Varicose veins during pregnancy - what to do? Features of treatment

During pregnancy, the female body undergoes a serious load, which can lead to the development of complications in the state of health. One of the most common problems is varicose on the legs during pregnancy. What to do, if it appeared, how to prevent it and what steps to take, you can learn from this article.

What is varicose and where does it come from?

Varicose veins are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a great danger to the health and life of the mother and baby. Visually, varicose veins can have the appearance of a vascular network that radiates through the skin, or a strong expansion of the main veins that protrude above the skin and look like "worms."

Vascular reticulum, as a rule, has a bluish or violet hue, while swollen and bulging veins differ in green color. With progressive varicose veins may develop thrombophlebitis or trophic ulcers, but the most dangerous is the formation of thrombi, which, when detached, pose a serious threat to the life of the mother and fetus.

For these reasons, it is important to begin treatment of varicose in a timely manner. Reviews of pregnant women about the course and treatment of the disease are so numerous and contradictory that it is worthwhile to consider this pathology in more detail.

The mechanism of development of varicose veins is the violation of outflow of venous blood from the lower limbs. It turns out that the blood comes to the legs, but does not flow back because the vein is pinched somewhere. Stagnation of blood in the lower extremities provokes an increase in pressure and stretching of the vascular wall.

When the venous wall is stretched, the valves that are in the veins and ensure the correct outflow of venous blood cease to function.

Causes of the disease

Varicose veins in women is an unpleasant phenomenon and can develop due to:

• Pregnancy is the most common cause, causing many unrest in expectant mothers and in certain cases, threatening the health and even life of a woman and a baby;
• Rapid weight gain or the presence of extra pounds - maintaining the optimal weight ensures the proper functioning of all body systems, since excessive exposure to the organs of fat deposits is excluded;
• Presence before pregnancy of vascular mesh - the lack of timely treatment of varicose veins prior to pregnancy provokes a significant worsening of the veins of the lower extremities in the period of gestation;
• Hereditary predisposition to the disease;
• Sedentary lifestyle - in the absence of mobility, there is swelling, numbness and swelling of the veins on the legs; It is difficult to eliminate these consequences, and the absence of medical intervention is dangerous for the mother and child;
• Frequent wearing of uncomfortable shoes with high heels ;
• Long sunbaths - under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the skin becomes thinner, which contributes to the negative effect of radiation on the state of the vessels of the lower limbs;
• Strong physical exertion (in particular, lifting weights);
• Wax epilation .

Of all the reasons, pregnancy is the most common. This especially applies to the last trimester, when the weight increases rapidly, the volume of circulating blood also increases markedly. If the correct diet and other doctor's recommendations are not observed, the venous walls lose their elasticity and swell, sticking out above the surface of the skin.

In addition, the growing uterus exerts a strong pressure on the main vascular pathways, provoking varicose veins. Treatment and prevention of the disease in the presence of genetic predisposition must begin with a young age. This is, first of all, proper nutrition, moderate stress, contrast shower and wearing comfortable shoes and clothes.

Symptomatic of the disease

At the initial stage, varicose veins are almost asymptomatic, so it is necessary to pay attention to the sharp appearance of swelling, pain and fatigue in the legs, as well as seizures. With further development of the disease, veins deform.

The increasing volume of blood during pregnancy and the constantly increasing weight exert a strong pressure on the vessels of the lower extremities, as a result of which the venous wall weakens and stretches, and the vein begins to protrude strongly above the surface of the skin. Thus, varicose veins are formed during pregnancy. What to do with a progressive disease, it is difficult to say without a complete examination of a pregnant woman.

With hormonal reorganization of the body, some women may experience severe pain in the legs without visible changes in the vessels, while others may not have pain even in the advanced stage of varicose veins, with severe deformations of the vessels. Therefore, the symptomatology of the disease manifests itself very individually.

Varicose veins during pregnancy: what to do?

Having discovered the first symptoms of the disease or the already noticeable reticulums and swelling of the veins, it is necessary to tell about it to your doctor. He, in turn, should conduct an examination and send a woman to the phlebologist - a doctor who specializes in solving problems with the blood vessels of the body.

After a full examination and ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, we can conclude about the state of veins and the degree of development of varicose veins. During the first pregnancy, varicose veins develop in about a quarter of pregnant women. With subsequent pregnancies, the risk of developing varicose veins is greatly increased, and if the disease was detected earlier, it is aggravated. That's why with age, a woman needs to follow her way of life more carefully.

All women sooner or later begin to worry about varicose veins during pregnancy. What to do to prevent this disease, you can find out from specialized literature, from experienced moms, and better simply by consulting with a doctor.

Prevention of varicose veins

Preventive measures should apply to all pregnant women without exception. The simplest and most effective way is to wear special stockings. In pregnancy, it is preferable to use pantyhose from varicose veins. Appointment of such clothes should be exclusively the doctor, as it is difficult to choose them personally, especially taking into account your position, so as not to harm yourself or your future baby.

It is necessary to monitor the increase in weight, because excessive and rapid increase in it has a very negative effect on the health of the mother and on the overall condition of the baby, and also provokes the development of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

To improve blood flow, sleep is recommended on the left side. Do not cross your legs when sitting and stand for a long time. A heavy load on the lower limbs will promote the rapid progression of varicose veins.

