Varicose veins during pregnancy: why it occurs, why it is dangerous and how to prevent it. Varicose veins in pregnant women - how to get rid of varicose veins for expectant mothers Veins on the legs of pregnant women treatment

Varicose veins are one of the common phenomena that expectant mothers face during the most crucial period of their lives. According to statistics, approximately 20-30% of women encounter this disease during their first pregnancy, and subsequently the risks increase significantly: 40-60% of those who give birth for the second time, and up to 80% during the third pregnancy. Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic defect, but also a serious disorder that can lead to unpleasant consequences, so you should start fighting it immediately after the first symptoms appear.

Varicose veins can occur in a woman at any time, but pregnancy creates the most favorable conditions for the development of the disease. During the period of bearing a child, the expectant mother increases her body weight and the amount of blood circulating in the vessels of her legs, and hormonal changes occur. In addition, the uterus begins to put a lot of pressure on the vessels and veins, which causes blood flow in the lower extremities to worsen.

If such phenomena are accompanied by sedentary work, wearing uncomfortable shoes, poor diet or genetic pathologies, varicose veins veins begin to progress quite quickly.

Attention: a tendency to varicose veins can be recognized even before pregnancy - it is indicated by a bluish network of blood vessels, which some women have on their legs. In this case, a woman should pay attention Special attention on the health of the lower extremities, since during the period of bearing the baby she may develop varicose veins.

Signs of varicose veins

Varicose veins develop due to defects in the vein valves and thinning of their walls, resulting in a disruption of blood flow (most often in the legs, less often in the veins of the pelvis and vagina). The first signs of the disease include:

• rapid fatigue of the lower extremities, which subsequently develops into severe discomfort and even pain;
• cramps and swelling, which usually appear in the late afternoon;
• the appearance of “meshes”, “stars” and “worms”, that is, clearly visible sections of veins;
• the veins acquire a lilac or bluish color and begin to bulge strongly above the surface of the skin;
• the appearance of skin ulcerations and trophic ulcers.

Important: in an advanced stage of the disease, a serious complication may occur that requires immediate medical care- rupture of the node, accompanied by severe bleeding.

Why are varicose veins dangerous?

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are often combined with varicose veins of the vagina, which has a bad effect on the course of pregnancy and recovery after childbirth. The disease often results in hemorrhoids, fissures in the vagina and rectum, which can bleed. Despite the fact that the bleeding in this case is insignificant, it negatively affects the development and health of the child. Accordingly, varicose veins in pregnant women should never be ignored - if treatment is started at an early stage, the disease will not have undesirable consequences for the expectant mother and baby.

Treatment of varicose veins in pregnant women

Sometimes the symptoms of varicose veins in expectant mothers go away on their own after childbirth - this happens when the woman’s veins were in good condition before conception. But in most cases, the problem begins to worsen, causing serious discomfort to the expectant mother. To treat varicose veins and combat unpleasant symptoms, creams and gels are most often used, which should be selected taking into account the “interesting” position of the patient.

Creams and gels against varicose veins for pregnant women

A drug	Image	Active substances	Therapeutic effect	Mode of application
"Venosal plus"		Extracts of medicinal plants (calendula, ginkgo biloba, witch hazel, sweet clover), D-panthenol	Tones veins, relieves swelling and inflammation	Apply twice a day, rub well into the skin
"Venorm"		Extracts from horse chestnut, sweet clover, calendula, raspberry leaves, birch leaves, kelp extract	Vasodonic and protective effect, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect	Apply to the skin 2-4 times a day, rub in with light movements
"Mom's comfort"		Horse chestnut extract, vegetable oils	Relieves swelling, tones the skin, protects against stretch marks and the appearance of spider veins	Rub into the skin several times a day. Suitable not only for legs, but also for chest skin. Effective exclusively for the prevention of varicose veins
"Grandmother Agafya's Recipes"		Extracts from horse chestnut, lemon balm, meadowsweet, plantain, cedar oil	Relieves bloating of veins, strengthens vascular walls, improves blood circulation, has a relaxing effect	Apply to the skin several times a day. Ineffective for progressive varicose veins
"Venolife"		Dexpanthenol, troxerutin, phenylethyl alcohol	Has an analgesic effect, fights swelling, improves blood circulation, and is effective for progressive varicose veins	Apply 2-3 times a day, course of treatment is 14-21 days
"Lioton"		Heparin sodium	Relieves swelling, has an anticoagulant effect, improves blood microcirculation, resolves hematomas	Apply a thin layer 1-3 times a day, rub in gently
"Troxevasin"		Troxerutin	Reduces pain and swelling, improves venous insufficiency, improves blood flow	Apply a thin layer in the morning and evening, rub into the skin with light movements. Not used in the first trimester of pregnancy

Attention: despite the fact that the above drugs do not penetrate placental barrier and have an exclusively local effect, you should consult your doctor before use.

Video - How to prevent varicose veins during pregnancy

Treatment with folk remedies

Traditional recipes against varicose veins are considered safer than pharmacological drugs, but when using them, you should also be careful and monitor the body’s reaction.

1. Hop cones. The most common remedy against varicose veins. You need to take a tablespoon of cones, steam it with a glass of boiling water, put it in a water bath for 20 minutes, filter and squeeze. Use to prepare compresses: apply to the flap natural fabric, wrap the affected areas, hold for 20 minutes, and the limbs should lie on a slight elevation. Do 2 procedures per day.

   

   Hop cones are the most common remedy against varicose veins.

2. horse chestnut. Extracts from this plant are included in almost all preparations intended for the treatment of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and other vascular diseases, since the plant has anti-inflammatory, decongestant and tonic effects. The decoction is prepared in the same way as in the previous case, and the compress can be left overnight.
3. Chamomile. Chamomile is another common remedy that relieves inflammation, swelling and cools the skin. Take a glass bottle, fill it tightly with flowers almost to the brim and fill it with any vegetable oil so that it covers the flowers. Leave for a month, shaking the container well from time to time. Filter, squeeze well, rub the oil into the skin 1-2 times a day.

