessary pressure on your legs.
- Get some exercise, at least 30 minutes every day, to help circulation. Even a simple walk can accomplish that.
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time. If your job requires you to sit in front of the computer all day, get up and move around every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Elevate your legs to reduce blood flow to them. If you are sitting, put your feet on a stool in front of you, and if you are lying down, raise them using a pillow.
- Don’t cross your legs when you are sitting down (this has been a tough habit for me to break!).
- Avoid tight clothing and high heels.
- Get enough vitamin C which helps keep veins healthy.
- Sleep on your left side to avoid increasing pressure on your leg veins.
- Wear support hose to relieve pressure on your veins. I recommend Gabrialla Maternity Medium Compression Hosiery
. It was one of the first pregnancy items that I purchased (both the pantyhose and the knee-highs), and I find that it provides good support throughout the day while still being comfortable. This hosiery also helps if your feet and ankles tend to get swollen.
If you do get varicose veins and they do not disappear within a few months after giving birth, there are surgical options such as laser treatment to get rid of them. However, in that case it is probably wise to wait until you no longer plan to have children to avoid having to go through the entire process again during your next pregnancy.
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