https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:49:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909130 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:35:28 +0000 Shantuck 2909130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: My doc gave me headphones to listen to and I remember just laying on my belly and I could feel slight tugging but otherwise the local anesthesia prevented any significant discomfort. I do remember asking if they could put me under and being told that wasn't an option! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909129 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:23:31 +0000 LCTBQE 2909129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: walled you, curious if that's the guy--I wouldn't have thought in all of NYC there was a chance you'd be referred to the same dude, but like I said he's in tight with the child-bearing crowd. </p> <p>@Shantuck: even after all that, even if I had to re-do it with the same experience, I would still do it again ! 60 minutes of suffering vs a lifetime of hating a quarter of my body, easy decision. Yours will go well again like it did the first time.</p> <p>Also to both of you--I had the option to take a xanax that I declined because I was nursing and would have had to pump and dump (maybe that's what you're referring to shantuck)--in retrospect that probably would have helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909127 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:14:21 +0000 Shantuck 2909127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: But look at you now with your varicose vein free legs! I'm dreading going back but planning to make an appointment for the fall once I'm done birthing and nursing this baby.</p> <p>@nwm: I will note that my easier experience was from before kids so coming home from the procedure meant putting my feet up and not worrying about anyone but myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909126 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:02:08 +0000 nwm 2909126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: @LCTBQE: yikes!!! oh man this sounds scarier than i had fully contemplated previously, but @Shantuck: i'm so glad you had an easy (-er) experience. historically i've reacted pretty well to anesthesia so hopefully this would be the same. i do indeed have a referral to NYU (where i delivered all 3 as well) so @LCTBQE: if you don't mind giving me your surgeon's name i would greatly appreciate it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909125 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 16:57:07 +0000 LCTBQE 2909125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: I had microphlebectomy too--imagine it with totally ineffective and inadequate anesthetic :meh: I think I just had an exceptionally bad experience. I was on mat leave when I had mine done but recovery was easy enough that I went trick or treating the next day. @nwm: don't listen to me, I didn't mean to scare you! I'm sure yours will go as well as Shantuck's. ETA maybe it was cosmic retribution for having two easy childbirths :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909106 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:46:17 +0000 Shantuck 2909106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: What procedure did you end up needing? As noted above, I had a microphlebectomy and the recovery took a few days but it wasn't awful for me. I didn't feel anything during the procedure. It was the soreness for the following days that was the worst part but I don't think I even missed any work... I just limped around once I was there. I think I may need another round of the surgery once I close up this baby shop in a couple months so that's why I'm curious about your traumatic experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909098 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:03:23 +0000 LCTBQE 2909098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: honestly I didn't know a product existed to deal with vulvar varicosities, I'm imagining some medieval elastic chastity belt.. not going to google it. But yeah, lying down as much as is possibly possible (I know you have older kids) is really the only thing that didn't hurt. Ugh, it sucks. Only one more trimester :heart: </p> <p>@nwm: on the off chance you're having this done at NYU, let me know and I'll give my surgeon's name as someone to avoid, it was pretty terrible. My OB actually recommended him because vascular surgeon's wife is an OB and she's buddies with all the OB's in NYC. Net, I'd still have it done again, but the deal is that it's an outpatient procedure with only local anesthetic, and I did not get enough of it or enough time to let it set in, and felt *everything* (including them cauterizing my artery, the first big step). I'm a special snowflake who has a super low pain threshold and metabolizes painkiller very fast (like getting a cavity filled for me I have to get double shots, etc)-- but, I told the guy that going in and it was still me clutching the bed frame and walls and screaming