Varicose Veins Prevention?

[bntamin]

I'm about 8 weeks pregnant. In my previous pregnancies, I had horrible varicose veins on my legs and vulva area--to the point that I would be in tears if I had to stand still for more than a few minutes. I wore a brace for a while, but it was uncomfortable.

They usually appear around two/three months for me, but each pregnancy they get worse! Any suggestions on anything I can do this time around to make them a little less severe? Exercises? Yoga? Supplements?

[Avocado]

I didn't have any with my first pregnancy. I did with my second (along with spider veins) but they didn't show up until about 7 months and went away pretty much immediately after delivery. This time, they started at about 3.5 months and like my last preg, they are only in my right leg- but already very bad! I ordered some compression stockings, so I hope those help. I'd like to hear more tips if anybody has them- I'm afraid for what's to come! How will I look in 5 months??

[foodmachine]

Susan Weed's book has lots of tips. She has a website and maybe the tips are there too. GL!

[bntamin]

Thanks I'll check it out.

[crwilson]

Nettle tea seems to help, and extra vitamin E & b6.

[Sweetiemommy]

With my first birth, I exercised daily (swimming or hiking and yoga) and only gained 30 lbs, and had no varicose veins. Second pregnancy, I was too busy with my first child to exercise much and gained a little over 35 lbs, I had varicose veins with that pregnancy. This pregnancy, I kept running until week 34 and have been using the eliptical at the gym since (I'm 38 weeks) and have only gained about 30 lbs and I have no varicose veins. This leads me to believe that keeping the weight gain to the baby belly and not adding extra weight on the thighs, butt, etc - combined with regular exercise to keep circulation good and just be healthy in general, contributes to better health of the veins. Just my experience...

[cjarvis]

For the nettle tea, do you just buy the dried nettle and steep yourself? Or do you buy pre-made bags? I am new at this and am very interested in preventing the pain of my veins.

[AllofGrace]

This is my 3rd pregnancy, and I've never had this awful problem with varicose veins until now. Nothing is different this time, except I have a little less time for exercise and am having a boy this time (after two DD).

One thing I accidentally discovered is that when I take extra of my Omega-3 supplement (3 capsules instead of 2) I have zero problems those days with my very ugly right leg bothering me (left leg looks totally normal). I take the Nordic Naturals brand, and each capsule is 1000 mg of fish oil. I have read that Omega-3's function as a very mild blood thinner, so before delivery I do back off on them some.

I think the cause of this may be that all is not well with my lower back after 2 pregnancies. I've had a lot of pain there not chiro doesn't help. It seems more problems with nerves and other soft tissues that I would get an osteopath to work on if I had the $$.

Hope this helps!

[crwilson]

Originally Posted by cjarvis

For the nettle tea, do you just buy the dried nettle and steep yourself? Or do you buy pre-made bags? I am new at this and am very interested in preventing the pain of my veins.

I buy pre-made bags. I don't know if it's that that's helping with the pain, but I drink it everyday in case it is.

[Jessie85]

One of the causes of varicose veins is actually pregnancy.  Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in a woman’s body, however, it decreases the flow of blood from the legs to the pelvis.  This change in circulation is designed to support the growing baby, but it can produce an unfortunate side effects such as enlarged veins in the legs.  Varicose veins may appear for the first time during pregnancy.  It has been observed that the varicose veins may worsen during late pregnancy because the uterus exerts greater pressure on the veins in your legs.

