Pregnancy & Varicose Veins

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are swollen veins that may bulge near the surface of the skin. These veins can be blue or purple in colour and are most likely to appear on your legs although you can also get them in your vulva. Haemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum or back passage. Discomfort from varicose veins can result in heavy achy legs. The skin around the varicose vein may itch or throb or feel like it is burning. Thesymptoms can get worse at the end of the day especially if you have been on your feet a lot. Some women first develop varicose veins in pregnancy or find if they already have varicose veins that they get worse in pregnancy.

As the uterus grows it puts pressure on the large vein on the right side of our body (the inferior vena cava) which then increases pressure in the leg veins. Veins are the blood vessels that return blood from around your body to your heart so the blood in your leg veins are already working against gravity. When you are pregnant the amount of blood in your body increases, adding to the pressure on your veins. The hormone progesterone level rises and this causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax. If other members of your family have varicose veins you are more likely to develop them. They tend to get worse with each pregnancy. If you are older, overweight, pregnant with twins or standing for long periods you are more susceptible to varicose veins. The good news is that varicose veins tend to improve after birth, especially if you didn’t have them before the pregnancy. It they don’t get better there is treatment for them.

You may also notice tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin on your ankles, legs or face. These are called spider veins because they often look like a spider like pattern with little branches radiating out from the centre. These don’t cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

What can I do to prevent varicose veins

Here are some tips on how you might be able to prevent them or minimize them:

Exercise is good. Have a daily walk to help your circulation.

Don’t eat for 2, try and keep to the recommended weight gain for each stage of your pregnancy.

Elevate your feet and legs whenever possible.

Don’t cross your legs or ankles when sitting.

Don’t sit or stand for long periods without taking breaks.

Sleep on your left side, the inferior vena cava is on your right side, lying on your left side relieves the vein of the weight of the uterus therefore decreasing the pressure on the veins in your legs and feet.

Wear special maternity support tights / stockings. They help prevent swelling and may keep your varicose veins from getting worse.

Are varicose veins ever serious?

Varicose veins can itch and hurt and they can be unsightly, but generally harmless in the short term, therefore treatment can wait till after the pregnancy.

If you are ever concerned about your varicose veins for example if they are red, hot, tender, painful or swollen please show them to your midwife or doctor for assessment. Don’t confuse varicose veins with Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which is a condition where clots develop in the deep veins not the superficial veins in the legs. Pregnancy makes you more susceptible to DVT whether or not you have varicose veins but it is not common. If you develop a DVT you may have no symptoms or you may have a sudden painful swelling in your ankle, leg and thigh. If you notice any symptoms please consult your midwife or doctor without delay. A special ultrasound scan of your leg will need to be carried out and if a clot is confirmed you will be prescribed medication to thin your blood.

Treatment of varicose veins after the birth

Varicose veins often improve three to four months after giving birth. During this time it is a good idea to continue to use support tights / stockings. Exercise and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting are encouraged. Continue to elevate your legs when sitting. If your varicose veins persist and become too uncomfortable to live with or if you are unhappy with how they look talk to your GP about seeing a specialist.