Varicose veins in pregnancy: what helps and when to get checked

Varicose veins can be uncomfortable, but the NHS says they aren’t harmful and usually get better after the birth. Here’s what helps, and the signs to watch for.

What are varicose veins?

The NHS says varicose veins are veins that have become swollen. They can be uncomfortable but aren’t harmful. They most commonly affect the legs, and they usually get better after the birth.

The NHS says they can sometimes cause pain, aching or a feeling of heaviness, skin changes such as itching, colour changes or dry, scaly skin, and swollen ankles or legs. Symptoms may be worse after standing for a long time, and better when you rest with your legs up.

Vulval varicose veins

The NHS says you can also get varicose veins in the vaginal opening (vulva). Like varicose veins in your legs, they usually get better after the birth. If they’re uncomfortable or you’re worried about them, talk to your midwife.

Piles

Piles (haemorrhoids) are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels inside or around your bottom. The NHS says constipation can cause them. Symptoms include itching, aching, soreness or swelling around your bottom, pain when you poo, a lump hanging outside your bottom, and bright red blood after a poo.

The NHS suggests eating plenty of high-fibre foods such as wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, and not straining when you poo. Holding a cloth wrung out in iced water gently against the piles can help, and it’s better to pat the area than rub it. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods. Check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using a cream or medicine. See constipation and diarrhoea in pregnancy.

What helps varicose veins

The NHS suggests:

avoiding standing for long periods
trying not to sit with your legs crossed
trying not to put on too much weight, as this increases the pressure
sitting with your legs up as often as you can
sleeping with your legs higher than the rest of your body
foot exercises and other antenatal exercise, such as walking and swimming, to help your circulation
compression stockings, which you can buy at most pharmacies. They won’t prevent varicose veins, but they can ease the symptoms.
not smoking, because it damages your veins

For the foot exercises, the NHS suggests bending and stretching your foot up and down 30 times, then rotating it 8 times one way and 8 times the other, then doing the same with your other foot.

The NHS says procedures or surgery to treat varicose veins aren’t usually recommended while you’re pregnant, and that varicose veins often get better or go away after your baby’s born.

When to see a GP

The NHS says to see a GP if you have pain, itching or swelling in your legs, a sore on your leg that hasn’t healed after 2 weeks, or your varicose veins are getting worse. It says blood clots under the skin can cause hard, painful veins.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if a varicose vein is bleeding.

Signs of a blood clot

Tommy’s, the pregnancy charity, says the risk of a blood clot in a leg vein (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) is higher in pregnancy and for up to 6 weeks after giving birth. The NHS lists these signs of a DVT:

throbbing pain in one leg (rarely both), usually in the calf or thigh
swelling in one leg (rarely both)
red, blue or darker skin around the painful area, which may be harder to see on brown or black skin
swollen veins

Call your midwife or maternity unit, or NHS 111, straight away if you think you might have a DVT. The NHS says that if you’re less than 20 weeks pregnant, you can also call an early pregnancy unit.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have signs of a DVT and you feel short of breath or have chest pain. Tommy’s also says to call 999 if you’re coughing up blood or have sudden difficulty breathing.

Questions people ask

Will my varicose veins go away after the birth?

The NHS says they usually get better after the birth, and often go away.

Can I wear compression stockings in pregnancy?

The NHS says you may be able to use compression stockings in pregnancy, and that you can buy them at most pharmacies. They won’t prevent varicose veins but can ease the symptoms.

Is it normal to have varicose veins in my vulva?

The NHS says you can get varicose veins in the vaginal opening (vulva) in pregnancy, and they usually get better after the birth. Talk to your midwife if you’re worried.

Can I use a cream for piles?

The NHS says to check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using any cream or medicine for piles in pregnancy.