Hello Baby...Goodbye Varicose Veins!

As with many things, once the baby is out and we've finished being pregnant, we want to get rid of our varicose veins immediately. We were willing to put up with them during the pregnancy, knowing that they were one of the many side effects of being pregnant. Now, however, we say - come on! Give us our bodies back! The question, of course, is if varicose veins will disappear after delivery, when they will disappear, and if we need to do anything specific to make them disappear.

Varicose Veins After Delivery

The good news is that varicose veins do tend to improve when your pregnancy is over. Usually, they begin to disappear within three to four months after giving birth, depending on the severity of your varicose veins. You are less likely to see a significant decrease in them, however, if you had the varicose veins before you became pregnant, if you have a family history of them, if you are overweight or if you stand for long periods of time.

How Can I Minimize Them?

With those things understood, there are actions that you can take to try to minimize your veins after delivery. Exercise everyday to help get your circulation going. Elevate your feet and legs whenever possible, keeping your legs on a stool or box when you are sitting and on a pillow while you are lying down. Try not to cross your legs or ankles while sitting. Don't stand for long periods of time without taking a break or moving about. If you are particularly worried about your varicose veins, you can wear special support hose. There are prescription-strength hose called graduated-compression stockings, which can be bought at a pharmacy or medical supply store. They are twice as thick as normal pantyhose, are tight at the ankle and then progressively looser as they near your hip. This allows blood to flow towards your heart. They are intended to prevent swelling and to keep your varicose veins from getting worse. You should put them on in the morning while you're still in bed so that the blood hasn't had a chance to pool in your legs. Keep them on all day. This may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but it should help to prevent varicose veins from getting worse and more bothersome. Finally, if you are overweight, talk to your doctor about safe postpartum weight-loss plans and try to keep up your exercise.

Can I Get Rid of Them?

If you've tried these techniques and you just can't get rid of those varicose veins, you do have a few options. Remember, however, that you might treat these varicose veins only to have other veins turn into varicose veins - particularly if they run in the family, if you get pregnant again or if you are overweight. You may actually be advised not to treat your veins until you finish having children and until you can lose some weight. Your doctor will be able to discuss your varicose veins with you and to either recommend treatment options or to send you to a specialist.

Should I Be Worried?

For the most part, varicose veins are not dangerous. They may be itchy or annoying, and they are probably not the most attractive feature, but they are harmless. For women with circulation problems, however, they can be dangerous. A small percentage of those with varicose veins develop small blood clots in the veins. While these clots aren't usually serious, they are reason to call your doctor and to be examined. More serious issues occur if the area around a clot becomes infected. You'll need to be treated with antibiotics for this. Furthermore, if you develop deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which is when you get clots in the deep veins, then you'll need immediate attention. Pregnancy and delivery do make you more susceptible to DVT, although this condition is not common.

Hopefully, some of the techniques outlined above will take away your varicose veins after you've delivered. Give your body time to recover from your pregnancy and keep doing your exercising and keep up the healthy eating. Getting your mind off of your varicose veins should be relatively easy as well - just focus on that beautiful baby in front of you!