   

4. Calendula. Steam a tablespoon of flowers with a glass of boiling water, hold for an hour under the lid, filter. Melt 200 g of lanolin (can be purchased at a pharmacy) and mix well with 50 g of calendula infusion. Apply the resulting ointment to the affected areas 1-2 times a day, and can be used as compresses at night.
5. Herbal infusions. Another good remedy against varicose veins - foot baths with calendula, chamomile, horse chestnut, birch leaves, hop cones, birch leaves. Take 200 g of herbs, chop, steam 2 liters of boiling water, heat for 10 minutes in a water bath, then leave for another hour in a well-sealed container. Filter, pour into a suitable container (temperature should not be higher than 38 degrees), lower your feet, hold for 10-15 minutes. After the procedure, do a light massage and lie with your legs elevated for at least 40 minutes. It should be noted that such a procedure is contraindicated in acute thrombophlebitis.

   

   Herbal infusions are a good remedy for varicose veins

You can take it orally to combat the symptoms of varicose veins. viburnum juice or blueberry juice(Grind 250 g of berries, squeeze out the liquid, add a tablespoon of honey), infusions of strawberry leaves, lingonberries– steam a tablespoon of leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour, drink instead of regular tea.

Attention: for preparing compresses (especially those that are used for a long time), it is not recommended to use cellophane and cling film, as this can lead to diaper rash.

Prevention of varicose veins

If there is a tendency to varicose veins, prevention should be carried out in advance, but if the symptoms of the disease have already appeared, the expectant mother should follow certain recommendations and rules to prevent complications.

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Varicose veins or varicose veins are a fairly common disease that is familiar not only to women, but also to men. For many reasons, the fair half suffers from varicose veins more than the stronger sex. Varicose veins during pregnancy are very common and cause a lot of inconvenience. Why this happens and how to deal with varicose veins during pregnancy, read our article.

Causes of varicose veins during pregnancy

It is worth noting that varicose veins during pregnancy do not appear out of nowhere; most likely, the expectant mother had suffered from this disease before, but did not attach any importance to it, or varicose veins occurred in a latent form. Now that the woman is in interesting position, all the pitfalls begin to emerge little by little.

The reasons why varicose veins occur during pregnancy can be very different, below we will name the most common of them:

1. Hormonal metamorphoses in the body of the expectant mother. It is already an established fact that pregnancy affects the hormonal levels of women, causing side effects. For example, progesterone, which relaxes the muscles of the uterus, also relaxes the walls of blood vessels. The result of this effect is stagnant processes and a decrease in the function of active blood pumping. This is how a problem called varicose veins arises.
2. Increased venous pressure. Blood flow in pregnant women increases significantly. This process is associated with the blood supply to the baby, who is in the womb, but a steady expansion occurs in the veins.
3. The appearance of blood clots. Preparing the body for childbirth takes into account the possibility of blood loss during delivery. Therefore, if you have varicose veins, the likelihood of blood clots will only worsen the situation.
4. Physical inactivity. This name was given to the reduction motor activity. Many pregnant women are guilty of this, as some are simply too lazy to move more, while others, due to poor health, simply cannot lead an active lifestyle. In both cases, varicose veins may develop during pregnancy. In the absence of obvious contraindications, try to take walks on fresh air, do light exercises, go to the pool.

Types of varicose veins

Today, medicine knows several types of varicose veins. All of them are characterized by weakness of the walls of blood vessels and congestion. The most common types of varicose veins encountered during pregnancy are:

• varicose veins during pregnancy in the groin (associated with bulging veins in the groin area, the woman feels discomfort);
• varicose veins during pregnancy in the uterus (are genetic in nature, occur due to increased activity of the iliac veins; may be the result inflammatory diseases, violations menstrual cycle or abortion);
• varicose veins of the vagina (if you have a genetic predisposition to varicose veins, then varicose veins of the vagina can also become your companion);
• Varicose veins on the legs are one of the most common forms of this disease that affects women.

Each of these types of disease has its own characteristics and treatment, which is prescribed by a specialist.

Stages of varicose veins

Varicose veins during pregnancy have several stages:

1. compensation (veins and nodes are visible, heaviness in the legs and fatigue are often felt);
2. partial compensation (pain and distension are very pronounced, prolonged exercise provokes swelling of the affected area and even the entire leg, cramps occur from time to time, especially at night, swelling goes away only after taking a horizontal position);
3. decompensation (pronounced swelling that goes away when lying down, the venous nodes are strongly expressed, the veins are clearly visible, the skin has a painful bluish tint; in this case, trophic ulcers may occur even in the absence of damage to the skin).

It is worth noting that the second and third stages can cause thrombophlebitis, in which rupture of a venous node is accompanied by bleeding. This condition requires surgery.

Varicose veins during pregnancy: photo

Treatment of varicose veins during pregnancy

Treatment methods for any disease during pregnancy always differ from those used by doctors in their daily practice. Here, more than ever, the principle of “Do no harm” works, and we are talking about the health of two patients. During the treatment of varicose veins, gentle methods are used for pregnant women, since sclerotherapy and surgical methods are no longer suitable in this case due to the presence of contraindications. These methods are also not used if the woman is planning a pregnancy in the near future, as there is a risk of relapse. In this case, the question arises: how to treat varicose veins during pregnancy? First of all, doctors recommend wearing special compression underwear in the form of stockings and tights, as well as using topical medications, that is, creams, gels and ointments. Among the most popular remedies for varicose veins are Lyoton-gel, Venitan, Dr. Theiss", as well as preparations based on horse chestnut extract.

If your doctor has prescribed you to wear compression stockings, you will need to wear them throughout your pregnancy to reduce the risk of blood clots.

If a woman has previously suffered from varicose veins, then she should remember that during pregnancy the disease worsens due to increased stress on the body. Varicose veins not only look ugly, but also become a source of discomfort. The higher the pressure in the legs, the more severe the symptoms will be. To avoid such consequences, follow a number of recommendations.

