varicose veins

You may have thought that varicose veins only show up when you enter your golden years, but unfortunately, you were wrong. Many women find that varicose veins make an unwelcome appearance during their pregnancy.

The increased demand on the body during pregnancy requires additional blood, which results in an increased volume. This increase in blood volume can cause additional pressure on blood vessels leading to varicose veins.

There are several common skin changes during pregnancy that can result in red patches on the skin. These include melasma, varicose veins, chloasma and acne.
Melasma most often presents as brown patches on the skin.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are caused by these same varicose veins popping up in the rectum instead of on the legs. Unlike the varicose veins of the legs, the hemorrhoids during pregnancy swell to sizes ranging from a pea to a grape.

The first line of defense against varicose veins during pregnancy is to understand why these veins appear in the first place. While the weight on the legs certainly is a secondary reason, it is the weight of the uterus that plays a primary role in creating varicose veins.

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy are common and usually disappear after delivery. Here is what you can do to prevent them.

What is a varicocele?