There's no way to completely prevent varicose veins. But improving your circulation and muscle tone can reduce your risk of developing varicose veins or getting additional ones. Traditional, common-sense approaches include:

• Exercise. Get your legs moving. Walking is a great way to encourage blood circulation in your legs. Your doctor can recommend an appropriate activity level for you.
• Watch your weight, and your diet. Shedding excess pounds takes unnecessary pressure off your veins. What you eat makes a difference, too. Follow a low-salt, high-fiber diet to prevent the swelling that may result from water retention and constipation.
• Watch what you wear. Avoid high heels. Low-heeled shoes work calf muscles more, which is better for your veins. Don't wear tight clothes around your waist, legs or groin. Tight panty-leg girdles, for instance, can restrict circulation.
• Elevate your legs. To improve venous circulation, take several short breaks daily to elevate your legs above the level of your heart. For example, lie down with your legs resting on three or four pillows.
• Avoid long periods of sitting or standing. Make a point of changing your position frequently to encourage blood flow. Try to move around at least every 30 minutes.
• Don't sit with your legs crossed. This position can aggravate circulation problems.

Depending on your situation, the first approach before offering varicose vein treatments is the use of compression stockings, or also known as compression hoses or compression socks. These may help relieve some of the symptoms and move blood more efficiently through your legs.  There are a number of brands to choose. These stockings have been proven to help with the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins. You can check www.LegsTherapy.com. They carry all kinds. 

Compression stockings are a simple, inexpensive way to treat varicose veins. These specially fitted hose are designed to reduce the pooling that occurs in spider and varicose veins. Although wearing hose won’t eliminate varicose veins when they are full blown but they can help alleviate symptoms caused by the veins, such as aching, heaviness, and swelling as well as help prevent worsening of the veins. 

Hope this info help answer some of your questions.

Good Luck!

[Jessie85]

One of the causes of varicose veins is actually pregnancy.  Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in a woman’s body, however, it decreases the flow of blood from the legs to the pelvis.  This change in circulation is designed to support the growing baby, but it can produce unfortunate side effects such as enlarged veins in the legs.  Varicose veins may appear for the first time during pregnancy.  It has been observed that the varicose veins may worsen during late pregnancy because the uterus exerts greater pressure on the veins in your legs.

There's no way to completely prevent varicose veins. But improving your circulation and muscle tone can reduce your risk of developing varicose veins or getting additional ones. Traditional, common sense approaches include: 

§  Exercise. Get your legs moving. Walking is a great way to encourage blood circulation in your legs. Your doctor can recommend an appropriate activity level for you.

§  Watch your weight, and your diet. Shedding excess pounds takes unnecessary pressure off your veins. What you eat makes a difference, too. Follow a low-salt, high-fiber diet to prevent the swelling that may result from water retention and constipation.

§  Watch what you wear. Avoid high heels. Low-heeled shoes work calf muscles more, which is better for your veins. Don't wear tight clothes around your waist, legs or groin. Tight panty-leg girdles, for instance, can restrict circulation.

§  Elevate your legs. To improve venous circulation, take several short breaks daily to elevate your legs above the level of your heart. For example, lie down with your legs resting on three or four pillows.

§  Avoid long periods of sitting or standing. Make a point of changing your position frequently to encourage blood flow. Try to move around at least every 30 minutes.

§  Don't sit with your legs crossed. This position can aggravate circulation problems.

Depending on your situation, the first approach before offering varicose vein treatments is the use of compression stockings, or also known as compression hoses or compression socks. These may help relieve some of the symptoms and move blood more efficiently through your legs.  There are a number of brands to choose. These stockings have been proven to help with the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins. You can check Legs Therapy, its an online store that sells compression stockings. They carry all kinds.

Compression stockings are a simple, inexpensive way to treat varicose veins. These specially fitted hose are designed to reduce the pooling that occurs in spider and varicose veins. Although wearing hose won’t eliminate varicose veins, they can help alleviate symptoms caused by the veins, such as aching, heaviness, and swelling as well as help prevent worsening of the veins. Wearing compression stockings can also reduce the risk of developing blood clots from long plane or car rides.

The stockings apply pressure in a gradient fashion- highest around the ankle with less pressure as they go up the leg. This helps milk the blood back up the leg towards the heart. They come in various strengths and should be prescribed by your physician. They can range in price from about $50-$125. Prices vary. Prescription-strength stockings also are available