Your body goes through a lot of changes while pregnant. Chemical and physical changes will cause odd things to happen and one of these things could be varicose veins. These small not so good looking purple veins up and down your legs and possibly other unmentionable areas could be a part of what your pregnancy will be like.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen veins that are near the surface of the skin. They mostly appear on your legs though may appear anywhere on the lower half of your body. In fact the increase of hemorrhoids during pregnancy is simply because hemorrhoids are varicose veins in an uncomfortable sensitive area.

While pregnant your body increase its blood volume in order to care for the new life inside and while your uterus grows it can put pressure on the large vein on the right side of your body. All this increases pressure in the lower extremities. That along with increases in hormones which thin and weaken the walls of vessels are why these ugly little veins tend to appear while pregnant.

These little squiggly veins are not much to worry about. They are unsightly yes. But shouldn’t cause you much discomfort other then possibly being a little achy or itchy and the good news is that most likely they will improve after you give birth.

What do I do about varicose veins while pregnant?

Anything that increases circulation or helps your body deal with the added weights and changes are a good way to help prevent or lessen the occurrence of varicose veins. Things like:

Exercise: This is key. By even just taking a walk you increase circulation. Let gravity be your friend not your enemy: While resting keep your feet and legs elevatedKeep Moving: Try not to stand while not moving for long periods of timeLay on your left side: While laying down lay on the left to relieve pressure on the vein that runs on the right side of your bodyWatch your weight: try and keep within a recommended weight range.You can talk to your doctor about what that is and healthy ways for you to keep within it.Get some support: There are support hose that your can purchase at most medical supply stores and pharmacies. They help lift up on the downward pressure of your belly are tighter at the ankle and get looser as they go higher up the leg making it easier for your blood to flow upward and harder for the blood to pool in your legs.

If after you are pregnant your veins do not go away there are ways you can look into having them removed or medically treated. Robelyn Labs has developed a cream called VariClear which can be used as an alternative to these surgeries.