Varicose Veins were an unwelcome surprise during my 3rd pregnancy. I had fairly easy pregnancies with my boys with very few symptoms. My 3rd pregnancy was a whole different story!
The first pregnancy went pretty well with no horrible morning sickness or anything to complain about. The only thing I really had to deal with was braxton hicks contractions. The second pregnancy was pretty much the same, but I did start to see signs of varicose veins. Nothing noticeable that I was concerned about. .. and then came the third pregnancy….
This pregnancy was so different than the others!! I had insomnia, morning/all day sickness, braxton hicks contractions very early on, blurred vision and varicose veins..
Varicose veins can be very painful and I was concerned they wouldn’t go away after pregnancy. I searched the internet high and low for answers trying to find comfort. I was hoping someone would say that they went away after the baby arrived and that it was only a symptom of pregnancy.
Well, that didn’t happen.
Every single post I read on forums were women saying they never went away and they were stuck with them or they just never came back to post whether they did go away or not.
In addition, I would come across posts saying “unsightly varicose veins” and “disgusting varicose veins.” This obviously wasn’t too comforting, especially while not feeling too hot already being pregnant! I think those words are a little harsh. While no one likes them, it doesn’t make you appear unsightly or disgusting. None of us are perfect and we all have something we don’t like. These veins may be an annoyance and not ideal, but not disgusting.
How to Treat Varicose Veins and Reduce Them
I want to give hope to the pregnant mommas out there who are looking for tips and help on minimizing them.
The veins developed on my upper thighs around the end of my first trimester. I hadn’t gained much weight at all at that point, but the baby was putting a lot of pressure on me.
The one thing that my Dr recommended was that I wear compression tights. They are supposed to help ease the discomfort and could prevent the veins from getting worse. Well, that’s all I needed to hear! I researched what the best pairs were and bought a maternity support hose for varicose veins along with a pair of compression pants that day!
I never went ONE day without them after that. I wanted to do everything I could to prevent them from getting worse.
Maternity Support Hose For Varicose Veins
These hose offer good compression , but they are not super tight like some of the more expensive ones. The higher compressed hose can be uncomfortable and I felt that these were enough for me. I wore these maternity support hose under all of my pants. It was a total pain. I hated every second of it, but I did it with the hope that it would pay off in the end.
These are the compression leggings/pants that I bought:
I wore these constantly!!
Keep in mind that these are not maternity pants. These are regular women’s compression pants.
As my belly grew, I just rolled down the top of the pants. I always wore a bella band and then a long top so you wouldn’t know I had the pants lower. These pants run small so I sized up and ordered a larger pair.
I ended up buying a pair of these again after I had the baby because I loved them so much. They have a sleek and smooth look to them and are so flattering!! I wore them with riding boots and sneakers. If you are at the very beginning of your pregnancy you could probably start with these.
The sooner you start wearing them the better. It improves your circulation which is a major problem with pregnancy.
Now, they are tighter around your waistline so as you get bigger rolling them down may become uncomfortable. My other suggestion is to wear actual maternity compression pants….
Below are the only maternity compression pants that I could find. Everything else I found for maternity was tights or leggings, but the leggings were always thin and see through. I ordered so many pairs that were marketed as pants, but they were just thin tights. These are good maternity compression pants!
I also wanted to bring the Spanx Maternity Leggings to your attention because I know they would offer more compression than a regular legging and they are super stylish!! SPANX is known for tightening things up!
Did The Compression Tights Help??
The results…… I wore the compression pants and hose all through my second and third trimester. After the baby was born I stopped wearing the hose, but kept wearing the leggings because I loved them!! 2 weeks after having her I looked in the mirror expecting to see the same view… I was wrong!!
Gone.
Veins were gone.
Completely amazed and I could not believe what I was seeing. At that point, I had accepted that I had them but just wanted to prevent them from getting worse. I never expected them to go away completely!!!
That’s not all I did to reduce the varicose veins though. I also ate well and exercised all through my 2nd and 3rd trimester.
Exercises That Are Good For Varicose Veins
- Walking
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Strength Training
Exercise is so important in helping to reduce and prevent the veins from getting worse because it encourages blood flow.
It helps the blood move through the veins.
Pregnant women have very poor circulation which is one of the reasons they are prone to varicose veins.
Keep Your Weight In Check
The heavier you get, the more weight you are putting on your legs which will puts a lot of extra pressure on your veins besides the baby!
Keep this in mind.. We have all heard the phrase eating for two. Well you are, but that doesn’t mean you are eating for two adults!
- First trimester- you don’t even need any extra calories
- Second trimester- anywhere from 300-500
- 3rd Trimester- 500 calories
Surprising isn’t it? It’s not hard to get to 300 calories either. Sadly, an apple with peanut butter can get you up to 250 calories!
According to Web MD, the recommended weight range for women who were average weight before pregnancy is 15-25 pounds.
Underweight women can gain anywhere from 28-40lbs.
Overweight women 15-25lbs
So try to stay in your recommended pregnancy weight gain range which will help reduce or prevent varicose veins.
Side note: Here Are Some Healthy Pregnancy Snack Ideas For You
Summary: How To Get Rid of and Reduce Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
- Wear Maternity Support Hose for Pregnancy or CompressionLeggings all through your pregnancy to increase circulation
- Elevate your feet above your heart when you are resting so you don’t put unnecessary pressure against your legs
- Don’t sit or stand in a position too long that would restrict circulation such as crossing your legs.
- Exercise (Dr. Approved of course!) – I also exercised my whole pregnancy which I know also contributed to the results. Check out this post to see my prenatal exercise routine. Exercise increases your circulation which in turn helps reduce or prevent varicose veins.
I hope this gives hope to those of you that are in the same predicament that I was. I’m not saying you will definitely get rid of them after having the baby. You may still have them which in the grand scheme is no big deal and a small price to pay for bringing a beautiful baby in the world!
However, when it’s something you’re not used to, it is shocking at first and it’s normal to want to know if it will always be that way.
I do know that it is possible for them to go away and that you can take steps to make sure they don’t get worse!!
XOXO
Nicole
Source for Pregnancy Tips Courtesy of Web MD
Don’t Miss: Hilary from Pulling Curls is offering a free Prenatal Pregnancy Class and a Free Birth Plan Template . Hilary is a Labor and Delivery Nurse who has a gazillion tips and advice on pregnancy that you’ll want to check out.
Recent Posts
- 2 Prenatal At Home Work Out Routines That Deliver Results
- Is Your Pregnancy Skincare Routine Safe?
- 36 Ways to Reduce Costs and Live on One Income
- 20+ Ways To Style SPANX Leather Leggings
