Do you also experience varicose veins in your legs while you are expecting a baby? Let's learn about Varicose Veins

When you are expecting a baby, your body experiences a lot of new things, right? Sometimes when you look at your legs, the veins in your legs may look blue, purple, swollen, and knotted. This is what we medically call Varicose Veins. In fact, this condition occurs in about half of all women during pregnancy. So, don't be unnecessarily scared because this happens to many mothers. Let's talk about everything in detail.

What are Varicose Veins?

Simply put, it's the superficial veins under the skin of our legs that look swollen, twisted, and twisted. Normally, the veins in our legs have small, one-way valves inside them. These help to push blood back from the legs to the heart against gravity.

But during pregnancy, the changes that occur in our body can interfere with this process. The growing uterus puts pressure on the major blood vessels. The blood volume in the body also increases. All of this increases the pressure inside the veins in the legs, causing the blood to pool in one place instead of moving upward properly. That's when the veins swell and become visible as varicose veins.

What are the main causes of varicose veins during pregnancy?

There are several reasons for this.

• Heredity: This is often hereditary. If your mother had this condition, you are more likely to have it too.
• Increased blood volume: During pregnancy, your blood volume may increase by about 20%. But the number of veins remains the same. So, the veins have to work harder to pump this increased blood.
• Hormonal changes: The hormone progesterone , which is secreted during pregnancy, relaxes the smooth muscles in the pelvic ligaments and vein walls. This weakens the valves in the veins, making it difficult for blood to flow upward.

These causes can cause swollen veins, sometimes causing itching and discomfort. In addition to the legs, they can also occur in the genital area and rectum as hemorrhoids.

What are the symptoms of Varicose Veins?

When varicose veins occur, you may notice symptoms like these.

Whether you have these symptoms or not, it is very important to let your doctor (OB-GYN) know that you have varicose veins in your legs. Be sure to tell them, especially if you are experiencing pain or discomfort.

Treatments and ways to get relief

One of the best and easiest treatments is to wear compression stockings. These stockings apply pressure to the veins in your legs, helping to improve blood flow. They come in different sizes and pressure levels (measured in mmHg). Doctors usually recommend stockings with a pressure of 20-30 mmHg. Talk to your doctor about this and choose the type that is right for you.

Very important warning!

Some people are tempted to use horse chestnut extract as a treatment after reading online. Please remember, this can be very dangerous. Even if you use an extract that has the toxic chemical esculin removed, it has not yet been confirmed how safe it is during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Do not put the flowers, raw bark, leaves or seeds of this plant in your mouth for any reason. They are highly poisonous and can even cause death. Therefore, it is best not to use any Ayurvedic or herbal remedies during this time that are not recommended by a doctor. If you or someone you know accidentally ingests something poisonous, immediately contact the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital .

What should you do to prevent and reduce varicose veins?

Although this condition cannot be completely prevented, there are several things you can do to control it and reduce the pain.

Are hemorrhoids also a type of varicose veins?

Yes, to be precise, hemorrhoids are also a type of swollen, twisted vein. But these are located in the rectum. This condition can be aggravated by things like straining, especially due to constipation. Hemorrhoids can be aggravated by increased straining during pregnancy and childbirth. Bleeding, itching, and pain during bowel movements are the main symptoms.

Will this tangled veins go away after having the baby?

Here's some good news for you! Most of the time, varicose veins are not harmful. They usually shrink or disappear completely by about 3 months after delivery. That's why doctors don't recommend surgery during pregnancy.

However, if you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately :

• If the area where the vein is located becomes red, warm, swollen, or has severe pain.
• If blood flows from the veins.
• If the skin on your legs is thickened, discolored, or has a rash.
• If your leg suddenly becomes very swollen and you experience severe pain, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately, as this could be a sign of a blood clot.