Varicose veins in pregnancy: risks and remedies

What are varicose veins and why are they more frequent in pregnancy? Do they go away after giving birth? Find out everything that is important to know about this disorder, including the risks and remedies to prevent and cure them.

Varicose veins or  spider veins  are dilated, wavy, and meandering veins. They are usually bluish or purplish in color and appear under the skin’s surface, although they can sometimes take on the appearance of protruding nodules (see Fig. 1).

The most affected areas are above all:

• the legs and calves
• the groin (vulvar varicose veins)
• the anal area ( hemorrhoids )

Varicose veins in pregnancy: symptoms

In addition to the presence of swollen and bluish veins , there may be discomfort such as itching , burning or numbness of the surrounding skin.

In other situations you may have pain to the touch , cramps , swelling in the legs, feet or ankles , heaviness , tension or fatigue in the legs.

Varicose veins in pregnancy: who is more at risk?

Varicose veins are a very common problem during pregnancy, which affects about 40% of pregnant women and which tends to worsen with subsequent pregnancies and with age .

In particular, the risk of developing this disorder is higher if the woman:

• expect twins
• spend many hours standing
• he is overweight
• have one or more family members who have already experienced this disorder

When do varicose veins appear in pregnancy and how long do they last?

Varicose veins can occur at any time during pregnancy and generally become more pronounced as the weeks go on.

After giving birth, however, they tend to improve or disappear within a year , especially if the expectant mother has never suffered from them before the sweet expectation.

What do they depend on?

One of the main causes of varicose veins in pregnancy is represented by the enlargement of the uterus , which compresses the inferior vena cava (responsible for the ascent of blood from the lower limbs to the heart) increasing the pressure  inside the blood vessels of the legs.

The problem is then accentuated by the increase in blood volume (which is approximately 40-50% during pregnancy), which forces the veins of the lower limbs to make a greater effort to return the blood to the heart.

To aggravate the situation, the action of progesterone is finally added , which relaxes the muscles of the walls of the blood vessels and further slows down the venous return.

Varicose veins in pregnancy: the remedies

While it’s not possible to completely prevent varicose veins , certain behaviors can help improve blood circulation and muscle tone, reducing the risk of developing varicose veins.

• Get regular physical exercise: in particular, swimming and walking are excellent activities to stimulate circulation and promote venous return. Moderate activity will also help you control your weight, which is another predisposing factor to varicose veins.

• Don’t spend too much time standing or sitting: if you have a sedentary job, get up every now and then for a short walk , in order to decongest the blood vessels.

• Keep your legs elevated: this position will help promote venous return to the heart, while also reducing any swelling in the legs. One possible solution is to use a footrest or stool when sitting and a pillow when lying down (even under the mattress). Instead, avoid keeping your legs or ankles crossed , so as not to further slow down circulation.

• Avoid flats or high heels – footwear can also help prevent varicose veins. The right ones should have a heel of about 3-5 cm, to avoid venous stagnation.

• Follow a correct diet: a diet low in salt and rich in fruit and vegetables helps to preserve the health of blood vessels and prevent excessive weight gain. In particular, a high intake of Vitamin C helps to strengthen the venous walls.

• Take plenty of fluids : drinking often is essential to combat water retention , which in turn can be the cause of varicose veins.

• Avoid hot waxing: this aesthetic treatment causes a thermal shock in the capillaries and small veins.

• Limit sun exposure: even if tanning during pregnancy is not forbidden (with an adequate high protection sunscreen ), it is important to prevent overheating and excessive vasodilation. For this same reason, it is better to avoid baths or showers with too hot water. If you already suffer from varicose veins, a strategy to not give up the beach could be to stay under an umbrella with a damp towel on your legs . Also remember that walking on the shore or with your legs in the water and swimming are excellent exercises to reactivate circulation.

• Use elastic stockings: they will help you improve venous return. The ideal is to choose tights with a pressure of 18 mmHG , usually to be worn from the 5th month onwards. Instead, it is better to avoid knee-highs, which risk compressing the calf too much and aggravating the problem. To get the maximum benefit, the elastic compression stockings should be worn in the morning before getting out of bed . If varicose veins have already appeared, consult your doctor to evaluate the use of stockings with higher compression (K1 or K2).

• Apply specific products: there are various supplements and drugs for varicose veins on the market that can also be used during pregnancy (venotonic drugs). Consult your doctor to find out which ones are best for you and which ones you should absolutely avoid.

Varicose veins in pregnancy: risks

Generally, however annoying or unsightly, varicose veins do not represent a risk in the short term and their eventual treatment, when necessary, can be postponed until after the birth.

However, the appearance of this disorder should always be reported to your doctor , who will monitor any worsening or changes in the lesions.

In particular, do not hesitate to contact your gynecologist or midwife if you have any of the following signs or symptoms:

• the varix has taken on the appearance of a hard , swollen cord
• the area surrounding the varix appears red , warm , swollen , or painful
• you feel fever or chills

In a small percentage of cases, in fact, varicose veins can give rise to the formation of small blood clots , which if not treated promptly can cause inflammation , infection and other very serious consequences , which can put the health of the expectant mother at risk.