• During pregnancy, a woman gains weight - this is a normal process. But still watch your weight so as not to gain too much and too quickly.
• Avoid placing excessive strain on the veins. Avoid heavy lifting and hot baths. The water in the bath or shower should be warm.
• Take every few hours to rest. Place your feet on soft pads. Before going to bed, make sure that the bottom edge of the bed is raised up by 10-15 cm. This can be done using a bolster.
• Consult your doctor managing your pregnancy. Together, choose tights with a supportive effect. These are available in a range from 100 to 280 den. Wear them throughout the day, removing them only before going to bed at night. Compression stockings reduce the diameter of veins. This stimulates blood flow and significantly reduces the risk of blood clots. Also, special tights increase the pressure in the tissues, which is why swelling occurs less frequently.
• Compression tights can make you feel too hot, especially in the summer. They can be replaced with elastic bandages, which also need to be removed at night. You need to choose bandages together with your doctor. If varicose veins progressed during pregnancy, the legs should be wrapped in the same bandages during childbirth. Before giving birth, tell your obstetrician about this need.
• Observe in specialized centers. The specialty of a doctor who treats problems with varicose veins is called phlebology. The phlebologist will recommend a suitable method of treatment or relief during pregnancy. These include:
• tablets that strengthen and tonify the veins (“Ginkor-fort”, “Eskuzan”, “Detralex”, etc.);
• wearing compression stockings or elastic bandages. The treatment is called compression therapy;
• the use of ointments and gels applied directly to the place where the veins are dilated (“Lioton-1000”, “Troxevasin” and the like);
• the use of anticoagulants during pregnancy is prohibited. These are blood thinning medications. They reduce the likelihood of blood clots, but also interfere with normal blood clotting. If a pregnant woman starts bleeding, it will be very difficult to stop - this is critical during childbirth. Anticoagulants also pose a risk of placental abruption. After childbirth, do not forget to pay attention to stimulating blood circulation in the veins. If the manifestations of varicose veins do not stop, you may have to resort to treatment with surgery.

Keep a close eye on varicose veins! If one of them turns red, starts to hurt badly, and your temperature rises and your heart rate increases, you need to urgently call an ambulance.

Varicose veins in pregnant women: the birth process

It is quite natural that expectant mothers worry about how their birth will go if they have varicose veins. It is worth noting that varicose veins are not a contraindication for pregnancy and childbirth, but a woman will have to closely monitor her health. Also, the expectant mother should pay special attention to preventive measures to avoid thrombosis and inflammatory processes in the veins. Preventive measures should be selected for you by a doctor, most often a gynecologist together with a phlebologist.

Prevention of varicose veins during pregnancy

Working ahead always gives good results. If you know that one of your relatives suffered from varicose veins, you should take care of preventing this disease. This will allow you to avoid the development of varicose veins or reduce their manifestation. And those who are sure that varicose veins will not threaten them during pregnancy should still take care of their health so that childbirth is easy and postpartum recovery is quick.

If you notice venous nodules on your legs, you need to visit a doctor who will monitor you throughout the entire period of pregnancy.

Prevention measures:

1. Walk more. Let walking occupy at least two hours in your schedule and become a daily habit. Walking has a positive effect on the calf muscles and improves blood circulation. But it is better to avoid walking in the heat.
2. Swimming for varicose veins or to prevent it is an excellent solution. During classes, you not only work out all muscle groups, the load on the spine is reduced, and your body receives a kind of massage. Visit the pool two to three times a week for excellent results.
3. A contrast shower also has a positive effect on the health of the expectant mother and helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels. But here it is worth considering that the temperature difference should not be significant so as not to cause harm.
4. Choose the right shoes. Pregnancy is not the time for high heels. Wear shoes with heels no larger than 5 cm. They should be soft, comfortable, stable and natural. It is better to buy shoes without laces, elastic bands, or ties, as they can interfere with blood circulation. The same rule applies to elastic bands on socks. They also shouldn't be tight.
5. Several times a day, try to take a horizontal position for 15-20 minutes, with your legs raised on a hill. This helps relieve fatigue and swelling. You've probably seen in films how Americans sit with their feet on the table. This habit should become yours during pregnancy. For greater comfort, place a soft pillow under your feet.
6. Sleep on your left side. This sleeping position is very useful, as the pressure of the uterus on the vein decreases, and accordingly, the pressure in the legs decreases.
7. To preventive measures were most effective, try to alternate the position of the body according to the pattern: “lying-sitting-standing”. Extremes in this case are unacceptable.
8. Don't sit with your legs crossed. This only aggravates the situation and increases swelling.
9. Take care of your diet, as varicose veins during pregnancy require a special diet.

Varicose veins during pregnancy: diet

A pregnant woman's diet should be balanced and correct, regardless of whether she suffers from varicose veins or not. This is the basis of good health, so it is very important to eat rationally.

What should be included in the menu of a future mother who has a predisposition to varicose veins or wants to get rid of it?

Firstly, you must comply drinking regime. Drink juices, still water, eat liquid soups. Grape juice from red varieties will be especially useful, as it has a positive effect on platelets and reduces the risk of blood clots.

Also include in your diet:

• celery,
• tomatoes,
• garlic,
• cherry,
• kiwi,
• cranberries, which will serve as an additional prevention of thrombosis.

Iodine will help reduce blood viscosity and improve the elasticity of blood vessels. You can take special medications that contain this microelement, eat iodized salt, and seaweed.

Let your diet include only seasonal fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and have a positive effect on the course of pregnancy.

Varicose veins after childbirth

Women often wonder what will happen to their blood vessels after childbirth: will they return to normal or will the situation worsen? No one can answer this question unequivocally, since a number of characteristics of the body determine the course of a particular disease. But in case of manifestations of varicose veins after childbirth, the need for its treatment remains. Today medicine can offer two types of treatment:

1. conservative;
2. operational.

