Pregnancy & Varicose Veins: What You Need To Know

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and the culminating product is one that will bring you profound joy. 

Every little ounce of discomfort is worth it in the end when you see that sweet, little baby. That doesn’t mean that the lasting effects of pregnancy don’t come with a small amount of dread or irritation. These range from stretch marks to vision changes, but one we know a lot about at Alaska Vein Care is varicose veins. There are many factors that determine if you’ll get varicose veins during your pregnancy, but not every pregnancy means you will get them.

Best Ways To Reduce Risk Of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy:

• Avoid tight clothing
• Keeping moving, don’t sit or stand still for long periods of time. 
• Get up and move often.
• Watch your weight gain. 
• Keep it within a healthy range of 25-30 lbs.
• Sleep on the left side. This keeps the circulation moving easier.
• Elevate your feet when possible.
• Avoid constipation. Straining can cause pressure on your veins.

These tips can keep your blood flow moving and prevent pooling, which adds stress and pressure on weak parts of your veins. Above all, listen to your body and take your vitamins. Vitamin C supplements helps your body produce collagen and elastin, vital for repairing and maintaining blood vessels.

With your genetics at play; sometimes, no matter what you do to avoid varicose veins and all the care you take, you still end up with them at the end of pregnancy. This can be very disheartening but genetics are a large risk factor when it comes to vein diseases and problems. If you have a close family member with varicose veins, your chances increase dramatically and no matter what precautions you take, you will still end up with them.  Alaska Vein Care is confident when we say that all our procedures can be done in-office with little to no downtime. This is because Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who deliver minimally invasive treatments with less risk, less pain and less recovery time than traditional surgery to treat conditions that impact a person’s quality of life.