As if morning sickness and the frequent urge to pee aren’t enough sources of discomfort, pregnancy also makes you more prone to formation of varicose veins, particularly in the leg area. Here at our Chicago vein treatment practice, we have received a lot of visits from expectant mothers who want relief from those bulging, swollen, and twisted veins at the back of their legs.
So what causes the sudden appearance of those unsightly veins during pregnancy?
First of all, it has to do with the abundance of the hormone progesterone which relaxes the blood vessels and consequently causes swelling of the veins. Second, the extra amount of blood that your body produces to support the growing fetus could put extra pressure on your blood vessels. And add in the weight of your expanding uterus which can add more pressure to your blood vessels. In addition, it has also been found out that family history can play a huge role in the development of varicose veins during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant, we suggest the following steps to alleviating pain and discomfort brought about by the formation of varicose veins:
- Sleep on your left side as much as possible. This will help ease the pressure on your inferior vena cava (one of your largest veins) which is situated on the right side of your body.
- Move around.
- Elevate your legs.
- Watch your weight.
- Avoid straining too much. Eating high-fiber foods can help avoid constipation which of course leads to unnecessary straining.
- Wear support stockings.
- Talk to a vein specialist.
Expert Varicose Vein Advice at the Chicago Vein Institute
Chicago Vein Institute (CVI) is a practice solely dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of vein diseases. The experts at CVI perform the latest and most effective treatments for painful varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein-related disorders.
Learn more about the services we offer by calling our North Center location at 773-231-9884 or our Downtown Chicago location at 312-234-0750
North Center
2333 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60618
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Portage, IN
6050 Sterling Creek Rd.
Portage, IN 46368
219.212.0188
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Chicago Vein Institute is a practice solely dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of vein diseases. The experts at CVI perform the latest and most effective treatments for painful varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein-related disorders. CVI offers minimally invasive treatment options, including Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), Ambulatory Phlebectomy, Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, Surface Sclerotherapy, Elastic Compression Stockings and wound care for venous ulcers, performing more than 11,000 vein-related procedures annually. Same-Day appointments and multi-lingual team members standing by to assist.