Conservative treatment involves the use of medications, while surgical treatment is aimed at eliminating the problem surgically.

Quite often, a concomitant disease in women with varicose veins is thrombophlebitis (inflammatory processes in the walls of blood vessels). The symptoms of this disease are as follows:

• vascular pain;
• vein tension;
• redness of the skin in the affected areas;
• temperature.

If you notice such manifestations, immediately visit a doctor. Be prepared for hospitalization.

Varicose veins during pregnancy in a severe stage include bed rest, in which the legs are in an elevated position.

Postpartum treatment may include a whole therapy: sulfonamides, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and even painkillers. In some cases, it is advisable to use medications that prevent blood clotting, but new mothers take them a few days after delivery. Otherwise, uterine bleeding may occur.

Finally, we note that planning a pregnancy allows you to avoid many unpleasant moments, as well as improve your health with the help of preventive measures. This can be said about varicose veins: a woman who knows her problem will be able to take effective measures and, together with a doctor, prevent the situation from getting worse.

Vein charging

The suggested exercises do not have to be completed in full. Choose only those that your health and pregnancy period allow you to do.

1. Sitting position, legs bent at the knees, arms down. As you inhale, rise to your full height, and as you exhale, sit back down.
2. Standing position, legs apart so that there is enough space for the foot between them. Bend your right and left knees alternately. Socks cannot be lifted off the floor. Breathing should be calm and uniform.
3. Standing position, arms down, feet hip-width apart. As you inhale, raise your arms, and as you exhale, lower your arms, taking a step with your left foot. Place the right one on it. Repeat the same for the right leg.
4. Sitting position, heels on the floor. Stretch your feet in a circular motion.
5. We continue to stretch our feet: stand on tiptoes, hold for 2-3 seconds, then lower back down.
6. Walk on your tiptoes, on your heels, on the inside and outside of your feet. Don't limit yourself to one room: walk around the whole apartment so that you have more space and don't get dizzy.
7. Sitting position, legs bent, knees touching each other. Raise your toes as high as possible without lifting your heels from the floor. Then we press it as close as possible to the floor.
8. We repeat the same exercise, lifting the heels. As a variation, you can combine these two exercises by changing legs: one does the exercise on the toe, the other on the heel.
9. Standing position. Inhaling, we rise onto our tiptoes and raise our arms to the ceiling. As you exhale, lower your arms, heels touch the floor, knees are slightly bent.
10. Turn on some music and dance a little or just shift your weight from one foot to the other. Not too active movements warm up the blood vessels and do not cause shortness of breath.
11. The position is as follows: the right leg is on the floor, the left is raised and extended forward. Make circular movements with your foot, knee and then from your hip. Switch legs. Then we repeat the same complex with the leg extended to the side. In the first months of pregnancy, this exercise can be performed lying down.

It is advisable to do this type of physical activity several times a day. Repeat each described point up to 10 times.

Do not take doctors' recommendations into absolutes. For women genetically predisposed to varicose veins, doctors recommend less physical exercise. Excessive activity affects the functioning of the veins in a negative way. But this does not mean that it is time to completely stop any physical activity. Varicose veins during pregnancy can be prevented by choosing the right exercises, as well as walking and periodically resting. This will improve the overall tone of the body and help you feel healthier. Go swimming, walk in the fresh air, and together with your doctor, select a complex of physical therapy.

The following exercise helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, preparing the entire area for future childbirth, so it is recommended for expectant mothers to perform it. It consists in the fact that you need to squat down and spread your legs wide. But with varicose veins, it is undesirable to do it, although it is possible if the case is not critical. The question of moderation is also important in massage: too active movements are harmful, but gentle stroking helps.

A contrast shower tones the blood vessels of the body well. For about an hour after this procedure, the woman feels much better. The shower also helps with varicose veins, having a beneficial effect on them.

But it is better to refrain from visiting the sauna. And although the sauna is positioned in many sources as an excellent means for strengthening veins and blood vessels, prolonged exposure to high temperatures harms the child. Therefore, during pregnancy, limit yourself to a shower or warm bath.

Women suffer from varicose veins several times more often than men. During pregnancy, latent pathological conditions or a predisposition to such conditions in the body of the expectant mother become aggravated, leading to the appearance of the notorious stars and webs on the legs.

There is a popular myth that varicose veins are almost an obligatory companion for all pregnant women. However, many women calmly carry a child, unaware of the possibility of congestion in the veins. In others, the disease manifests itself only later or with repeated pregnancies.

What do you need to know to successfully resist it, and how to safely treat it?

Statistics inform that with signs of varicose veins Faces up to 50% of expectant mothers, most of them in the later stages. The main “culprits” of illness during pregnancy are:

• Changes in hormonal balance. The content of the hormone progesterone, necessary for successful pregnancy, increases in the blood of a pregnant woman. Progesterone reduces the tone of the muscle walls of the uterus, and at the same time the walls of blood vessels.
• Increased circulating blood volume(up to 1.5 times), which increases the likelihood of stagnation.
• Pressure of the growing uterus on the deep veins, as a result of which blood circulation in the legs and pelvic organs is disrupted.
• Change chemical composition blood, primarily the growth of fibrinogen. This is an important factor in the blood clotting system, the change in which increases the risk of blood clots. The blood becomes more “viscous” and its flow through the vessels is difficult.

All these factors can manifest themselves only slightly at the beginning of pregnancy, but progress closer to childbirth. Varicose veins manifest themselves most clearly in the last months.

Indirect factors of varicose veins in pregnant women may include:

• Genetic factor. If there were women in the family suffering from varicose veins, they almost certainly passed on the predisposition by inheritance.
• Increase in body weight, especially rapid weight gain (the circulatory system does not have time to adapt to the stress).
• Low physical activity.
• Poor nutrition, insufficient fiber intake.

