Morning sickness and fatigue are often what we think of when someone mentions early pregnancy symptoms. But for one homeschooling mom, her early pregnancy symptom was leg pain caused by varicose veins.
“I knew when I was pregnant because my veins started to hurt. That was always my first sign of pregnancy.”
Kitty’s leg problems began during her second pregnancy; by her seventh pregnancy, the pain in her legs became unbearable. But why did Kitty develop varicose veins during her pregnancy? And why did they get worse with each new life she brought into the world?
Varicose Veins Are An Early Pregnancy Symptom
Varicose veins in early pregnancy are not always visible but they sure can cause symptoms. A number of changes that occur early in pregnancy that cause these symptoms, including:
- increased blood volume
- poor/slow circulation
- weight gain
- hormonal changes in pregnancy
All of the above occur during pregnancy, even in early pregnancy. With sudden and dramatic hormonal changes, there is an increase in blood volume and the blood flow slows dramatically in preparation for the new life and safe delivery. While this is essential for the safety of mom during delivery, as it prevents excessive bleeding during childbirth, it can lead to spider veins, varicose veins, and even blood clots.
With each pregnancy, varicose veins will often worsen, and the risk of blood clots increases.
How Varicose Veins Affect Moms Like Kitty
Before Treatment: Legs hurt with visible varicose veins
Pregnancy is already a difficult process, wrought with stress, exhausting, and discomfort. For Kitty, this was exacerbated by leg pain in six out of seven of her pregnancies.
Chronic pain makes the day-to-day more difficult for everyone, but for moms, this is particularly exhausting. Childcare, especially around the clock for a homeschooling family, takes a lot of focus and energy. Living with chronic pain can make a mother feel as if she can’t fully be there for her children.
If you have ever lived with pain that prevented you from playing with your children, you’ll understand the emotional distress this can place on mothers as well. It’s not just about physical pain.
By seeking help and support from experts, like our team at Vein Specialists of the South, you can both look better and feel better, getting back to focusing on the important work of caring for and raising your children.
After Treatment: Legs look and feel better.
Help For Moms With Venous Disease
Whether it’s your first pregnancy or you’ve had multiple pregnancies, whether you have a few visible spider veins or you have bulging, painful veins, Vein Specialists of the South can help.
Get Started At Vein Specialists Of The South
Are you ready to focus on motherhood without the distraction and discomfort of venous disease? Reduce leg pain and discomfort and improve how your legs look with the help of our expert team at Vein Specialists of the South. We have four options to help you get started quickly:
No matter how busy your schedule, we can work with you to help you achieve Better Veins for Life®.
