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Common Discomforts During Pregnancy Caused By Vein Diseases

Your body is changing at a rapid rate during pregnancy. Many of the changes, like that new baby bump or the first gentle kick, can be exciting to experience. However, Common Discomforts During Pregnancy Caused By Vein Diseases aren’t as pleasant. Vein problems, such as varicose veins, spider veins, and deep vein thrombosis, are some of these less desirable changes.

Why Do Pregnant Women Experience Vein Problems?

Vein problems are common during pregnancy. This is because blood volume in the body is increased by 30 to 50%, meaning dramatically more blood is circulating through the veins. The pregnant body also produces more of the hormone progesterone, which dilates the blood vessels. The pressure of the growing baby on the veins in your pelvic area also can contribute to vein problems.

Common Vein Issues During Pregnancy

Pregnant women can experience a number of vein issues during pregnancy. Understanding these problems and their causes can help you combat them and enjoy a more comfortable pregnancy overall. Most vein issues experienced during pregnancy are due to an increase in heart rate, decreased vascular resistance, increased vein diameter, a decrease in deep vein blood flow, and other physiological changes.

Varicose Veins

The development of varicose veins is one of the most common vein issues experienced during pregnancy. Thankfully, varicose veins experienced during pregnancy, while uncomfortable, painful, or itchy, are otherwise generally harmless.

Varicose veins are actually swollen blood vessels that typically occur in the legs but can be found anywhere on the body. These veins tend to get larger throughout the pregnancy and recede after delivery.

Spider Veins

You’ve probably seen spider veins. They’re the small blue or red veins that are commonly seen on the legs but can be found on any part of the body.

They typically have a spiderweb or tree root appearance with multiple short lines extending from a base. Spider veins are common during pregnancy and typically disappear just three to four months following birth.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is one of the more serious vein problems that can occur during pregnancy. It occurs when a blood clot forms deep within a vein. Symptoms include visible swelling, warmth, and redness in the area of the clot, or a feeling of heaviness or pain in the leg. This condition can occur as a result of pregnancy-related changes in blood flow in the legs. The size and volume of veins in the lower extremities increases significantly during pregnancy, putting pregnant women at a greater risk of deep vein thrombosis, and other vein diseases..

Deep vein thrombosis can be especially dangerous during pregnancy and, in the worst case, can lead to a fatal pulmonary embolism. Contact your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of DVT.

Venous Insufficiency

Venous insufficiency is another common and sometimes serious vein issue that can develop during pregnancy. In fact, chronic venous insufficiency is experienced by roughly 80% of pregnant women, most often during the third trimester. Chronic venous insufficiency is typically recognized as a feeling of heaviness or burning in the feet, ankles, or legs. It also can be accompanied by pain, edema, swelling, night cramps, and skin discoloration.

Care during pregnancy

Your top priority when experiencing vein issues during pregnancy is to alleviate the pain and discomfort that you’re feeling. Medical vein treatments, such as Endovenous Laster Treatment (EVLT) and Varithena Vein Treatment, are not performed during pregnancy.

Fortunately, pregnant women have access to numerous other options for relieving this pain, ranging from quick at-home exercises to using pregnancy-specific compression stockings, and adopting new daily habits.

Treatments for Spider and Varicose Veins

You can reduce the appearance and discomfort associated with varicose and spider veins by implementing some of the follow changes:

• Keep your legs separated (not crossed) while in a seated position.
• Elevate your feet whenever possible.
• Stand up and move around as much as possible, especially if you’re normally in a seated position for long periods of time.
• Ask your doctor which low-impact exercises are okay during pregnancy.
• Sleep on your left side to take pressure off the right side of your body where the inferior vena cava is located.
• Use maternity support pantyhose, which compress the leg muscles and veins to help push blood back to the heart. It’s important to note that these are specialized pantyhose. They are not just tight socks or knee-highs, which can cut off circulation and cause more harm.

Varicose veins are often hereditary. Not much can be done to prevent them if they already run in your family. It’s important to pay close attention to the symptoms, and contact your doctor immediately if you notice reddening of the skin over the veins, or if the veins begin to feel painful, warm, or hard.

Treatments for Venous Insufficiency and Deep Vein Thrombosis

Venous insufficiency and DVT can be more serious and painful than spider and varicose veins. Experts recommend practicing some or all of the following if you are concerned about developing these conditions:

• Lie down and rest with your legs elevated as much as possible.
• Receive a foot massage.
• Practice reflexology.
• Use pregnancy-specific compression garments, including the support pantyhose mentioned above.
• Immerse the feet, ankles, or legs in hot water.
• Exercise regularly and safely. Ask your doctor which exercises are safe for you and your baby.
• Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Stand up, stretch, and walk often.
• Take anticoagulation medication if prescribed by your doctor.

No one looks forward to dealing with vein problems, especially during pregnancy. However, vein issues are an inevitable part of pregnancy for many women. Understanding vein issues related to pregnancy can help you recognize the symptoms, relieve pain and discomfort, and know when to contact your doctor.

Most vein problems related to pregnancy will improve after the baby is born. Rest assured that while varicose veinsmay be a source of discomfort and annoyance for now, you probably won’t have to deal with them long term.

Author bio: Dr. Yan Katsnelson is the founder of USA Vein Clinics, the largest, national network of vein treatment centers committed to improving lives through minimally invasive treatments of venous insufficiency. USA Vein Clinics specializes in the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins through endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), ClariVein, Varithena vein treatment, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, and sclerotherapy injections. USA Vein clinics offers in-person and virtual doctor visits. 

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