Varicose Veins and Pregnancy: The Why, What, and When?

Awaiting the birth of a child is a joyous time, however; for many expectant mothers, pregnancy comes with some unwelcome side effects, varicose veins and spider veins. Let’s take a deeper look into why, what, and when venous insufficiency can make what should be a happy time unpleasant or even painful.

As if pregnancy and childbirth isn’t difficult enough, why oh why must varicose and spider veins affect about 40% of pregnant women? During pregnancy, changes in the vascular and hormonal systems of the body can cause vein disease for a number of reasons:

• The amount of blood increases 30-50% during pregnancy. All of this extra blood is still confined to the same number of blood vessels, so the added volume increases vascular pressure causing the veins to stretch and valves to strain.
• As progesterone levels rise, veins and vessels relax to allow for the extra blood volume. This further allows the veins to enlarge and makes blood susceptible to pooling and valves malfunction by refluxing.
• The growing uterus also presses on the inferior vena cava, the body’s largest vein, which in turn, increases pressure in the leg veins.
• Mothers are more likely to develop varicose and spider veins if other members of their family have had them.
• Multiple pregnancies, carrying twins or multiples, and standing for long periods can also make you more susceptible.

Now that we know the “why,” what can women do to help combat the development of varicose and spider veins during pregnancy? With a few tips and tricks, often times venous insufficiency can be preventable. So what’s a gal to do?

• Low-impact exercises: One of the best ways to avoid vein disease is to get the blood pumping. Getting physical exercise such as walking, biking, swimming, and yoga are great ways to stimulate blood flow without increasing stress on the joints or vascular system as well as helps moms-to-be maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Whenever beginning a new exercise routine, talk with your OB/GYN to ensure safety.
• Repositioning: It’s advised to avoid sitting and standing for long periods which restricts efficient blood flow. If working a sedentary job or traveling, take short breaks to walk around and do toe-heel raises to stimulate blood flow.
• Leg elevation: Pregnancy is a tiring process and extra rest will be needed. While resting, elevate your legs above your heart and avoid crossing your legs. This helps to reduce vascular resistance and promotes blood flow.
• Left-side sleeping: Sleeping on your left side can help relieve the stress and pressure from the uterus onto the inferior vena cava.
• Compression therapy: No one loves compression stockings, but wow, check out these benefits! Reduces swelling ~ relieves aches and pains ~ supports relaxed vessels ~ lessens stress on the valves ~ promotes effective valve function ~ decreases venous inflammation ~ diminishes blood pooling and reflux.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes: Avoiding tight, restrictive clothing and shoes is a great way to promote circulation during pregnancy.

If you find yourself in that 40% and begin to see pregnancy-related varicose and spider veins developing, you might ask when should I see a vein specialist. The good news is that most of these veins will improve after giving birth, particularly if you didn’t have any before you got pregnant. This is why vein specialists don’t treat venous insufficiency during pregnancy. However, if you notice veins developing during pregnancy, a vein specialist is an invaluable resource for monitoring vein disease and advising on pain relieve methods throughout the pregnancy. However, once postpartum and these unsightly, often painful veins persist, there are a variety of simple, noninvasive ways to treat them. Talk with a board-certified vein specialist as treatment is recommended before subsequent pregnancy. Treating ongoing varicose and spider veins not only provides relief, but also prevents complications in future pregnancies. If left untreated, symptoms of venous insufficiency will progressively intensify with each pregnancy. After vein treatments, you will look, feel, and live better!

With a understanding of the relationship between vein disease and pregnancy, women can be more prepared as to what to expect throughout the pregnancy and postpartum journey.

About the Author: Keith Thompson, DO, RVT, DABVLM, FACOS , is a board-certified vein specialist and has performed thousands of vein procedures. He is the Medical Director of the Vein Institute in D’Iberville and Hattiesburg. Dr. Thompson also serves on committees of the American Venous Forum, a leading organization for shaping vein policy and training vascular surgeons all across the country. Visit www.veinsMS.com for more information.