and howling and staff poking their heads in and being like, uhhh everything okay in here. Afterwards I was told this is not typical and I'm sure this won't happen to you, but, that was my experience. I was supposed to go back the next week to get my other leg done and I cancelled it on the spot. Recovery was they wrapped my leg like a mummy in like 20 ace bandages, I had to wear that for a couple days, and then compression and a lot of elevation for two weeks. You don't wear the compression when you sleep, but all other waking hours. I was pretty sore for a month, but then it was over and I look and feel normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909050 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:44:36 +0000 nwm 2909050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: literally in the process of making an appt with the vascular surgeon now that baby 3 is here. Was the surgery really awful? Painful? How was recovery? Thanks for any info!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909034 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:41:25 +0000 JennyPenny 2909034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Thanks for the info! Yeah, right now it’s the lower half of my right leg that is all back and blue, plus the varicose veins in my upper thigh and vulva. And definitely painful :-/ I’m so glad to hear yours went away quickly. I saw a vascular surgeon who basically told me a lot of what you said. Compression helps the pain but there’s nothing to keep it from getting worse, and he expects I’ll need the surgery after I deliver. I think I’ll get some stockings and spanx. I really cannot bring myself to buy the special support garments they have.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909024 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 22:38:24 +0000 LCTBQE 2909024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: oh man, sorry to hear you're going through this. My legs were black and blue from my crotch to my ankles, it was miserable and hideous and got more and more painful as the pregnancy progressed, I hope it's not as bad for you. </p> <p>So first, dealing with it right now: yes, the spanx helped a lot with compression up at the top end of my thighs, although the vulvar varicosities I just kind of lived with. I tried to lie down as much as possible and that was really the best relief I got. I ended up wearing the first compression stockings that @peaches1038: linked to, open toe version, *with* my power mama spanx a lot of the time (although not all the time). The socks won't hold a candle to that setup :)<br /> Second, aftermath, in case you're wondering: after I had the baby the vulvar varicosities went away for good almost immediately, like within a few days, thank god. The patches faded after a few weeks, although I still have some spider veins that I need to get zapped. The big nasty varicose veins on my legs did not go away, and I ended up getting surgery on my left leg (where they were a lot worse). I would have done my right, too, but the surgery was from hell and I chickened out.<br /> Ultimately I think the compression stockings helped alleviate the pressure pain, which was pretty intense, but I don't honestly believe (and my vascular surgeon kinda confirmed this) that they really did *that* much to prevent it from happening or getting worse. Good luck, lmk how it goes :heart: :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2909022 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:57:25 +0000 JennyPenny 2909022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Hi there! I’m resurrecting this old thread to see how everything turned out for you. I’ve got the same issues, varicose and spider veins in my leg and lady parts that are increasingly painful. I’m 27 weeks now and really struggling. I’ve been wearing compression socks for a while, which definitely help some, but haven’t helped the vulvar varicosities. I was googling some special compression wear for those and it looks absolutely awful. Did your spanx shorts continue to be helpful? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2825004 Sun, 27 May 2018 09:26:45 +0000 LCTBQE 2825004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just moved a couple weeks ago and I've been offline and super spotty on HB--sorry!<br /> @peaches1038: thank you so much for this, I ordered both of the stockings you linked to with expedited shipping. Just in the past week the veins have gone from hideous to downright painful. super motivating to schedule the appointment with the vascular surgeon, it hurts every time I just stand up now :meh: I really appreciate the links. </p> <p>@bhbee: I think it doesn't alert you to tag people unless they have already commented in that thread? But I'm going to write her, thanks.