Submitted by Drs. Bohn, Nielsen, Castillo, Benson and Wright
While pregnancy is a glorious time in a woman’s life, one unpleasant result of the physical stresses of pregnancy can be varicose veins. Varicose veins during pregnancy occur for a number of reasons. The most significant reason is heredity; if your mom had varicose veins, you are more likely to develop them. Another factor is hormone levels. Blood volume doubles during pregnancy to supply both mom and the fetus and, as a result, the veins can bulge. Finally, as the uterus expands, it puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which is a large vein on the right side of the body. This increases pressure in the leg veins.
Varicose veins tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and age but here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of varicose veins while pregnant:
- Keep your weight within the range recommended by your doctor
- Exercise daily as permitted by your doctor
- Elevate your feet and legs whenever possible
- Don’t sit or stand for long periods without taking a break
- Don’t wear clothing that is binding or too tight
- Sleep on your left side
- Wear medical grade compression stockings
Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy may improve within three to six months after the delivery. If they don’t go away, see a vein specialist to determine the right treatment for you.
Call now to get your legs evaluated by The VEIN Specialists, LLC at 309-862-4000 or visit the website at ILVEINS.com with locations in Bloomington, Eureka, Streator and Peru.