About 40% of all pregnant women suffer from varicose veins.
Pregnancy increases the body blood volume.
The increase level of the hormone progesterone cause blood vessel to relax. Therefore valves separate slightly and they don't work properly, letting the back-flow of blood in the veins.
The uterus presses against the major veins in the pelvic region and increases the pressure in the leg veins are then subject to becoming varicose.
The weight increase enhances the risk of venous insufficiency affecting the legs.
Family history of varicose veins tends to increase the likelihood of varicose veins developing during pregnancy.
In many European countries, mums-to-be wear maternity pantyhose all through their gestation.
During pregnancy, more women suffer from varicose veins. Varicose veins during pregnancy occur in women who are predisposed to such diseases: this means that pregnancy acts as an accelerating factor when the problem already exists, although not yet apparent.
Therefore, pregnancy has a significant influence on the natural history of venous disease bringing to light signs of venous insufficiency that are clinically not yet evident. On the other hand, in many cases, there is a possibility of spontaneous regression in the months after giving birth.
During the various stages of pregnancy the onset of varicose disease increases as follows:
70% in the first trimester 25% in the second trimester 5% in the third trimester
The use of compression stockings during pregnancy is important not only from a preventive and cosmetic point of view in order to prevent varicose veins and their side effects, but also for a positive and beneficial effect on the mother’s body as a whole.
When the mother is in a standing position, the blood vessels of both mother and uterus/placenta or foetus may suffer from a disorder: the improvement of the mother’s entire circulation, obtained through the use of elastic compression stockings, leads to a significant improvement of the baby’s pulse frequency.
As the standing position can rarely be avoided by pregnant women, and as the negative effects may not only affect the mother but also the baby, it is necessary to promote not only the therapy of this disorder but also prevention.
Therefore, it is important to always wear graduated compression stockings.
There are so-called “support” stockings on the market but are not considered therapeutic: as they start at a compression of 6 or 12mmHg (an average of 40 or 70 den), and the highest compression is 18mmHg (corresponding to 140 den); they are indicated in the first months of pregnancy, if there are no venous pathologies. The use of “support” stockings does not achieve anything, as this compression class does not improve the venous return to the heart at all.
The stockings with a compression of Class 1, however, are therapeutic stockings, and exert a pressure of 15-21mmHg on the ankle, decreasing at calf and thigh.
