Varicose Veins in Pregnancy. Do They Go Away?
You’re expecting! Congratulations!
But you probably weren’t expecting a bundle of varicose veins, were you?
We have moms come in all the time, saying they first noticed their varicose veins and other vein disease symptoms, like achiness, tiredness, swelling, when they were pregnant. Especially women who have had multiple pregnancies.
But don’t fret – most varicose veins that develop during pregnancy go away within a few months to a year after the birth, according to an article from the Mayo Clinic. But they can cause pain, embarrassment and alarm during pregnancy, so we work with OB/GYNs, fitting their expectant moms with compression hose and socks to help ease the discomfort and help keep blood flowing and pumping back towards the heart.
But why do varicose veins appear in the first place?
Reasons Varicose Vein Develop in Pregnancy:
Hormonal Changes – increased levels of progestin cause veins to dilate. After nine months of being stretched and enlarged, veins sometimes don’t bounce back to their pre-pregnancy selves.
Increased Blood Volume – volume increases 25-40%, making the body work harder to pump
Increased Pressure – increased blood volume; gravity from the growing belly pushing on organs and veins; and weight gain puts veins under added pressure to perform properly
Family History – a genetic predisposition to vein disease increases your chances of developing varicose veins and related vein disorders whether you experience pregnancy or not. Pregnancy exacerbates the situation – even kick-starting it for some.
Post-baby Vein Relief
If veins don’t disappear and/or legs still feel heavy and lethargic post-baby, we suggest coming in for a vein consultation and leg vein screening. If you are a candidate for a vein treatment, we can take care of that! We perform the most advanced vein treatments available, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to close any diseased veins and sclerotherapy to get rid of annoying spider veins. And the best news is, your vein treatment won’t slow you down as a new mom or an experienced mom with more kiddos to chase around now!
