Pregnancy and childbirth is one of the most natural things in a woman’s life. Unfortunately, it can also take a heavy toll on our health. Every pregnancy has potential risks and problems, whether these are conditions you already have or you develop. More serious conditions can include anything from high blood pressure to diabetes and autoimmune disorders to certain types of cancers. With our typical nowadays lifestyle of more and more sitting and driving and less and less walking and moving, one condition is becoming very prevalent and pregnancy is a huge contributing factor – varicose veins.

Varicose veins often form during pregnancy, or if a woman already had them before becoming pregnant, the condition gets worse. A woman’s body is going through so many changes during pregnancy – the blood volume in the body increases which causes the veins to enlarge, the growing uterus puts pressure on pubic blood vessels and the big vein – the inferior vena cava, levels of progesterone increase which dilates the veins and causes the blood to pool. All these result, more often than not, in varicose veins.

For some women, varicose veins only feel uncomfortable during pregnancy and will resolve after giving birth. But don’t be fooled, your veins are gravely affected with every bundle of joy you bring to this world, and the tricky part is that the damage of the vein valves doesn’t have to start bothering you until years later. The good news is that thanks to modern technology, treating varicose veins has become a breeze. The new procedures are minimally invasive, don’t require surgery, have no downtime, and pretty much zero risks. You’ll be walking home on the same day with relatively little pain or discomfort:

Laser Therapy – very effective procedure used on smaller varicose veins, performed in outpatient setting, with fast recovery time and positive mid-term results.

Sclerotherapy – this very effective, minimally invasive procedure involves injecting salt water or a chemical solution into the vein, which then hardens and disappears.

Endovenous Laser Ablation – very effective, minimally invasive procedure which uses heat to treat the vein through either radiofrequency energy or laser energy. The vein should disappear over time.

Giving birth to a child is always something to be proud of. You carry your son or daughter in your own body for several months, and you protect them since they first see the light of this world. If unfortunately this wonderful experience negatively affected your veins, get them treated and stay healthy for your children as long as possible!