Before getting pregnant, you’d probably never even thought about your veins.

But varicose veins are a common and annoying problem that pregnant women face. While they are usually not symptomatic, varicose veins are unsightly and in some cases painful. As oxygen-rich blood is circulated throughout your body, your veins job is to return that blood up to the heart. They rely on surrounding muscle and a system of one-way valves. The valves work by opening to let the blood through and then closing to prevent it from coming back. In varicose veins, these valves don’t function properly and blood is allowed to pool in the vein. This can cause the vein to become misshapen and bulge. Because veins that are close to the surface of your skin have the least amount of muscle support, they are most likely to suffer from this problem.

Why does it Happen

Pregnancy changes the body in such a way that women are much more likely to suffer from varicose veins. The American Pregnancy Association details the different factors that contribute to varicose veins during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body has an increase in total blood volume while at the same time the blood from your legs travels up to your pelvis at a slower rate. Additionally, pregnancy puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, the vein responsible for bringing blood from the legs and feet back to the heart.

What Can I Do?

Varicose veins are hereditary, meaning they run in the family. While you can’t prevent the changes that will occur in your body during pregnancy, there are some ways to minimize the risk of developing varicose veins. The American Pregnancy Association recommends:

1. Avoid wearing high heels (they make correct circulation more difficult).
2. Exercise (make sure you consult with a doctor about what exercise is safe for you).
3. Drink plenty of water and eat enough fiber to avoid constipation.
4. Don’t cross your legs while sitting.
5. Eat less salt.
6. Wear compression leggings (just nothing too tight to cut off circulation).

Call Asphole Plastic Surgery

Ashpole Plastic Surgery specializes in helping you remove annoying and unwanted varicose veins. Our procedures are done with state-of-the-art techniques. There is no downtime to recover and the procedures are minimally invasive. The techniques can be done in the office with no anesthesia or sedation required, you can drive home the same day. Most insurances cover the entire procedure. For more information, get in touch with Ashpole Plastic Surgery today.