</p> <p>@Pollywog: yeah, right after you wrote this my husband saw me wearing shorts sitting cross-legged on the floor with my son and said, "Jesus dear, what did you do to your legs?" --he thought they were covered in bruises. I was like, this is now what I look like. it's very encouraging to hear you're mostly recovered so quickly, that's great! </p> <p>@Shantuck: this is good to know, I don't actually know anyone IRL who has bothered to deal with it. I am for sure going to get it done pp. during this pregnancy I've become fairly certain we're going to be done after two. </p> <p>@Pumuckl: I wish I had gotten them months ago! my spanx shorts have helped so much with comfort for the veins up top. good to know I'm not the only one suffering here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824435 Thu, 24 May 2018 02:47:49 +0000 Pumuckl 2824435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Yes to the compression stockings! They really should be the medical ones and where I live we get them fitted to our specific bodies. Not sure how that works in the US. But they make all the difference. All my female relatives (and some male ones) have problems with varicose veins and I am prone to them too. I started wearing the thigh high stockings (I preferred them over tights) at 8 weeks or so with all three pregnancies and it helped with prevention and it might the pressure in my legs so much better. Also kicking up my legs by the end of the day was just so important. So, I would assume that they wouldn't make your varicose veins go away but make the symptoms feel less severe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824427 Wed, 23 May 2018 22:22:43 +0000 peaches1038 2824427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: @LCTBQE: I like the thigh high ones because you don’t have to deal with the crotch issue, but they go up past the knees, which will help promote venous return. It sounds best to wear them during waking hours, especially if you are going to be standing, walking or sitting a lot (basically anything but laying down). And then taken them off at night. They will ease the discomfort of the varicose veins and help to prevent new ones from developing. </p> <p>These are excellent: <a href="https://www.brightlifedirect.com/medi-assure-compression-thigh-highs-20-30mmhg.asp" rel="nofollow">https://www.brightlifedirect.com/medi-assure-compression-thigh-highs-20-30mmhg.asp</a></p> <p>I bought these for my pregnancy: <a href="https://www.brightlifedirect.com/allegro-sheer-open-toe-thigh-highs-20-30mmhg.asp" rel="nofollow">https://www.brightlifedirect.com/allegro-sheer-open-toe-thigh-highs-20-30mmhg.asp</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824407 Wed, 23 May 2018 20:27:44 +0000 Shantuck 2824407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a family history of varicose veins and had ugly veins when I was 27 years old before having kids. I went to a vascular center and they did an ultrasound and determined that my veins were too large to do scleratherapy (injections that are surprisingly painful) so I had an outpatient procedure done called a microphlebectomy where they made tiny incisions and removed the dead veins. The doctor I saw tried to convince me that if I planned to be pregnant, new veins would come so I should just wait until I was done having kids. However, I hated feeling self conscious at age 27 so I went for it and was glad I did. The procedure took care of most of the veins and I had a few scleratherapy injections to take care of the rest. Flash forward 11 years and two kids later and I have varicose veins again on one of my legs. I'm still trying for a third kid so I'm waiting to get past that to deal with the veins again. Compression stockings help if you have discomfort but they won't make them go away. My veins were more uncomfortable during my second pregnancy (I think because of the increased blood flow?) and the symptoms subsided after I gave birth. I'll eventually have them removed again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824369 Wed, 23 May 2018 17:13:44 +0000 Mrsbells 2824369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: i got varicose veins with my first and tiny stretch marks behind my legs that i hate. But they haven't gotten worse with each pregnancy. Sorry to hear yours are painful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824368 Wed, 23 May 2018 17:11:15 +0000 nwm 2824368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: ha, set up is all relative! we've made a lot of progress. if the baby arrived tomorrow, it would be a scramble, but i think we could handle it (in stark contrast to, say, 2 weeks ago). but i still have a decent to-do list for the next couple weeks. these last couple months really snuck up!