WILL PREGNANCY VARICOSE VEINS EVER GO AWAY?
The miracle of childbirth does come with a price. When a woman’s pregnant, her body endures an extensive amount of changes to help develop a healthy baby. While some of these developments might not be the most comfortable—swollen feet, increased weight, stretch marks—having a healthy baby is worth any pain or side effects. After birth, many of these conditions revert back to pre-pregnancy status. Some changes however, can stick around for the remainder of our life time. Varicose veins are, unfortunately, one of the conditions of pregnancy that can endure.
Varicose veins often appear in the legs, and are more a result of the increased fluid and blood levels in the body, but also a result of strain and increased pressure that pregnancy puts on the body. When a womb expands, it puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which is the main vein that carries blood to the lower half of the body. Superficial veins—such as the greater saphenous vein—sometimes fail, because as the vein dilates due to the increased pressure, the one-way valves no longer come together to prevent back flow. The blood stagnates, resulting in veins underneath the skin to become varicose.
Varicose veins during pregnancy can be very troublesome. In most cases, they can cause irritation, discomfort and pain. In more severe cases, they can become inflamed and clot. This is called superficial thrombophlebitis. Venous problems can also cause swelling of the leg, discoloration of the skin, and sores that are slow to heal. Procedures in most cases should not be performed during pregnancy, so these symptoms will need to be endured until after the delivery.
Varicose veins may disappear, and the condition resolved within three to four months after delivery. In some cases, they recover enough, that medical treatment may not be required.
There are steps to reduce the risk of varicose vein problems during pregnancy.
- Exercise— Walking is an excellent way to keep blood moving through the legs, and thus reducing the risk of blood clots.
- Moderating your weight— Obviously, the less weight you’re carrying, the less pressure you’re putting on veins. Although watching your weight can be difficult while pregnant, any effort to reduce the burden will keep veins healthier.
- Avoid long periods of inactivity— Sitting or standing in one place for too long causes blood to pool in your legs. If you’re working, take frequent breaks to move around. Elevating your feet periodically will help keep blood flowing up and may reduce your swelling.
I do recommend having your veins evaluated after the delivery if you had problems with them during pregnancy. While treatment is usually not recommended immediately post-partum, it is good for a vein specialist to see them at their worst. It is then beneficial to wait for them to improve, until they have plateaued. If there is still significant abnormality, patients will benefit from treatment of their veins between pregnancies, so they don’t have to suffer so much the next time. That is what we do best here at the Alpha Vein Clinic Las Vegas, So don’t hesitate and give us a call today to get those veins looked at and get all the answers you need. Call the Alpha Vein Clinic at 702-430- 7661 and let our caring staff schedule an appointment that fits your schedule.
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661
Dr. Sassan Kaveh
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