At Reza Ahmadinia OBGYN, we take great pride in caring for our Obstetrics and Gynecology patients from Apple Valley in the High Desert area of California. Dr. Ahmadinia OB/GYN offers patients a wide variety of care and services.
Causes of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
There is an increase in the volume of blood you produce during your pregnancy. This extra blood is critical to support your growing body and your baby’s growing body. However, the extra blood does put added pressure on your blood vessels, especially the ones in your legs. In addition, to the extra progesterone hormone your body is producing you the perfect recipe for varicose veins. Varicose veins generally start to make an appearance about week 29 into your pregnancy.
Varicose Veins
Most likely, you are not happy with the intrusion of these itchy, achy varicose veins. Unfortunately, for most women they are as natural as morning sickness and stretch marks, we know you care for them either. However, the good news is that for many women within a few months after you deliver your baby the varicose veins will become smaller or disappear altogether.
On the other hand, if you had various veins before you became pregnant, they may stick around.
Tips to Help Prevent Varicose Veins
- Try to keep your weight within the normal pregnancy weight gain of up to 25 pounds. The more weight you put on increases the demands of your body’s already overworked circulatory system.
- Keep the blood flowing try not to stand for hours at a time, when you are sitting keep your legs elevated. If you cross your legs a lot, try to break that habit this will help with the blood flow and keep the various veins at bay.
- Exercise is crucial in preventing the development of varicose veins, so start taking several short walks a day, it keeps your circulation in tip-top shape.
- Sleeping on your left side helps avoid adding extra pressure to your main blood vessels and keeps the circulation going strong while you rest or sleep.
- Make sure you take your vitamins every day and eat healthily. Be sure to include lots of vitamin C – it helps repair and keep blood vessels healthy.
If the varicose veins are still there a few months after you give birth talk to Dr. Ahmadinia OBGYN about your options for treating or having them removed.
