As a result, they help prevent swelling and may keep your varicose veins from getting worse. Over-the-counter gradient compression hose: Tighter at the feet and ankles and looser as they go up your legs, these make it easier for blood to flow back up toward your heart.Support pantyhose: These can be found online or in most stores and will provide the least amount of pressure.There are three kinds of compression stockings: Compression stockings put pressure on your veins and increase the blood flow from your legs. Take frequent breaks to move around.Ĭan compression stockings help prevent varicose veins? Don't sit or stand for long periods of time.Don't cross your legs or ankles when sitting.Rest your legs on a tall stool or box when you're sitting and elevate your feet and legs with pillows when you're lying down. Elevate your feet and legs to the level of your heart or higher whenever possible.Stay within the recommended weight range for your stage of pregnancy.Even just a brisk walk around the block can improve your circulation. And if they don't get better, you can look into various treatment options after your baby is born. The good news for some women is that varicose veins may improve or disappear after you give birth, especially if you didn't have any before you got pregnant. Being overweight, carrying twins or other multiples, and standing for long periods can also make you more likely to get them. They're more common in women than men, and if you have them, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you get older. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other members of your family have had them. Your progesterone level also rises, relaxing the walls of your blood vessels. And when you're pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases, adding to the burden on your veins. Veins are the blood vessels that return blood from your extremities to your heart, so the blood in your leg veins is already working against gravity. What causes varicose veins during pregnancy?Īs your uterus grows, it puts pressure on the large vein on the right side of your body (the inferior vena cava), which increases pressure in your leg veins.

Skinny boy red lines on butt and hip