Pregnancy: Risks of Venous Disorders

Ask a mother what the most defining moment in her life is and she’ll say it’s the time she found out she was pregnant. Giving life to another human being is a precious miracle, but before a woman gets to see and cradle the precious child in her arms, her body will go through many dramatic changes. One of them involves bulging, swollen veins in the legs—spider and varicose veins.

Venous disease treatment developers from Veniti say that the physical changes women experience during pregnancy puts her at risk for spider and varicose veins, which may lead to venous insufficiency and other complications.

Factors that Contribute to Vein Disorders

During pregnancy, blood volume in the woman’s body increases. This change allows the healthy exchange of respiratory gases and nutrients between the mother and the baby. As the blood volume increases, it puts extra pressure on the veins of legs, making them more likely to bulge. Women also experience changes in their hormone levels. The amount of estrogen and progesterone increases. Because of the increased volume and hormone levels, the vein wall weakens.

Most Common Complications

Pregnant women are at risk of developing a condition called venous insufficiency. Normally, valves in the leg veins transport blood toward the heart. Chronic venous insufficiency causes the vein walls to weaken and valves to damage. The condition leads to pooling of blood in the veins.

Women are also at risk for deep vein thrombosis. The condition results from a blood clot in a vein deep under the skin’s surface. Medical practitioners say that your blood is more likely to clot because the body is keeping you from losing too much blood when it’s time to deliver the baby. With this condition, you may notice deep veins in the back of your leg or in the thighs.

The woman’s body undergoes many changes during pregnancy. It is important toget early treatment for spider and varicose veins to prevent more serious vein disorders. If you have a family history of vein problems, make sure to raise this health issue to your physician so they can recommend treatments or preventive measures.