“What could have triggered varicose veins during my pregnancy?”
I am a 32 year old woman and I am in my seventh month of pregnancy. I am now suffering from varicose veins which is making my standing and sitting down very painful. What could have triggered varicose veins in my pregnancy?
13 Answers
In pregnancy, there is compression of the pelvic veins from the baby and also blood from the legs has a harder time getting back to the heart due to pelvic pressure. This leads to increased pressure in the legs and eventually varicose veins. It helps to wear compression stockings and elevate legs when you are resting.
Dr. Rajesh Malik
Vascular Surgeon
The larger size of the uterus and hormonal changes likely contributed to it. Usually things get better after you have had the baby. If they persist, then you can consider seeing a vascular specialist.
It is quite common to develop Varicose vein’s during pregnancy. There are multiple factors that influence of us including increased blood volume, the pressure of the uterus on your venous system, and other hormonal factors. You should see consultation with a vascular surgeon during your pregnancy and then follow up with them in the postpartum period to see if you require any further care.
Pregnancy can lead to varicosities by several mechanisms including increased blood volume, changes to the vessels themselves, and excess pressure/weight from the fetus/womb on veins.
The pregnancy itself can make varicose veins appear both from the hormonal changes and the weight of the pregnant uterus on the main veins in the pelvis and the abdomen - unfortunately they may not go away once they appear although do have a possibility of improving
When the uterus enlarges, it compresses the veins in the belly causing an engorgement of blood in the legs. However, this is still a fairly uncommon problem in pregnancy and it would indicate that you probably have a problem with what is known as venous insufficiency. If you are not currently doing so, you need to start wearing pregnancy top pantyhose with about 30-40 mmHg compression. They need to be worn daily, but not in bed at night. After your delivery, you should be evaluated by venous ultrasound, by a vascular surgeon, for valvular disease in the veins. Subsequent pregnancies will make your veins worse.
The baby. Your uterus is enlarged and is presding on the veins in your pelvis and obstructing blood flow. This causes varicose veins. Use stockings for relief. It should resolve after you deliver
During pregnancy there is a direct pressure ove the distal vena cava and Iliana vein increasing resistance to the venous return to the hart and increasing venous pressure in the lower extremities
Venous insufficiency is a condition of leaky valves inside the veins. There are a few factors that can cause varicose veins to appear or worsen. During pregnancy, blood volume increases causing the veins to become enlarged and the valves to become weakened. Hormones that are secreted to allow the body to grow and expand also cause the walls of the veins to become dilated. Increased abdominal weight from the baby causes increased pressure within the veins. All of these factors resolve after pregnancy and sometimes symptoms improve. Compression stockings and elevation of the legs are recommended during pregnancy to reduce the pressure in the veins. If symptoms persist after pregnancy, an ultrasound by a Registered Vascular Technologist is recommended to evaluate the function of the valves within the veins to determine if further treatment is necessary. You may visit our website, WeKnowVeins.com to learn more information about Varicose Veins during pregnancy.
Pregnancy can cause compression of the pelvic veins and prevent normal flow of venous return from the legs. Your symptoms should get better post delivery, but you will likely have some symptoms in the future.
Varicose veins during pregnancy are from mechanical presssure of the uterus on venacava, hormonal effect that relaxes the smooth muscle and volume overload from excess blood volume. Start compression please.
Just the pressure from the baby pushing on the major vein in your abdomen, obstructing the leg veins.
Varicose veins are caused by several phenomena, but in particular, the hormone changes associated with pregnancy encourage venous dilation, which can cause vein reflux, which is the basis of varicose veins. The end of pregnancy has been demonstrated to reduce the appearance of enlarged veins. Keep compression on, if your veins are on your legs.
