Articles

Key takeaways

• Varicose veins are swollen veins, often in legs or vulva.
• Pregnancy hormones and womb pressure can cause them.
• Raise your legs and use compression stockings to ease discomfort.
• Seek help for pain, redness, or swelling in one leg.

What are varicose veins and why do they happen in pregnancy?

Varicose veins are blood vessels under the skin that are unusually large and stick out. They are swollen, twisted, and can appear lumpy or bulging. These veins may look blue or dark purple.

They usually develop in your legs. However, you can also get them in the opening to your vagina, known as the vulva. Varicose veins can be painful and sometimes itchy.

Many pregnant women and people get varicose veins. They can appear as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. This happens for a few reasons during pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones make the veins bigger. There is also more blood in your body during pregnancy. As your womb grows, it puts more pressure on your veins.

Tips for prevention and management

There are several ways to help prevent or manage varicose veins. These tips can help ease any discomfort you feel.

• Avoid standing for long periods – try not to stand still for long times.
• Keep legs uncrossed – do not sit with your legs crossed.
• Raise your legs – Sit or lie down with your legs raised up as often as you can. You can use pillows under your ankles or put books under the foot of your bed to raise it.
• Wear compression stockings – These can be bought at most pharmacies and can ease symptoms, though they will not prevent varicose veins. Support tights can also help.
• Do gentle exercise – walking and swimming can improve your circulation. Antenatal exercises can also help.
• Follow advice on weight gain – Gaining a healthy amount of weight in pregnancy helps reduce the pressure on your veins. Your midwife can guide you on this.
• Do foot exercises – these can help your circulation.

You can try these foot exercises:

1. Bend and stretch your foot up and down 30 times.
2. Rotate your foot 8 times one way and 8 times the other.
3. Repeat these steps with your other foot.

Ask your midwife, antenatal teacher, or an obstetric physiotherapist for more exercises that are right for you.

When to seek help for varicose veins

It is common to have swelling or discomfort in your legs during pregnancy. This alone does not always mean there is a serious problem. However, some symptoms do need medical attention.

Always tell your midwife or GP if you notice any of the following:

• Hot areas in your legs or vulva.
• Red areas in your legs or vulva.
• Painful areas in your legs or vulva.

You should call your GP, midwife, or 111 immediately if you have certain symptoms. These could be signs of a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). DVT usually happens in only one leg.

Symptoms of DVT include:

• Pain, swelling, and tenderness in one leg. This is usually at the back of your lower leg (calf).
• Pain that may be worse when you walk.
• A heavy ache in the affected area.
• Warm skin in the affected area.
• Red skin, especially at the back of your leg below the knee. Redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin.

A blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism, or PE), which can be a complication of a DVT, is a medical emergency. You must call 999 immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• Sudden difficulty breathing.
• Pain or tightness in your chest or upper back.
• Coughing blood.