Pregnancy Complications - Varicose Veins
Varicose veins, which commonly occur during pregnancy, are veins which become enlarged, swollen, painful and itchy. The reason they occur is that pregnancy hormones relax the walls and valves of your veins causing blood to pool particularly in your legs and lower body.
Most commonly seen in the lower legs, varicose veins can also develop in the thighs, vulva and back passage. Varicose veins in the back passage are known as hemorrhoids or piles.
Varicose veins are sometimes inherited. Women who are overweight or pregnant with multiples are also more likely to get varicose veins than those who are not so heavy or who are pregnant with a single baby.
In most cases varicose veins disappear in the weeks or months following pregnancy, although they may flare up again during future pregnancies. If your veins are very bad then you may be offered surgery to help reduce them.
Preventing and Treating Varicose Veins
There are a few things you can do to help prevent the development of varicose veins and to ease them if you do get them:
Avoid standing for long periods of time; if this is not possible try to keep moving your feet to keep the circulation going.
Avoid wearing tight trousers, leggings and stockings as these can restrict your circulation.
Use support tights as soon as you notice varicose veins developing. Ideally you should put them on before getting out of bed or after lying down with your legs raised slightly for 10-15 minutes.
Keep your feet raised above the level of your heart when resting.
Don't cross your legs when sitting as again this can restrict your circulation. When sitting move your feet, point, stretch and curl your toes and circle your ankles.
More Pregnancy Complications
- Gestational Diabetes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Pre-eclampsia
- Placenta previa
- Cholestasis (itching during pregnancy)
- Hemorrhoids
- Backache
- Bleeding
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Morning sickness
- Stretch marks
- Anxiety
- Depression (pre-natal depression)
- Childbed fever (puerperal sepsis)
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