It is a known fact that pregnancy is one of the common causes of varicose veins. They usually start in the first trimester, particularly when you start to experience symptoms of sudden hormonal changes.
Most varicose or spider veins appear in the legs and/or around the vaginal opening (which, in this case, often appear during late pregnancy). The weight and size of your baby presses the vein in your pelvis, putting more pressure on your veins, which in turn causes your veins to weaken and makes you more prone to varicose veins.
In some cases, varicose veins during pregnancy can also be hereditary as well. If your mom or grandmother had it during their pregnancy, then chances are you would probably get it as well. That being said, having a varicose vein is inevitable and there is only so much you can do to prevent it.
But even though varicose veins can sometimes be inevitable, they would eventually subside a few weeks after delivery and you can even get a treatment to remove it quickly and permanently.
Natural Treatment
As we have mentioned earlier, varicose veins subside a few weeks after your baby is born and they fully recover within the first year after birth.
Varicose or spider vein is often not considered a serious health problem. So, no need to worry too much about it and you do not have to rush its healing process. It would go away naturally.
But while you wait, you can do these things to avoid worsening its appearance
Limit standing or sitting for too long
Basically, avoid being inactive for a long-time and try to do some light exercises so that you would not add more pressure to your legs, where your varicose veins are visible.
Try not to cross your legs
There is no conclusive evidence that crossing your legs can cause varicose veins, but if you already have one, then you should probably avoid doing so.
Elevate your legs
Raise your legs and feet whenever you are lying down or just sitting on your couch. Doing this would help improve your blood flow and keep the blood from pooling around your legs.
Avoid tight clothing
This just goes without saying that you should wear something more comfortable after giving birth so that your body can relax more.
Do some light exercise.
It is a known fact that exercise helps control varicose vein symptoms. However, avoid overdoing it and try to do a few light and simple exercises only. Keep in mind that your body is still recovering from giving birth, so you should try to keep your workout routine at a minimum.
Wear Flat Shoes
This, however, does not mean that you cannot wear high heels anymore. But as much as possible, try to wear more comfortable shoes regularly instead of wearing high heels every day.
Use a Moisturizer
People with varicose veins tend to have itchy and dry skin due to swelling. In order to combat this, lanolin or hand cream might help alleviate it.
Surgical and Other Treatments
Before we cite some of the surgical treatments for varicose veins, keep in mind that some professionals recommend not to treat varicose veins 2 to 3 weeks after delivery, and just let them heal naturally.
However, if it has been a long time since you gave birth and you still do not see any improvement in the appearance of your varicose veins, then it might be best to consult with a surgeon or specialist about it.
With that said here are a few treatments for varicose or spider veins that you can opt for:
Radiofrequency Ablation
It is a treatment device that delivers heat to your vein wall, which causes it to shrink and seal closed. The great thing about this is that it is a minimally invasive procedure. That said, recovery time is not that long and you can even get back to normal the very same day.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a cosmetic procedure that treats varicose veins by injecting a liquid into your vein. This irritates the lining in your blood vessel, which then causes it to swell and stick together.
Laser Therapy
This treatment is recommended for people who only suffer from small varicose veins but are having a hard time permanently removing them.
Vein Stripping
This treatment is usually given to people who suffer the serious adverse effect of having varicose veins. Vein stripping is the surgical removal of your vein that has already lost its ability to function.
If you notice that your varicose vein is worsening or you are experiencing serious pain, then you should consult with a vascular surgeon or a vein specialist around your area.
Thankfully, there are tons of them in the United States and if you happen to live in any of the big cities, then you can just book a consultation and visit a varicose veins clinic located in Dallas, New York, Chicago, LA or wherever city you live in.
These doctors and specialists would help you find the best treatment as well as advise you whether it is okay to get surgery after birth or not.
