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When you have a new baby, it can be challenging to focus on self-care and your vein health; you would much rather devote your time and attention to your child. But by focusing on optimizing your postpartum vein function, you prevent more dangerous complications down the road, such as blood clots or ulcers, and you can live a healthy lifestyle with confidence.
Throughout your pregnancy, your body produces more blood than usual, and your veins work even harder to circulate that extra blood. Your growing uterus put pressure on the inferior vena cava, or the large vein that carries blood from the lower body back up to the heart, and this extra pressure made circulation even more difficult. The superficial veins weakened and lost their ability to empty blood from the legs. In addition, your pregnancy hormones softened and weakened the walls of your veins. Overall, pregnancy makes it a challenge for your veins to do their job properly.
Postpartum exercise isn’t about jumping back into the gym right away and grabbing the heaviest weight you can find. Instead, focus on gently easing your body back into a regular workout routine. Place your baby into a stroller and take them for a short walk around the block, or take 10 minutes for yoga or a quick swim during naptime or after bedtime. Light exercise will encourage circulation in your legs and get blood flowing.
For new moms, it’s hard to avoid sitting for long periods of time. Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor directed you to elevate your legs as much as possible, and it’s important to continue doing so. This will keep your circulatory system performing at its best. A bit of an incline will prevent blood from pooling in your legs and discourage further vein-related issues.
Avoid crossing your legs or ankles! While sitting this way won’t cause varicose veins, it will constrict your veins and prevent maximum blood circulation.
Compression stockings counteract the pressure buildup in the legs. They offer symptomatic relief and give your legs some extra help in pushing blood upward, balancing blood pressure, maintaining healthy circulation, and minimizing swelling. But it’s important to understand that compression stockings are not made to be “one size fits all.” Make sure that you see a doctor before purchasing any socks or compression stockings to ensure that you have the right fit.
Varicose veins do tend to improve after you’ve given birth, although it takes time. However, if you’ve had multiple pregnancies, are genetically prone to varicose veins, are overweight, or sit or stand for long periods of time, you are less likely to see them go away.
The best vascular surgeons in Orlando are here to help! We offer minimally invasive procedures with little to no downtime. If you’re a woman struggling with varicose veins that didn’t disappear after pregnancy or have questions about your vein health, contact us today.