Blood flows in to the lower part of the body and limbs along large vessels, and this is where varicose veins begin. Veins do not provide adequate blood flow and timely return to the heart. arise congestion, pressure in the veins increases, bursting them from the inside and deforming them.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The disease can signal itself without yet manifesting itself externally:

• Swelling of the legs, especially the feet, progressing in the evening. Shoes become tight.
• Night cramps in the legs, feeling of heat, fullness, tingling, discomfort.
• Skin pigmentation on the legs.

In late pregnancy Varicose veins can appear not only on the legs. Pregnant women suffer from dilatation. It is also the cause of such intimate problems as hemorrhoids.

With progression of the disease under the skin of the lower extremities specific spider veins appear, the legs are dotted with a network of capillaries. Varicose veins can affect larger vessels, and the pattern of the veins becomes more distinct; bulges and nodules form under the skin.

The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture and the patient’s complaints by a specialist in venous disease: a phlebologist or a vascular surgeon.

Safe treatments

Varicose veins can greatly darken the period of bearing a child. Not only is it unnecessary to put up with it, but it is also fraught with complications.

The main treatment for varicose veins during pregnancy is aimed at preventing thrombosis and ensuring good blood circulation. First of all pregnant The following useful points should be taken into account:

Pregnant women with problem veins are advised to wear special compression stockings. To prevent the disease, compression class No. 1 is recommended; with pronounced signs of varicose veins, it can be increased to No. 2. Elastic compression improves blood circulation several times, keeping veins toned. Before purchasing stockings, be sure to take measurements of each leg in the morning, before swelling appears.

Medical stockings for varicose veins in pregnant women will have to be worn throughout the entire pregnancy, including childbirth, and for some period after the birth of the child.

For more useful information on this topic, watch the video:

List of drugs

In addition to compression stockings, gymnastics and recommendations for a healthy lifestyle The doctor may also recommend medications.

Local preparations are available in the form ointments, creams and gels, applied directly to the affected area of ​​skin, usually 2-3 times a day. Since they penetrate only to a limited depth, they have no effect on the cause of the disease.

Phlebotonics for oral use have a general venotonic effect, reduce the permeability of vascular walls, and increase their elasticity. The duration and regimen of treatment are determined by the doctor and the instructions for the drug.

What not to do?

The use of any medications for varicose veins during pregnancy should be taken with the utmost seriousness. This is not the case when you can self-medicate. Any remedy must be prescribed by a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to select the right combination of drugs that will give maximum effect with a minimum of side effects.

• prolonged exposure to the sun,
• visiting a sauna or bathhouse,
• cosmetic procedures that cause microtrauma to the skin (peeling, hair removal with hot wax, etc.).

Qualified treatment and compliance with all recommendations allows you to achieve good blood flow compensation in a short time (up to 1 month) and prevent the progression of the disease.

When is an urgent need to see a doctor?

Varicose veins are not dangerous in themselves, and mostly cause inconvenience due to cosmetic defects. However advanced cases are fraught with very serious complications, often requiring urgent medical intervention. The most formidable of them include:

• . Formation of a blood clot in the lumen of a vein. The site of the thrombus is hard to the touch, painful, with hot skin. When there is pronounced swelling.
• . Blockage of both the pulmonary artery itself and its branches may occur. In the latter case, diagnosis is difficult, since there are no obvious symptoms. Caused by blood clots in the veins of the legs or pelvis.
• . Condition preceding thromboembolism. It is treated with anticoagulants (blood thinning drugs), and elastic compression is mandatory.
• Trophic ulcers. Inflammation of the skin, bones and tendons due to the destruction of blood vessels. A long-term process that is aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

These pathologies may be associated with various infections, such as erysipelas, etc.

During pregnancy you should especially listen carefully to changes in your body. A general or local increase in body temperature, thickened painful areas on the skin, a change in its color, severe swelling are reasons to urgently consult a doctor.

If a diagnosis of varicose veins is established, observation by a phlebologist is indicated throughout the entire pregnancy.

If the veins are in good condition and the disease did not manifest itself in any way before pregnancy, all signs will disappear after childbirth. The most effective way prevention of varicose veins in pregnant women is healthy image life, coupled with simple recommendations for vein tone.

Pregnancy imposes restrictions on the treatment tactics of the disease, therefore usually used conservative methods treatment varicose veins Surgical methods of intervention are postponed until after childbirth, unless there are serious medical indications for such.

During pregnancy female body undergoes serious stress, which can lead to the development of health complications. One of the most common problems is varicose veins on the legs during pregnancy. What to do if it appears, how to prevent it and what measures to take can be found in this article.

What are varicose veins and where do they come from?

Vein is not only a cosmetic defect, but also a great danger to the health and life of the mother and baby. Visually, varicose veins can take the form of a spider vein visible through the skin, or a strong expansion of the main veins that protrude above the skin and look like “worms”.

Spider veins typically have a bluish or purple tint, while swollen and bulging veins are different green. With progressive varicose veins, the development of thrombophlebitis or trophic ulcers is possible, but the most dangerous thing is the formation of blood clots, which, when broken off, pose a serious threat to the life of the mother and fetus.

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

The mechanism of development of varicose veins is a violation of the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities. It turns out that blood flows to the legs, but does not flow back due to the fact that 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 located in the veins and ensuring the correct outflow of venous blood cease to function.

Reasons for the development of the disease

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

• pregnancy- the most common reason that causes a lot of anxiety among expectant mothers and, in certain cases, poses a threat to the health and even the life of the woman and baby;
• rapid weight gain or presence extra pounds - maintaining an optimal weight ensures the proper functioning of all body systems, as it eliminates excessive impact of fatty deposits on the organs;
• presence of spider veins before pregnancy- the lack of timely treatment of varicose veins before pregnancy provokes a significant deterioration in the condition of the veins of the lower extremities during pregnancy;
• hereditary predisposition to the disease;
• sedentary lifestyle- in the absence of mobility, swelling, numbness and swelling of the veins in the legs appear; it can be difficult to eliminate these consequences, and the lack of medical intervention is dangerous for the mother and child;
• frequent wearing of uncomfortable high-heeled shoes;
• long sunbathing- under influence ultraviolet rays the skin becomes thinner, which contributes to negative impact radiation on the condition of the vessels of the lower extremities;
• strong physical activity(in particular, lifting weights);
• waxing.