If you still have to spend a long time on your feet, periodically you need to get up on your toes to disperse the stagnant blood. It is useful to use a special gel from varicose veins, which will relieve fatigue from the legs and improve the condition of the vessels, making the venous wall more elastic.

Shoes should also be comfortable and do not cause leg fatigue. It is not necessary to go to extremes, having passed all pregnancy on hairpins, or, on the contrary - in ballet shoes on a flat sole. For physiologically correct positioning of the foot and load distribution on it, the footwear should have a small heel - 3-5 cm.

Treatment of varicose veins

Optimal treatment and a pregnant woman's diet with varicose veins can be prescribed only by a doctor. In no case should you yourself buy and use any advertised funds from varicose for local or internal use, you can not also choose tights from varicose yourself, this all can harm a developing baby.

During pregnancy, many drugs are contraindicated, so the preference is given to ointments, gels or folk remedies. Drugs for internal use are prescribed only in the presence of complications of varicose veins, or when the disease is in a neglected stage.

The physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism, the characteristics of the course of pregnancy and heredity, will select suitable drugs that ensure the greatest effectiveness in a particular case. In pregnancy, popular medications are popular, for example, tincture of chestnut from varicose veins. With particularly neglected forms of varicose surgery is allowed. However, it is justified only in case of a real threat to life. Carry out an operation for pregnant women only in the period up to 6 months. It is also effective to carry out sclerotization of veins with the help of special solutions.

Folk methods of prevention and treatment of varicose veins

At all times people trusted people's methods of treatment more. For the prevention of varicose veins, it is effective to make lotions and compresses based on medicinal herbs. However, before using any external prescription, you need to consult a doctor so as not to harm the baby.

To relieve fatigue and heaviness in legs will help tincture of Kalanchoe. It is enough to take a shredded plant and vodka in a 1: 1 ratio, insist and daily rub the lower limbs with tincture.

Tincture of chestnut from varicose veins is the most effective folk remedy. To prepare tinctures, you need to prepare half a liter of vodka and 50 grams of crushed shell of chestnut fruit. The ingredients are placed in a suitable glass container. After three weeks, the tincture is ready for use.

Note! The container with tincture should be shaken periodically.

For compresses you can use white cabbage. Leaves of cabbage are smeared with soap and placed on the damaged areas, which must first be sprinkled with soda. This compress should be left overnight, secured with a warm cloth.

Method of delivery with varicose veins

Depending on the condition of the pregnant woman and the degree of varicose veins, the doctor can advise natural childbirth or caesarean section. In most cases, preference is given to independent childbirth, this process is much better for the mother and the child.

At natural sorts of the pregnant woman it is necessary to rewind legs an elastic bandage. This will prevent the return of blood during the attempts. After the birth, doctors recommend that you give time for daily medical gymnastics, you will need to visit a phlebologist.

Caesarean section is prescribed only in extreme cases, mainly varicosity is only an additional contraindication, which is based on other prohibitions. For example, with an incorrect presentation of the fetus, when the child is too large, or when carrying twins.

If during the diagnosis (as a rule, ultrasound of the lower extremities is performed) deep vein thrombosis is detected, the patient needs an operation. Otherwise the thrombus, tearing away, carries a serious threat to life.

Features of the course of varicose during pregnancy

During the entire pregnancy it is necessary to visit a phlebologist and to undergo a regular examination. Responsible attitude to their health will prevent or in time detect the development of thrombosis. Massage with varicose has a positive effect on the condition of the vessels, preventing stagnation of blood in the legs.

Massage should be started from the hip, grasping the buttocks, then moving to the legs, and only after massaging the feet. The technology of massage consists in continuous shaking and rubbing of muscles. The patient is located on the back, slightly bending his knees. This approach will not only eliminate numbness and heaviness in the legs, but also eliminate seizures and itching.

You need to carefully monitor your diet, weight gain, activity and comfort in terms of shoes and clothes. Very useful in pregnancy to visit the pool. Swimming helps not only to relieve tension from muscles and nervous system, but also improves blood circulation, contributing to the strengthening of vascular walls and saturation of the body with sufficient oxygen. All this will contribute to the proper development of the fetus and the well-being of the pregnant woman.

Physical stress in varicose veins

Moderate physical activity is the key to health and well-being. Sports exercises for varicose are not contraindicated, and given that a woman is carrying a baby, moderate loads should be present.

The main thing is to choose the right kind of sport, so that it would bring pleasure to the mother and fill the body with new forces. The optimal option can be called walking, swimming, after birth, it will not be superfluous to add jogging.

Note! Before you start any activities, you need to consult your doctor. This will avoid unforeseen complications and a strong burden on a weakened and vulnerable female body.

Pregnant people recommend a lot of rest, avoid heavy loads, eat lots of vitamins and lead an active lifestyle. It is not superfluous to attend courses for pregnant women or yoga classes. This will not only strengthen health, but will also provide easier labor activity.

The most effective prescription for varicose veins is a healthy lifestyle. A woman who adheres to proper nutrition and leads an active life is not afraid of varicose veins.