</p> <p>also i totally agree--i had some of this problem the last time, and it mostly went away in between, but really worried given how bad it is now that it won't fully disappear once i'm not pregnant. if it doesn't i may get them zapped even before we're fully decided if we'll go for number 3 :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824360 Wed, 23 May 2018 16:20:25 +0000 bhbee 2824360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just have spider veins but this reminded me that @mrsjd: mentioned having vulvar varicosities on my post about weird pregnancy stuff a while back - tagging in case she has thoughts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824339 Wed, 23 May 2018 14:38:56 +0000 Pollywog 2824339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: mine were so bad, like my nephews were like "what's that? Why are your legs purple?". They are completely gone now at 5 weeks postpartum. They started going away almost immediately after delivery. I did nothing, except whine that they were ugly. I planned to get them zapped, but they cured themselves </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824337 Wed, 23 May 2018 14:35:50 +0000 LCTBQE 2824337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: also you're already 35 weeks?! are you all set up? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824336 Wed, 23 May 2018 14:33:56 +0000 LCTBQE 2824336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: yeah, it SUCKS, although mostly from a vanity standpoint--it's is a big one for me ;) and yes, also happened early on, it got bad around 16 weeks and worse around 20, although the vulvar pressure is new as of a couple of weeks ago--that one I can live with and I'm sure it'll resolve pp. the shattering pattern of veins, probably not :meh: I'm pretty sure I am going to get them all zapped when I'm through with baby-time, too--that's why I never looked into it after I had my son, I knew we'd try again soon--just didn't expect it to be 10x worse this go around. </p> <p>@peaches1038: thanks for this, yes I'm also interested to hear your thoughts on when and how to wear them. I've worn them on the two flights I've taken so far this pregnancy (I have one more flight in June and that's it until the baby comes). this sounds a little silly but I've tried several pairs and all the ones that are like tights, the crotch falls somewhere around mid-thigh for me because I'm pretty tall and have long (veiny, gross) legs and are impossible to walk in. So I've resorted to wearing my Spanx power mama shape wear shorts (they reach low-mid thigh) which are super comfortable in that they push down on all my thigh varicose veins. Do compression stockings just manage the veins you already have, or do they prevent new ones from cropping up? (surely they don't actually correct existing ones, right?) oy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824328 Wed, 23 May 2018 14:16:01 +0000 nwm 2824328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: sorry to hijack the response, but that is a good reminder that my doctor did mention compression stockings, and they helped for a while. would you recommend wearing them all the time or do you have recs on how much time you should wear/not wear compression stockings? thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824326 Wed, 23 May 2018 14:10:32 +0000 peaches1038 2824326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you wearing compression stockings? I am a physical therapist and would recommend at least 20-30mmHg thigh high compression stockings. Jobst, juzo and medi are good brands.<br /> Brightlifedirect.com is a good website that has reasonable prices and free shipping </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824319 Wed, 23 May 2018 13:53:13 +0000 nwm 2824319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>omg SAAAAME (except not the vulvar varicosities--that sounds charming and i'm sorry you're experiencing that). my legs are so gross i don't let people see them. i've raised them a few times with my doctor because they just look so awful that i feel like they can't be good for you? she basically said, wait until you're done having kids and i'll refer you to someone who can zap them. i'm hoping they at least partially resolve shortly after childbirth because they're just so yucky. i don't know if it was the same for you, they erupted for me really early--i don't remember exactly when but can't have been later than 12 or so weeks. going strong at 35 wks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pregnancy-induced-varicose-and-spider-veins#post-2824292 Wed, 23 May 2018 12:33:05 +0000 LCTBQE 2824292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During pregnancy #1 I got a couple of varicose veins in my legs which got better but didn't go away completely after I had the baby. This pregnancy (I'm 26 weeks now) my legs have completely erupted in huge, bulbous varicose veins (same as before plus more) and tons of patches of bruised-looking spider veins. Diet and exercise have been almost identical, weight gain was faster this time but now leveling off and is not dissimilar from last time (I've gained 2 more pounds this time so far); the only thing I can think of that's different is I took baby aspirin last time and didn't bother with it this time. I'm also getting painful vulvar varicosities (for me, pressure-pain upon standing basically where my pubic hair area is). </p> <p>Has anyone else had this on HB? Did it resolve or go away pp? My OB referred me to a vascular surgeon and I'm going to go, not sure what to expect though. The varicose veins are uncomfortable-to-painful, the spider vein patches are just super unsightly. </p> <p>Thoughts/feelings/commiseration?? </p>