What Causes Varicose Veins and Spider Veins During Pregnancy?

Why do Veins Change During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time of change, when your body goes through a period of major upheaval while bringing a new life into the world. Some of these changes you expect, like weight gain, fatigue, and nausea. Some may not have been on your radar before you became pregnant, like varicose and spider veins. Why would your veins change just because you’re pregnant? It makes sense if you think about it. For one thing, your body is expanding, and so your blood volume increases, which can put a strain on your veins, stretching and weakening them. Additionally, a growing baby inside your body puts weight on your inferior vena cava, which is the large vein that carries blood from the lower part of your body to your heart. Add to that the hormonal changes during pregnancy, which relax your vein walls just as they relax your muscles and ligaments, and you’ve got the perfect situation for compromised veins.

What Are Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

Varicose veins happen because of weak or failing valves within the veins. When your heart beats, blood is pumped through the body, bringing nutrients and oxygen to the cells and organs, and carrying away waste material. The blood flowing from the heart goes through arteries, while the returning blood travels through veins, back toward the heart, so it can be replenished. Considering the placement of your legs, it’s easy to understand that blood coming from the legs to the heart has the most difficult journey. It has to fight gravity to get there, and the pulse in the legs is weaker than in the upper part of the body. To facilitate blood flow, veins have valves inside of them, which push the blood in the right direction. When the valves are damaged or relaxed, the blood can flow backwards. During the perfect storm of pregnancy, with the increased blood flow and hormones, and the pressure on the vena cava, it is very easy for blood to begin flowing backwards. When this happens, it can pool in the veins, causing them to twist, bulge, or become discolored. This is the condition known as varicose veins, which is uncomfortable and can cause serious health issues. Spider veins are another vein issue during pregnancy, occurring because of increased pressure on the blood vessels, which causes them to dilate. Spider veins are not a serious problem, but they can be unsightly.

Watch for These Common Symptoms

Sometimes, you won’t feel any symptoms. Varicose veins are more common in later pregnancy, so if you are halfway through the pregnancy and haven’t experienced them, it doesn’t mean that you won’t. If you do feel symptoms, they will probably feel worse when you sit or stand for a long time. Symptoms of varicose veins include a heavy feeling in your legs, leg cramps, itching, swelling in the legs and ankles, and aching, throbbing, or tenderness in the lower legs. Spider veins don’t usually hurt, though they can sometimes cause itching.

How to Prevent Spider Veins and Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

Your risk of vein issues during pregnancy increases with each pregnancy and is higher if you have a family history of varicose veins or spider veins. That said, you can take steps to reduce your risk and minimize pregnancy’s effect on your vascular system.

• Don’t stand or sit for too long.
• Try sleeping on your left side, which takes the strain off of your inferior vena cava.
• Elevate your legs whenever possible.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Talk to your doctor about an exercise routine that can improve your blood circulation.
• Avoid high heels.
• Wear compression stockings.

When to See a Vein Specialist

Often, varicose veins and spider veins go away on their own after pregnancy. It’s not advisable to have varicose vein treatment during pregnancy, so most doctors recommend a wait and see approach. If the veins are causing extreme discomfort, it might be worth seeing a specialist while you are pregnant. However, if you can wait until about six months after giving birth, that is a better time to consult a vein specialist for an evaluation of your condition.

California Vein & Vascular Centers Can Help You Determine How to Prevent Varicose Veins

If you are pregnant and suffering from varicose or spider veins, we can help by treating them and helping you learn how to prevent them. At California Vein & Vascular Centers, we provide high-quality results for vascular disorders, using innovative technology and customized treatments. Our board-certified surgeons have a reputation for being leaders in our field, and with good reason. California Vein & Vascular Centers is the number one clinic in California for vein procedures, top five nationally for the number of vein procedures we have performed, and top ten nationally for our treatment of peripheral artery disease. With locations in Los Altos, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, and Salinas, we are proud to serve the Bay Area, providing care that stems from many years of experience. We have a 99 percent success rate, and we are committed to effectively identifying and treating vein and vascular conditions. To learn more about the precision treatments we provide, contact us through our website for more information or to make an appointment.