More About Varicose Veins in Pregnancy
When we last left our intrepid hero, she was dancing and dreaming and having all kind of varicose free fun! Now that she needs a minute to sit down and breathe, we have a few more hints to share regarding varicose veins during pregnancy and what can be done to prevent or minimize trouble from them.
The word we would like to introduce into the festivities is…hemorrhoids. We thought that would get her attention. Hemorrhoids are actually nothing more than varicose veins of the rectum and the mucous membrane of the anus. These can be very troubling in pregnancy, but if our Pregnant Girl has been hydrating herself, eating lots of fruit, veggies, fiber, and is getting exercise, she’s already done a lot to protect herself already. Constipation, hard stools, and straining are very difficult on this sensitive tissue, so we want to treat it right. PG’s OBGYN office can probably give her lots of help on this score. Especially if she finds herself straining at stool or finds blood on her toilet paper, that’s the time to call in a report to the office!
Another word we would like to introduce is support hose. Before visions of brown little-old-lady’s stockings have a chance to insert themselves into our vision, we would like to say that support hose doesn’t quite look that way anymore, what with new threads and techniques of spinning up a more modernized version. We would also want to say that support hose are strongly recommended for those with a family history of varicose veins; and in the end if you can’t get behind them fashion wise, then wear them under a pair of jeans! PG might find that wearing the hose helps her to dance a little faster and longer, fancy that. One last thought: support hose should always be worn when traveling by airplane, visiting a high altitude, and in the second and third trimester of the pregnancy.
If you notice swollen ankles, it’s time to call the OBGYN for an update. Sitting with your feet higher than your heart is something you should be doing each day; when sleeping or laying down to watch TV, prop your feet on a couple of pillows. What a luxurious feeling, and it helps with swelling, too. Another posture that might be comfy is to lie down on the floor with your bottom close to the wall. Elevate your legs and rest them at about a forty-five degree angle against the wall. Many find this relaxing and relieving of feelings of tiredness in the leg. It’s also a nice posture for the future when cramps from your period bug you!
One last thing; make sure you get up and move about every half-hour-forty-five-minutes or so, whether you are at your job which doesn’t involve a lot of physical exercise, at a conference or just kickin’ in by the tube.
Okay, that’s about all we had to say. All you pregnant ladies out there be well, eat your veggies, and join in the dance!
