“Can I Prevent Varicose Veins?”

During pregnancy, the amount of blood flowing through the body increases tremendously causing veins to enlarge. When coupled with the pressure the expanding uterus places on the circulatory system, varicose veins can appear.

Maintaining circulation with light walking is one way to help prevent varicose veins. Heredity also plays a role with leg veins, so if your mother or sister had pregnancy-related vein changes, you may have them as well. Melbourne, Florida plastic surgeon Victoria Vitale-Lewis, MD advises women to be fitted with graduated medical compression stockings that are customized to each individual at a medical-products store. Available in light, medium or heavy compression, Dr. Victoria Vitale-Lewis says this graduated compression is very important. “They are tight at the ankles, and looser at the top, pushing the blood flow up.” She feels that compression hose are a must-have for women planning on multiple pregnancies in order to prevent the veins from enlarging and becoming incompetent during each pregnancy. “You don’t want a temporary condition to cause a permanent problem for your veins,” she says.