What Causes Varicose Veins During Pregnancy? 

Apart from the common side effects of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, fatigue, frequent urination, and headaches, you may also experience varicose veins, especially during the third trimester. This occurs due to poor blood flow during pregnancy and appears in areas like the legs, ankles, and genital area. The appearance of varicose veins can be painful and in some cases hinder your movement and agility.

Keep reading to know more about varicose veins during pregnancy, its common symptoms, treatment, and prevention methods.

What are Varicose Veins?

The term varicose comes from the Latin word ‘varix’ which translates to twisted. In fact, varicose veins appear as lumpy, winding ropes under your skin. Besides, appearing on your legs, ankles, and vulva, varicose veins can also occur internally, in your rectum, or around your anus.

In some cases, varicose veins are accompanied by spider veins, which appear in fine red and blue lines visible through your skin, but without the lumps.

How Do Varicose Veins Develop?

Veins are a part of your circulatory system that carries blood from your body to your heart. The valves inside the veins keep the blood flowing in the right direction. However, if the valves and walls of your veins become weak for a particular reason, such as increased blood volume, the blood begins to back up and form a pool in your veins. This causes the affected areas to swell and raise up from the surface of the skin.

What are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy?

The most common symptoms of varicose veins during pregnancy include

• Leg cramps
• Heavy feeling in your legs
• Itching in the affected area
• Swelling in your legs and ankles
• Pain or tenderness in your lower legs

What Causes Varicose Veins During Pregnancy?

Hormonal fluctuations and increased body weight make you more susceptible to varicose veins during pregnancy. Other causes include

• Increased blood volume.
• Higher levels of progesterone, which relax the walls of your blood vessels and decrease valve function.
• Additional pressure on your blood vessels due to your baby’s weight, which causes a change in blood flow to your pelvic region and legs.

What are the Risk Factors for Varicose Veins During Pregnancy?

The following factors can increase the risk of developing varicose veins during pregnancy.

• Genetics: You are more likely to develop varicose veins if your other family members experienced the condition during their pregnancies.
• Diet: Too much sodium intake can make your body retain more water and increase the risk of varicose veins and haemorrhoids.
• Weight: Varicose veins are more common in women who are overweight or who have gained excess weight during pregnancy.

How Is the Condition Diagnosed?

Based on your symptoms, your doctor will examine the affected areas or the areas where you are feeling throbbing and aching sensations. 

If your symptoms are severe, your healthcare provider may recommend a Doppler ultrasound to measure the blood flow in your veins. In some cases, varicose veins can increase the risk of a blood clot, and hence you must consult your doctor immediately after noticing the symptoms.

Treatment of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

This condition is usually harmless and gets better after childbirth. You can still take the following steps to relieve your symptoms or prevent them from getting worse.

• Avoid sitting or standing in one place for a long time to help keep your blood moving.
• Exercise regularly, but make sure to check with your doctor and get a go-ahead from them.
• Limit the amount of sodium in your diet, as it increases swelling in your body.
• Keep your feet elevated while sitting to help the blood flow back to your heart.
• Sleep on your left side to keep the pressure off your left vena cava. This is the large vein that carries blood from your legs to your heart.
• Avoid crossing your legs while sitting to improve blood circulation.
• Wear supportive or compression socks to prevent the blood from pooling in your legs. 

If your condition doesn’t improve after childbirth, you can consult your healthcare provider about other treatment options like surgery, laser therapy, or sclerotherapy.

Prevention of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

You can prevent varicose veins by improving your blood circulation during pregnancy. For instance,

• Change your position frequently and avoid sitting or standing in one place for a long period of time
• Elevate your feet while sleeping or sitting
• Sleep on your left side
• Do not sit with your legs crossed

When to See a Doctor?

In most cases, this condition is not serious and resolves on its own after childbirth. However, if you notice the following signs, then you should consult your healthcare provider immediately.

• Open ulcers on your skin near the varicose veins
• Bleeding in your veins
• Swelling, pain, or redness in your leg, which could be a sign of a blood clot

Conclusion

It’s normal to experience varicose veins during pregnancy but the good news is that this condition usually resolves after childbirth. While this condition is usually harmless, if you experience unbearable pain or throbbing sensations in the affected area, then reach out to your healthcare provider immediately for treatment and guidance. 

Also read:

Rib pain during pregnancy: Tap this post to know the most common causes of rib pain during pregnancy and helpful ways to deal with it.

Nosebleeds during pregnancy: Why do some women experience nosebleeds during pregnancy? Find out all the details in this post.

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