1. Where can they appear?
During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes. One of the changes you may have noticed the development of varicose veins. These may appear on your legs, thighs and for some even around the vulva region.
2. Why does this happen?
Due to the normal increase of hormones in the body associated with pregnancy , the veins themselves become "floppier" and distend more easily which results in the development of often unsightly varicose veins. For some women, they are also painful.
3. How can I treat this?
The best way to treat varicose veins is to be fitted with a specialised compression stocking. The level of compression stocking needed to help with varicose veins needs to be specifically fitted to the individual. It is not a type of stocking that you can buy off the shelf. Often you will see various compression stockings in the shops, online or in pharmacy's, however you must be aware that these types of compression stockings usually do not offer the level of support actually needed to help with your varicose veins. You must be properly measured and fitted to the correct compression stocking because if gotten wrong, it can actually cause damage and at times even be dangerous to your circulation. A physiotherapist is one of the professionals that is allowed to measure you for the type of compression garment or stocking that you need.
4. Will it go away after the baby is born?
Unfortunately, for some women if you develop varicose veins in pregnancy, they will remain even after the baby is born. But for other women once the pregnancy hormones decrease, the increased fluid in the body resolves, and the patency of the veins returns back to normal, their varicose veins will disappear. If you develop varicose veins in pregnancy it is highly likely that you were going to develop varicose veins as you got older. So investing in properly fitted compression stockings is a worthy investment as you are likely to use them again later, even if it is just preventative.
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