Of all the causes, pregnancy is the most common. This especially applies to the last trimester, when weight increases rapidly and the volume of circulating blood also increases noticeably. In case of non-compliance proper nutrition and other doctor’s recommendations, the venous walls lose their elasticity and swell, protruding above the surface of the skin.

In addition, the growing uterus puts a lot of pressure on the main vascular lines, provoking varicose veins. Treatment and prevention of the disease in the presence of a genetic predisposition must begin at a young age. This is, first of all, proper nutrition, moderate exercise, contrast showers and wearing comfortable shoes and clothes.

Symptoms of the disease

It is practically asymptomatic, so it is necessary to pay attention to sudden appearance swelling, pain and fatigue in the legs, as well as cramps. With further development of the disease, deformation of the veins occurs.

The increasing volume of blood during pregnancy and the constantly increasing weight put 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. This is how varicose veins form on the legs during pregnancy. It is difficult to say what to do with a progressive disease without a complete examination of the pregnant woman.

With hormonal changes in the body, some women may experience severe pain in the legs without visible changes in the vessels, while in others there may be no pain even in the advanced stage of varicose veins, with severe deformations of the vessels. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves very individually.

Varicose veins on the legs during pregnancy: what to do?

Having discovered the first symptoms of the disease or already noticeable veins and bulging veins, you need to tell your doctor about them. He, in turn, must conduct an examination and refer the woman to a phlebologist - a doctor who specializes in solving problems with the blood vessels of the body.

After conducting a full examination, you can draw a conclusion about the condition of the veins and the degree of development of varicose veins. During the first pregnancy, varicose veins develop in approximately a quarter of pregnant women. With subsequent pregnancies, the risk of developing varicose veins increases greatly, and if the disease was detected earlier, it gets worse. That is why, as a woman ages, she needs to more carefully monitor her lifestyle.

All women sooner or later begin to worry about varicose veins on their legs during pregnancy. What to do to prevent this disease can be learned from specialized literature, from experienced mothers, or better yet, simply by consulting a doctor.

Prevention of varicose veins

Preventive measures should apply to all pregnant women without exception. The simplest and most sufficient in an effective way is wearing special stockings. During pregnancy, it is preferable to use tights against varicose veins. Only a doctor should prescribe such clothes, since it is difficult to choose them on your own, especially taking into account your position, so as not to harm either yourself or your unborn baby.

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

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

Shoes should also be comfortable and not cause foot fatigue. You shouldn’t go to extremes by going through your entire pregnancy in stiletto heels, or, on the contrary, in ballet shoes with flat soles. For a physiologically correct position of the foot and distribution of the load on it, shoes should have a small heel - 3-5 cm.

Treatment of varicose veins

Only a doctor can prescribe the optimal treatment and diet for a pregnant woman. Under no circumstances should you buy and use any advertised topical or internal remedies for varicose veins on your own; you should also not choose tights for varicose veins on your own; all this can harm a developing baby.

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

Doctor taking into account individual characteristics the body's characteristics of the course of pregnancy and heredity will select suitable drugs that provide the greatest effectiveness in a particular case. During pregnancy, folk remedies are very popular. medicines, for example, chestnut tincture for varicose veins. In particularly advanced forms of varicose veins, surgical intervention is allowed. However, it is justified only in case of a real threat to life. The operation can only be performed on pregnant women up to 6 months. It is also effective to sclerotize veins using special solutions.

Traditional methods of preventing and treating varicose veins

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

Kalanchoe tincture will help relieve fatigue and heaviness in your legs. It is enough to take the crushed plant and vodka in a 1:1 ratio, infuse it and rub the lower limbs with the tincture daily.

Is the most effective folk remedy. To prepare the tincture, you need to prepare half a liter of vodka and 50 g of crushed chestnut shells. The ingredients are placed in a suitable glass container. After three weeks, the tincture is ready for use.

Note! The container with the tincture must be shaken periodically.

For compresses, you can use white cabbage. Cabbage leaves 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 for varicose veins

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

During a natural birth, a pregnant woman needs to wrap her legs with an elastic bandage. This will prevent backflow of blood during pushing. After giving birth, doctors recommend setting aside time for daily therapeutic exercises; you will need to visit a phlebologist.

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

If during the diagnostic process (usually an ultrasound of the lower extremities) deep vein thrombosis is detected, the patient must undergo surgery. Otherwise, the blood clot, if it comes off, poses a serious threat to life.

Features of the course of varicose veins during pregnancy

Throughout pregnancy, it is necessary to visit a phlebologist and undergo regular examinations. A responsible attitude towards your health will help prevent or promptly detect the development of thrombosis. Massage for varicose veins has a positive effect on the condition of blood vessels, preventing blood stagnation in the legs.

The massage should begin from the thigh, covering the buttocks area, then move to the legs, and only then massage the feet. The massage technology consists of continuous shaking and rubbing of the muscles. The patient lies on his back, with his knees slightly bent. This approach will not only eliminate numbness and heaviness in the legs, but also eliminate cramps and itching.

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

Physical activity for varicose veins

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

The main thing is to choose the right sport so that it brings pleasure to the mother and fills the body with new strength. The best option you can call walking, swimming, after childbirth it would not be amiss to add jogging.

Note! Before starting any exercise, you should consult your doctor. This will avoid unforeseen complications and heavy stress on the weakened and vulnerable female body.

Pregnant women are advised to get plenty of rest, avoid heavy exercise, take plenty of vitamins and lead an active lifestyle. It would be a good idea to attend pregnancy courses or yoga classes. This will not only improve your health, but will also ensure easier labor.

Most effective recipe for varicose veins - a healthy lifestyle. To a woman who adheres to proper nutrition and leads active life, varicose veins are not scary.

Among the diseases affecting the vascular system, the most common is varicose veins.

