What is the Cause of Varicose Veins During Pregnancy?
When we’re pregnant, the volume of blood our body produces increases dramatically. At the same time, however, the flow of blood from our legs to our pelvis decreases, in an effort to ensure the growing fetus is well-supported. The downside, of course, is that because the blood in our legs is not able to flow its way back to the heart as efficiently, some of it may be forced to flow backwards. This causes the veins to swell and become what is known as varicose. The reason varicose veins are commonly blue is because this is the color of deoxygenated blood. Varicose veins most commonly appear during the later stages of pregnancy, usually in the third trimester. Varicose veins can affect pregnant women who have never had them before, or worsen in appearance for those already affected.
