What are Spider and Varicose Veins?
During pregnancy, women may notice annoyances and irritations creeping up on their lower half of the bodies. Spider veins are small reddish-bluish veins that appear, mostly around the legs, in the pattern of a sunburst or spider web. On the other hand, Varicose veins appear as large swollen blood vessels, also commonly found around the lower body and legs area. While both of these conditions might look rather alarming, they are both common side effects of pregnancy and are pretty much harmless, with a tendency to disappear naturally after a few months or after childbirth. So why do women get these and how to get rid of it?
Why do Spider and Varicose Veins appear?
Mainly, these are caused by the pressure in the abdomen due to the growing uterus. The uterus will be pressing on the big vein and gravity will cause the blood to accumulate in the leg, hence the engorging of the vein.
As harmless as varicose veins are, women with it have complained that they feel itches, discomfort, and at some level, pain even. Varicose veins appear when pressure from the uterus presses on the large vein, and are commonly found at places like the legs, genital region, as well as the rectum. Unfortunately, varicose veins inborn – so if your mother or grandmother had it, you will most likely have it too.
Just like varicose veins, spider veins are also inborn and about 90% of women whose mother or grandmother had it during their pregnancy, will have it as well. It isn’t known for causing any sort of pain but may cause the woman’s legs to feel heavy, and itchy or throbbing when too much time has been spent on their feet. Spider veins are not as scary as varicose veins, in the sense that they are small and not as visible – a point to note in regards to differentiating one from the other.
How to Treat Spider and Varicose Veins?
Women with these inborn problems can’t necessarily get rid of them entirely, but there are ways to help make these less of an intrusive matter. Remember that while pregnant, elevate your leg or do some leg stretching. The aim is to feel your calf muscle tensing or relaxing, and the muscle contraction will improve blood flow back to the heart, from the feet.
Take your daily dose of Vitamin C, which is essential for making collagen and elastin – both of which are important connective tissues that will help you repair and maintain your veins. Watching food intake is another crucial part of keeping your veins under control. Partake of food with a high fibre source, like fresh fruits and vegetables, as it will help combat against constipation – which would lead to excessive pressure during a bowel movement.
When sleeping, it is advisable to sleep on the left side of your body, to keep pressure off the right side – where the inferior vena cava is found (the large vein that carries deoxygenated blood to your heart.)
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“Empower your parenting journey with Mama Net! Whether you’re just starting your journey into parenthood or are a seasoned pro, Download our app for free on the App Store and Google Playstore for access to certified content, interactive tools, and a community of supportive parents and mothers.”
