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Pregnancy is a complicated journey full of joys, stressors, and everything in between. Your body changes a lot while you’re pregnant, and one of those changes can be the development of varicose veins.
Twisted, bulging veins can affect the appearance of your skin, particularly your legs. While varicose veins are usually harmless for your health, they can interfere with the aesthetic you want. Here’s what you should know about managing varicose veins while you’re pregnant.
Why You Develop Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
There are a few root causes of varicose veins during pregnancy. As your body adjusts to carrying a baby, your hormone levels fluctuate. The physical and hormonal changes can alter your body’s blood flow and vein structures.
This is why many new mothers need vein therapy after they have their babies. Sometimes, varicose veins are inevitable, and vein therapy can undo the effects that pregnancy has on your veins.
Increased Blood Volume
Your veins carry blood back to your heart after it’s circulated through your body. During pregnancy, you produce more blood overall, leading to increased blood volume. As more blood flows through your veins, your vein walls can bulge and become stressed.
This is why varicose veins become so noticeable during pregnancy. The excess blood fills your veins and pushes against your skin. Some veins may twist because of the added blood volume.
Reduced Blood Flow out of Your Legs
As you grow your baby, the weight of your baby is pushing against your abdominal organs. This can make it harder for blood to flow out of your legs, causing it to pool in your leg veins. Over time, the collection of blood in your leg veins can cause twisted and bulging varicose veins.
Increased Progesterone
The hormone progesterone increases significantly when you get pregnant. It helps to support your pregnancy, but it has a bothersome side effect: it relaxes your veins. Since veins use upward pressure to circulate blood back to your heart, this relaxation effect can reduce blood flow out of your legs.
Ways to Prevent and Reduce Varicose Veins Before You Deliver
Fortunately, there are some ways to reduce your chances of developing varicose veins while you’re pregnant. Follow these tips to maintain your legs’ natural aesthetic while you’re still one with your baby. If you end up with varicose veins anyway, know that vein therapy is here to support you after you deliver.
Elevate Your Legs
Placing your legs higher than your heart throughout the day will help the blood in your veins travel back to your heart. This can reduce your chances of developing bulging veins in your legs. It’s also great for your circulation, as it reduces some of the weight and pressure on your lower body.
Stay Active
Movement is one of the best antidotes to varicose veins during pregnancy. Exercise improves your circulation, which encourages better blood flow in your veins.
You don’t have to go overboard, especially if you’re approaching your due date. Make some time for daily walks to get your blood flowing smoothly. Always consult your physician before starting a new exercise regimen during pregnancy.
Wear Compression Socks and Stockings
Compression stockings are helpful for pushing the blood in your legs back up toward your heart. They apply slight pressure to the walls of your veins, allowing more blood to drain from them. Some companies make maternity stockings for this very reason. Only wear compression garments during the day and make sure you remove them before going to bed.
Keep Your Legs Uncrossed as Much as Possible
Crossing your legs can block blood flow through your veins. It’s important to keep your legs straight as often as possible. If you can’t avoid crossing your legs in some situations, make sure you take regular breaks to straighten your legs and improve your circulation.
Wear Flat Shoes
Platform shoes and high heels keep your legs at odd angles, preventing proper blood flow in your veins. They also prevent some of your leg muscles from moving at all, which causes blood to pool in certain areas. You should always opt for flat shoes during pregnancy anyway, as heels increase your risk of tripping and falling.
Manage Your Expectations: Vein Therapy Treatments
Even if you do everything “right,” you could still develop varicose veins during pregnancy. This is frustrating, but there are vein therapy treatments to reduce their appearance and get your skin back to normal again.
It’s important to manage your expectations and avoid stressing about varicose veins. Extra stress can negatively affect your and your baby’s health. The last thing you need is extra risk factors during your pregnancy.
Post-Pregnancy Varicose Vein Treatments at Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center
If you still end up with varicose veins after pregnancy, we’re here for you. Vein therapy collapses the bulging and twisted veins in your legs permanently. At Metropolitan Vein and Aesthetic Center, we can help you get rid of pesky varicose veins after pregnancy using vein therapy. Book an appointment with us today!
