7-8 min read
By TheRY Guest Writer
Did you know that about 15% of pregnant women suffer from varicose veins during pregnancy? They most commonly start appearing at the start of the second trimester.
When a woman is pregnant, her body undergoes changes that she may or may not be ready for including her blood volume increasing by up to 50% by the time her placenta is fully formed and feeding her growing baby via maternal blood flow at 12 weeks. Leg swelling, varicose veins, and pain are common circulatory problems for pregnant women.
Luckily, maternity compression leggings like TheRY Saviour Maternity Compression Legging can help you stay healthy and supported throughout your pregnancy. In addition, they will lessen some of the less pleasant side effects so that you can enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest.
Whether you're a first-time or repeat mama, you may have questions regarding this popular maternity clothing. For example, when can you start wearing them, how to choose them and are they safe? Stockings during pregnancy have many benefits. Learn more below.
Maternity Compression: What Is It?
Compression socks are therapeutic socks that squeeze your legs and ankles to help your blood vessels work better. They improve blood circulation by letting the arteries in your lower limb muscles relax and encourage blood to flow back toward your heart. By doing this, it helps to reduce blood pooling in the veins.
Graduated compression leggings have different levels of tightness. The grade of maternity compression leggings you need and how much pressure it puts on your leg veins will depend on what symptoms you have and their severity. Talk to your doctor if you don't know what grade of pressure works best for you.
You can start wearing compression tights early in your pregnancy, TheRY Saviour Maternity Compression Leggings are suitable from the very beginning (pre 12 weeks) and graduated compression tights are intended to support the leg veins not only during pregnancy but also, and this is crucial during the recovery period after giving birth when you might not be as active.
Furthermore, postpartum compression leggings are great for women with a C-section because they support and protect scars and abdomen tissues.
Varicose Veins and Swelling During Pregnancy
Varicose veins are swollen veins that usually appear in the legs, groin, or vulva. They are dark purple and blue and can look wriggly, lumpy, and bulge out.
These veins can cause more pain in warm weather or after standing for a while. Resting with your legs up or moving about will help. Compression tights will also help.
The Benefits of Compression Leggings
We'll go through the advantages of wearing maternity compression leggings to ensure that you are supported through your pregnancy every step of the way.
Graduated Compression helps to Reduce Varicose Veins
Varicose and spider veins are especially prevalent among pregnant women. This is because their veins relax in readiness for childbirth. Furthermore, they have increased blood circulation, which increases the likelihood of blood pooling and the development of varicose veins.
The good news is that pregnancy support tights and other compression clothing can reduce the risk of blood pooling in the veins by supporting the pregnant body and improving blood circulation.
Venous Pressure Reduction
The excess fluid created during pregnancy can put a lot of pressure on your circulatory system and heart. This is because your arteries and veins must retain extra volume despite their unchanged capacity.
The extra fluid can decrease blood flow, making vein walls work harder and increasing the risk of blood pooling. Leg compression support tights that are scientifically tested to be medical graduated compression can help reduce vein pressure, improving venous flow and circulation.
Decreased Swelling
Swelling is, unfortunately, widespread during pregnancy. This is especially so in:
- The ankles
- The legs
- The feet
- The hands and fingers
Swelling gradually throughout pregnancy is not harmful to you or your baby but can be uncomfortable. Always consult your doctor first if you feel uncomfortable and feel pain.
If swelling is due to water retention, then the use of maternity compression hosiery will help.
How Do Compression Leggings Help With Swelling?
As mentioned before, graduated compression tights and socks help gradually push blood from surface veins into deeper veins and back to the heart. It works by applying the highest pressure at the furthest extremity from the heart, then gradually reducing the pressure as you move along the length of the leg. This slow, steady pressure stimulates blood flow back up the body.
Graduated compression helps Eliminate Excessive Fluids
When the body's blood flow is back to normal, it helps the lymphatic system to function effectively. Graduate compression (15-20mmhg) does this by allowing excess fluids to be reduced and the associated swelling, inflammation, and discomfort to subside.
