Many pregnant women suffer from some form of varicose veins. Varicose veins during pregnancy are caused by reduced blood flow in our veins, which in medical terms is known as varicose veins.

Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back from the tissues to the heart. There are valves in the veins that regulate the flow of blood, which fail if you have varicose veins. Due to the impaired blood flow, the vessels stagnate and you can therefore see the varicose veins as clearly 'enlarged' vessels. Sometimes you cannot see the vessels but the tissue looks swollen, which is common in the lower abdomen. The body parts most often affected by varicose veins during pregnancy are the legs and abdomen.

In most cases, varicose veins cause no discomfort but some women experience pain, itching and soreness. You are more likely to get varicose veins if you have a family history of them, are overweight, gain a lot of weight during pregnancy or sit still for long periods of time. If you have varicose veins in your lower abdomen, it may be difficult to sit down because of the pain. Varicose veins in the lower abdomen rarely occur until the end of pregnancy, and they usually decrease after delivery. To relieve the pain, you can, for example, cool a towel and place it against your abdomen.

How to reduce the risk of varicose veins during pregnancy

- Stay active, i.e. do not sit still or stand for too long. Move your legs and feet regularly. Keep your blood circulation going, for example by walking and exercising.
- Wear support socks (class one or two) throughout the day. For best results, put them on before you get out of bed and put your feet on the floor.
- Keep your legs elevated when lying and sitting down - even when sleeping. This reduces pressure on the veins.

As a pregnant woman, you cannot prevent varicose veins in the lower abdomen.

If the varicose veins remain after six months when the baby is born, it may be worth seeing a doctor, preferably through your health center. If necessary, the doctor can refer you to a surgical clinic for possible surgery, foam or laser treatment. If varicose veins appear during your pregnancy, it is common for them to recur during the next pregnancy, which is why surgery is often required first. after completed childbirth.

Don't forget that varicose veins are harmless! In a few cases, vascular inflammation of the superficial veins can occur, but this is not a serious condition either.

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