During
pregnancy the pressure inside the
veins in your legs is three times
from what it used to be due to the
larger volume of blood in the body.
The pregnancy hormone progesterone
causes blood vessels to relax. This
causes an increase in varicose veins
during pregnancy, especially on the
dependant parts of the body like the
legs and thighs, although there are
varicose veins on other parts of your
body. Sometimes it gets painful and
this happens when the veins pool in
with blood.
Other issues
that impose on those poor veins:
• If you are overweight
• If you are on your feet a
lot due to your job etc.
• If this is your second or
third pregnancy
• If this tendency runs in your
family
• If you already have varicose
veins; they worsen during pregnancy
Things
you can do to improve circulation:
• Exercise your feet by circling
your ankles and feet whenever you
can
• Walking is excellent as it
works the muscles surrounding the
deep veins in the legs
• Avoid standing still for long
periods
• Sleep on your left side; this
reduces pressure on your vena cava
• Try getting more rest and
while resting elevate your legs when
you can as this eases the pressure
of blood filling on the veins
• Try wearing support stockings
that help prevent statis of blood
in legs; make sure you buy the right
size
• Try swimming ; raise your
legs to hip level in the pool and
make small circles in front
• Avoid crossing your legs when
you sit
• Finally avoid gaining too
much weight as this worsens the problem
Remember this is a temporary discomfort;
ultimately it goes away once you have
delivered. For severe problems, treatment
may be necessary through laser surgery
or injections. Alternatively there
may be herbal treatments available;
visit an herbal specialist.
