During the course of your pregnancy, there are health professionals that you will want to keep very close and who you will be seeing on the regular. These professionals will work together in an arrangement of shared care to manage your health and that of your baby throughout your pregnancy.
For most women, this line-up of health professionals includes a general physician, midwife and/or an ob-gyn specialist. You may also need to add a vascular surgeon to that list if you find yourself dealing with varicose veins, which is a vascular disease that is common during pregnancy.
Varicose Veins and Pregnancy
Varicose veins are veins that become enlarged, taking on a twisted and swollen appearance. These mostly develop in the legs, although they can also appear at the vaginal opening and the rectum.
As a vascular surgeon will tell, you specific changes during pregnancy will make you a little more pre-disposed to getting varicose veins. Your pregnancy hormones may cause softening in the walls of your veins, which may impair their functionality. Again, as your pregnancy progresses, your expanding uterus may press down on and block the veins in your legs, causing the swelling.
What A Vascular Surgeon Can Do For You
A vascular surgeon is a specialist in vascular conditions and diseases. This covers diagnosis as well as treatment. You may be thinking that a vascular surgeon only performs surgery, but that is far from the truth. Most surgeons will turn to surgery as a last resort after other methods prove ineffective.
For a woman who is expecting a baby, your vascular surgeon will assess your condition and help you through all the available options. Varicose veins during pregnancy can be managed through medication and by making a few changes here and there. Your vascular surgeon may recommend that you stay active and avoid sitting down for too long. Choosing comfortable shoes, wearing compression stockings, and keeping your legs elevated when at rest are other recommendations that you can expect.
As mentioned, surgery is almost always the last option. Your vascular surgeon will recommend waiting at least a year after delivery to schedule an operation to remove the veins, and that is, of course, on a strict as-needed basis.
When To See A Vascular Surgeon
The answer is as soon as you notice any signs of the varicose veins or any other vascular disease. If you are unsure about where to go, you can ask for a referral from your GP. Varicose pains can be quite uncomfortable, and even painful, and as such, the sooner you get treatment, the better you'll feel.
Share22 May 2019
Yo! Welcome to my blog. The most important thing you have in life is your health. You can have a big car and a nice house and a great career but without your health, all of this is worth nothing at all. I didn't realise this until my dad became unwell and a man who seemed like a giant among the men of this world was suddenly stuck in a hospital bed. I nursed my dad and supported him throughout his recovery. During this time, I learnt a lot about the health and medical world. I hope you like this blog.