You are far from alone. Many pregnant women are unhappy with their legs – but with varicose vein treatment, it can be corrected.
Do you have visible blood vessels on your thighs, calves, behind the knees, and on your ankles? Then you are one of the many women who have varicose veins or spider veins. You are far from alone. It is said that as many as half of all women have them. Many suffer from them in connection with pregnancy. In the past, this was something you just had to live with, but now, thanks to modern technology and extensive knowledge, it is actually quite easy to get beautiful legs again.
More blood during pregnancy
The reason so many women have varicose veins is that they have been pregnant and the risk increases significantly during pregnancy. Why? Well, it is believed that it partly has to do with the changed hormonal balance. But even more so, it is believed to be due to the weight. When you are pregnant, you typically gain over ten kilos, and this creates increased pressure on the veins. Moreover, sitting still a lot is not good either. Another factor is that the growing baby in the womb also needs blood, so a pregnant woman actually has much more blood in her body than she usually does. So, all in all, there are several factors at play. One that should not be forgotten is heredity. Varicose veins and spider veins run in families. That is, if one of your parents has had varicose veins, you are genetically predisposed to having them yourself at some point in life.
Wear stockings and move around
So, what can you do to avoid these visible, ugly, snake-like things on your legs? The kind that makes it not so fun to wear a skirt in the summer. What you can do, if you are pregnant, is not to gain unnecessary weight. You should also make sure to move around. Another good idea is to wear support stockings throughout most of the pregnancy and even after the pregnancy. Yes, until the body has returned to itself and you no longer experience that swollen feeling in your legs. During a second pregnancy, the risk of suffering increases even more, something worth bearing in mind.
How much does a treatment typically cost?
Getting a varicose vein treatment isn't exactly free, but many see it as a good investment in themselves. You first meet with a specialist doctor for a preliminary examination. With the help of ultrasound, the doctor determines what type you have, how deep it is, and so forth. Then you look at treatment methods – there's laser, there's foam, there's glue, and much more. It's also possible to combine different methods. The price ranges from about £500 up to ca. £2500 depending on how much needs to be done.