Enhances Leg Shape
During pregnancy, many women lose the definition of their legs, particularly in their knees, ankles, and feet. This is typically due to swelling.
Pregnancy Support Tights give support to your legs, help improve the shape of your legs and also help to reduce swelling.
Improve Blood Circulation
Pregnancy puts a strain on your heart and vascular system. To nurture your growing baby, your blood volume grows by 30 to 50% during pregnancy. As a result, your heart must pump more blood each minute, and your heart rate rises.
Pregnancy can impact circulation in several ways. Hormonal changes make women susceptible to deep vein thrombosis and blood clotting.
Blood flow can slow down in the hip and leg area when the pressure of the uterus grows. Maternity tights squeeze your veins to improve blood flow and stop blood from pooling and clotting.
Relief For Achy and Tired Legs
Having heavy and tired legs is a common side effect of pregnancy. It's also an early sign of impaired venous circulation. By using scientifically tested graduated compression leggings, you can help alleviate these uncomfortable feelings.
Using the compression leggings, you boost your leg circulation and improve the amount of oxygen and nutrients absorbed by your blood.
The additional benefit of these compression stockings is that they can enable your legs to feel more energized, reducing lactic acid build-up, which can cause severe cramping and soreness.
How to Cope With Swelling During Pregnancy
We have already discussed the problems with swelling that comes with pregnancy. Now let's look at some ways you can cope.
Wearing Scientifically Tested Graduated Compression Leggings Will Help
Wearing compression tights can help relieve achiness. As discussed above, the leggings progressively reduce leg pressure and transfer surplus fluid into blood arteries and the body.
Compression leggings with a tight top band should be avoided. The tightness may aggravate swelling by restricting blood flow.
Additionally, wearing compression tights helps to prevent the development of new varicose veins. The tights gently squeeze these veins, to stop backward blood flow and swelling.
Although compression leggings won't likely cause existing varicose veins to shrink, they can lessen the pain and suffering they bring.
Get Off Your Feet
You can easily improve blood circulation by raising your legs. Make sure that you raise them above your heart. For example, while you're:
- Sitting and reading
- Watching TV
- Doing any other seated activities
Your veins experience less pressure due to the simple shift in body position. This is because they no longer have to battle against gravity to deliver blood to your heart. Use pillows for comfort and raise your feet for periods of 15 to 20 minutes several times throughout the day.
Sleeping on Your Left Side
While either side of your body is safe to sleep on during pregnancy, the left side is frequently advised to prevent strain on the inferior vena cava. This sizable vein transports blood from your lower limbs to your heart.
Submerge Your Feet
Soaking your ankles and feet in cooler water a few times a week will reduce swelling.
However, make sure the water isn't freezing. Cooler temperatures constrict the tiny blood vessels near your skin, reducing blood flow and swelling.
When Swelling Is Serious
While gradual swelling in the extremities is common, abrupt or severe swelling in the face, hands, or feet may indicate preeclampsia. This pregnancy problem is characterized by extremely high blood pressure.
See your doctor immediately about your leg and foot. Also, mention any other pregnancy problems you may be experiencing. To lessen the likelihood of more complications, it is important that you understand your current state.
Although it is impossible to completely avoid leg and foot swelling, there are things you can do to lessen your chances of experiencing it. For example:
- Exercise gently and regularly
- Get a restful night's sleep
- Follow a nutritious and balanced diet that is abundant in vegetables and fruits
It is normal for women to experience discomfort when pregnant. Nevertheless, you can work to reduce this discomfort, and the likelihood of developing more serious conditions should be your primary objective.
Supporting You and Your Growing Baby!
Compression leggings can help alleviate leg pain, whether this is your first or subsequent pregnancy. In addition, wearing medical grade (15-20mmhg) pregnant support tights can reduce uncomfortable swelling and varicose veins during and after pregnancy.
Are you feeling sore, tired, and suffering from swelling in the legs and feet? Our scientifically tested, medical grade compression wear can help to increase circulation, fight weariness, and relieve tired, swollen legs and feet. Our products are stylish, soft, and comfortable. So why not have a look at our selection of pregnancy-specific graduated compression clothing?