Varicose veins are diseases, the tendency to which is transmitted genetically, and this applies to males equally as to females.

However, among patients suffering from varicose veins, 70% are women of childbearing age. And, in most cases, the expansion of the venous network first reveals itself during pregnancy.

What are varicose veins

Varicose veins are an irreversible process that affects the venous vessels through which blood flows from the lower extremities to the heart. There is a pathological change in their shape (elongation, expansion), thinning of the walls of blood vessels, and the formation of venous nodules.

Varicose veins are not only a cosmetic defect. Its danger is that due to the deformation of the anatomical structure of the venous vessels, their throughput function is disrupted, and blood stagnates in the loci of varicose veins. Blood pressure in the veins in the affected areas increases several times, and new varicose fragments appear.

In advanced cases, dysfunction of the venous system leads to complications associated with the formation of blood clots in blood vessels and impaired blood clotting.

The formation of blood clots, in turn, can cause life-threatening dangerous situations for a patient at risk of death.

Causes of varicose veins during pregnancy

More than half of women suffering from manifestations of varicose veins first received this diagnosis during pregnancy. There are several reasons for this:

• unfavorable heredity, namely: genetic disorder of the elasticity of connective tissue, including that making up the venous walls, weakness of the venous valves;
• synthesis of “pregnancy” hormones that affect smooth muscle tone internal organs, including relaxing the tone of the venous walls;
• an increasing volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, which increases pressure in the venous bed and causes stretching of its walls;
• rapid weight gain by the expectant mother in a short period of time, which creates an unusual excess load on the lower part of the body, especially on the legs and, accordingly, on the veins;
• deterioration of blood outflow from the lower part of the body due to compression of the femoral, inferior vena cava and iliac veins by the growing uterus;
• physiological increase in blood clotting in pregnant women, to reduce blood loss during childbirth, which creates the preconditions for the formation of blood clots, etc.
• restriction of physical activity by a woman during pregnancy by at will or forced, on the recommendation of a doctor or due to “sedentary” work, which affects the speed of blood flow.

Even if the expectant mother has no genetic prerequisites for venous insufficiency in her anamnesis, many factors arise during pregnancy that are favorable for the development of an acquired form of venous disease.

Symptoms

The severity of signs of pathological varicose veins depends on the degree of the disease.

At first, the symptoms of the disease do not cause much discomfort to the patient, however, over time, the manifestations of vein damage become more and more vivid and painful.

Initial symptoms of varicose veins:

• the appearance of a bright, non-volumetric vascular pattern on the affected area (most often on the calves, under the knees, on the outer surface of the thighs), which does not cause pain upon palpation;
• heaviness in the affected part of the body after exertion, prolonged standing, sitting, which, however, goes away after rest;

At the following stages of the disease the following occur:

• swelling of the affected parts of the body;
• visual change in the venous pattern, protrusion of veins, appearance of obvious venous “nodes”;
• changes in the condition of the skin in the affected area: appear external signs skin aging, itching, pigmentation, engorgement, etc.;
• pain, a feeling of “bloating” in areas of pathological venous formations in any position of the body;
• the appearance of trophic ulcerative formations, etc.

Such signs allow us to diagnose varicose veins without any additional examinations.

The use of in-depth clinical diagnostic methods may be required to clarify the nature of the disease, its degree, and in the early stages of varicose veins, to exclude some other pathologies with similar symptoms.

Where do varicose veins most often occur?

Violation of the outflow of blood through the channels of the venous network almost always primarily affects the lower extremities, causing changes in the venous pattern in the legs.

During pregnancy, varicose veins of the legs are often accompanied by damage to the veins of the pelvic organs, labia, internal genital organs, etc.

Varicose veins of the lower extremities

The changes that occur in a woman’s body while she is expecting a child, taken together, adversely affect the condition of the entire venous system.

Due to the anatomical features of its structure, the system of venous channels in the legs reacts most acutely to ongoing changes. Especially if there were signs of venous insufficiency even before pregnancy.

Most often, it first appears in the second trimester of pregnancy, since during this period the load on the deep and superficial vein systems increases sharply and, accordingly, the pressure on the venous walls increases.

At the same time, varicose veins of the lower extremities can progress with the development of pregnancy, taking on dangerous forms of venous pathology.

Varicose veins on the legs, as a rule, precede pathologies of the veins of the pelvic organs and labia, which are also subject to special stress during pregnancy. This relationship facilitates the diagnosis of the disease and, in case of corresponding complaints from the patient, allows you to choose the direction for additional studies: ultrasound, Doppler sonography, duplex scanning, etc.

Varicose veins of the pelvis

Varicose veins of the pelvic veins can be difficult to differentiate from gynecological diseases of an inflammatory nature and some other pathologies with similar symptoms, namely: pain in the abdominal region, copious discharge from the vagina, discomfort during intimacy with a partner and after it, difficulty urinating, etc.

The fact is that external manifestations of pathology of the veins of the pelvic organs, for example, with deformation of the venous pattern of the ovaries, varicose veins of the uterus, vagina, can only be seen during a gynecological examination by a doctor, or when using hardware diagnostic methods.

Only sometimes cosmetic manifestations of varicose veins of the small pelvis in the form of vascular “webs”, “nodules” can be noticeable in the area of ​​the buttocks, perineum, and thighs.

Therefore, the disease can proceed hidden for a long time and, as a result, take complicated forms.

Progressive pathological changes in the pelvic venous system lead to the development of such consequences as uterine bleeding, inflammation of internal organs, thrombosis, etc.

Varicose veins of the labia

Varicose veins in the groin or labia are a common occurrence in pregnant women. Moreover, with each subsequent pregnancy the risk of varicose veins increases.

Most often, after childbirth, the veins visually return to normal within a short time. However, if the symptoms of the disease were noted once during the gestation period, then the next time its manifestations, as a rule, progress greatly.

Over time, dilated veins bulge ugly, hang down, itching, dryness, swelling of the labia, painful sensations, feeling "bloated".

