If you're pregnant in Dubai and noticing new veins, you're not alone. This page explains why varicose veins often appear during pregnancy and what you can do about them while staying safe.
Yes, varicose veins and spider veins are more common during pregnancy. This is due to a combination of hormonal, physical, and circulatory changes that occur as the body adapts to support the growing baby.
During pregnancy, female hormone levels rise, which relaxes the blood vessel walls, including the veins. At the same time, the total blood volume, which nourishes the baby, also increase. These factors cause the veins to stretch and expand. As a result, the one-way valves inside the veins may fail to keep the blood flowing upward. And as a result, the blood pools in the legs, leading to the formation of varicose veins.
The growing uterus can also put pressure on the pelvic veins, and as a result, increase the resistance of the blood flow from the legs. This can worsen or trigger the formation of varicose veins, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. Although many vein issues during pregnancy improve after delivery, some may persist or worsen with each successive pregnancy.
If you're pregnant in Dubai and notice bulging near veins, leg swelling and heaviness, conservative treatments such as leg elevation, light exercise and compression socks for varicose veins are often recommended to manage the symptoms safely.
If you do have any vein symptoms, it will be a good idea to get your veins checked prior to family planning.
Medical varicose vein treatments during pregnancy are usually delayed until after childbirth, and getting professional advice is a good idea. And getting professional advice from a board certified vascular surgeon in Dubai ensures the symptoms are managed effectively. If you are in Dubai and seek treatment for varicose veins, you should consult an experienced vascular surgeon or a vein specialist.
Read more on habits which make spider veins worse in our blog.