According to the vascular surgeons at the Central Florida Vein and Vascular Center, the Orlando area’s premier vein care specialists, pregnancy is the number one cause of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. During pregnancy, the superficial veins weaken and lose their ability to empty blood from the legs. This leads to increased pressure and congestion resulting in enlarged veins, leg swelling, and discoloration, not to mention heaviness and fatigue.
There are two reasons why the vein system becomes damaged during pregnancy:
- Hormonal
- Fluid and pressure build up
The hormones of pregnancy with high estrogen and progesterone levels actually degrade the vein valves, rendering the veins less effective in pumping blood out of the leg. Veins show signs of weakening even in the first few weeks of pregnancy long before the pressure problems begin. Spider veins and sunburst patterns in the skin can start sprouting at the very earliest stages because of these hormonal changes. Obviously, pregnant women experience tremendous increase in their blood volume and suffer fluid retention. As the pregnant uterus grows, it puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, the main vein in the abdomen that returns blood to the heart.
Ways to promote leg vein health throughout your pregnancy:
- Elevate your legs above the level of your heart
- Manage your weight
- Exercise
- Sleep on your left side
- Compression stockings
Most of the time, the visible changes in your veins improves after you deliver your baby. You may not think you have much of a problem, but the damage done to the vein system is not reversible and is always progressive. If you are planning another pregnancy, the best time to correct the vein abnormality is before you get pregnant again! The changes of another pregnancy are additive and will compound the damage already done to your vein’s system.
Central Florida Vein and Vascular Center is accredited as a diagnostic center by the American College of Radiology, the standard of excellence for ultrasound diagnostics. This accreditation process requires significant time, resources and commitment to standards of care that come naturally to us. Don’t accept less than the best care. The specialists at Central Florida Vein and Vascular Center offer the most current, effective, and well tolerated technology.
Visit cfvein.com for more information.