Particularly pronounced with varicose veins of the perineum are unpleasant sensations during urination, defecation, after sexual intercourse, after prolonged continuous sitting, and when walking.

What to do with varicose veins or the main directions of treatment

During the period of bearing a child radical methods Treatments for varicose veins are extremely undesirable; they are used only for vital indications. Therefore, to combat varicose veins during this period, measures are chosen to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, improve blood flow and stop the progression of varicose veins, so to speak, “to survive until childbirth.”

A set of therapeutic measures for a pregnant woman with venous pathology is determined by a phlebologist, taking into account the severity of symptoms, medical history and gestational age.

Lifestyle with varicose veins

The condition of the veins and the speed of blood flow are greatly influenced by the lifestyle of the expectant mother. Therefore, with varicose veins, the patient will definitely be given recommendations on organizing her daily activities and diet:

• compliance with an adequate physical activity regimen: swimming, walking at a comfortable pace, performing therapeutic exercises;
• wearing underwear;
• mandatory allocation of time in the daily routine for daytime rest in the “lying down” position; in this case, it is advisable to place the legs above the headboard;
• refusal to take hot baths, visit baths, saunas, etc.;
• limiting fried, fatty, salty foods, smoked foods, etc., which cause fluid retention in the body;
• strict monitoring of weight gain compliance with pregnancy norms.

Traditional medicine

In the initial stages of varicose veins during pregnancy, the use of anti-varicose veins based on the gifts of nature can provide significant assistance in combating the manifestations of the disease:

• compress based on hop cones

Brew 1 large spoon of raw material with 1 glass of boiling water, steam in a water bath for 20 minutes. 3 tbsp. l. decoction and 500 ml. Mix the curdled milk, apply it to a piece of fabric or gauze, apply it to the affected area, wrap it in paper, and fix it for 20 minutes.

• compress based on horse chestnut flowers or leaves.

Prepare as described above and apply overnight.

• baths with the addition of decoctions and infusions of hop cones and horse chestnut;
• oil ointments based on horse chestnut fruits, calendula flowers, chamomile, etc.

Drug treatment

If varicose veins in the expectant mother have reached advanced stages, changing the principles of life and using herbal remedies may not be enough.

Then there is a need to treat varicose veins with pharmaceutical drugs approved during pregnancy - venotonics (phlebotonics).

The choice of a specific group of drugs for the patient, depending on the degree of the disease and the duration of pregnancy, remains with the phlebologist. As a rule, this is:

• Remedies for varicose veins for local action: ointments, gels, creams, suppositories (rectal), for example, such as Venoruton, Troxevasin, Lyoton,

Heparin ointment, etc. The choice of such agents is preferable before the 12th week of pregnancy, when the systemic effect on the body medicines undesirable.

• General medications: tablets, capsules, dragees and other drugs taken orally.

Preparations based on diosmin ("Diosmin", "Phlebodia", etc.), hesperedin ("Detralex", "Venarus", etc.), troxerutin ("Troxerutin", "Troxevasin", etc.) are considered effective. .)

In case of urgent need, for medical reasons (for example, with the development of thrombophlebitis, etc.) before the 30th week of pregnancy, surgical treatment of varicose veins is possible.

Childbirth with varicose veins

The choice of delivery tactics for varicose veins depends on the location of the affected venous areas, the stage of the disease, the severity of symptoms and the condition of the woman at the time of admission to the maternity hospital.

An expectant mother with severe varicose veins in the groin area is hospitalized in a hospital at the maternity hospital in the last weeks of pregnancy due to the increased likelihood of premature rupture amniotic fluid and the onset of labor.

When admitted to the maternity ward, a woman diagnosed with varicose veins should wear compression garments. For varicose veins of the lower extremities, special stockings or elastic bandages on the legs are required.

If a pregnant woman has developed hypercoagulability due to varicose veins, then before giving birth she is prescribed anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (disaggregants) to prevent thrombosis. Disaggregant therapy started during childbirth is continued in the postpartum period.

After childbirth, women in labor with varicose veins are recommended to get up early, including after a cesarean section, for a speedy recovery and improved blood circulation.

Prevention

Since varicose veins are rightfully considered predominantly a female disease, simple preventive measures recommended to all potential mothers will significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease during pregnancy:

• Strive for physical activity as a way to escape from varicose veins.

Any regular physical activity on the whole body at a comfortable pace improves blood circulation. Expectant mothers are recommended to take leisurely walks, swimming at any stage, and gymnastics for pregnant women.

• Pick up comfortable shoes.

In shoes on high heels(above 5 cm) the legs experience a non-physiological load, and circulatory problems occur. Therefore, on weekdays it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes that provide a slight rise in the foot.

• Avoid prolonged standing and sitting.

Prolonged static sitting or standing leads to deterioration of blood circulation, especially in the legs and pelvic organs. Therefore, during “sedentary” work, long trips in transport, flights, you should do a five-minute warm-up every 45 minutes to improve blood circulation.

• Wear clothes that fit.

When choosing a wardrobe, even early stages pregnancy, you should avoid tight, tight clothes and underwear, elastic bands cutting into the skin, etc.

• Control body weight gain.

Excess weight creates excessive stress on all organs, including increasing pressure on the venous vessels. Therefore, expectant mothers, especially those with a predisposition to varicose veins, need to limit body weight gain within normal limits, both outside pregnancy and during gestation.

• At the first signs of venous blood flow disturbance (heavy legs, swelling of the lower extremities, the appearance of spider veins, etc.), a woman should visit a phlebologist to receive recommendations on the use of medications and folk remedies.

Following medical prescriptions will help stop the progression of the disease.

Severe varicose veins significantly reduce the quality of life, and during pregnancy can cause the development of complications and the occurrence of critically dangerous situations for the life of the mother and child.

Therefore, if the expectant mother has a hereditary predisposition to venous disease or has already shown symptoms of varicose veins, this should be brought to the attention of the doctor, and the recommendations prescribed by him should be carefully followed.