My Trips to the Hospital

During pregnancy, you will experience a wide range of symptoms, including those which impact your legs. Even though most symptoms disappear once you have your baby, it is important that you seek treatment now while you are experiencing problems. Here are three conditions that affect your legs and what you can do about it. 

Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, is a condition in which a blood clot develops in the deep vein of the legs. The clot becomes dislodged from its position and can travel to the lungs, which can lead to serious consequences. Pregnancy is one of the known risk factors for developing this condition. 

Signs of VTE include leg pain, swelling, a warm sensation in your legs, and tenderness. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you alert your OB-GYN. Your doctor will focus on using anticoagulants to help reduce and eliminate the blood clot. The treatment your doctor recommends depends on the severity of the clot, your overall health, and how far along your pregnancy is. 

Varicose Veins

During your pregnancy, increased pressure to the main vein that is responsible for draining blood from your lower body can lead to the development of varicose veins. In fact, your baby's positioning during the pregnancy can even block or slow the flow of blood throughout your body. 

To reduce the chances of developing varicose veins, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle during your pregnancy. Exercising and eating a healthy diet will ensure that your blood flow is unrestricted. You can also focus on toe raises throughout the day. While standing, use the balls of your feet to raise and lower yourself. 

If you do develop varicose veins, you can treat them by wearing compression hose. Your OB-GYN could also recommend sclerotherapy, which involves injecting a liquid into your veins to seal the veins shut. The vein will become scar tissue eventually and disappear.

Restless Legs Syndrome

While sleeping, you could experience symptoms, such as tingling and crawling sensations. These sensations can make it difficult for you to sleep. Those sensations are a part of restless legs syndrome, or RLS. Fortunately, the symptoms should disappear as you near the end of your pregnancy. 

Most medical treatments for RLS cannot be used while pregnant. However, you can make lifestyle changes, such as limiting caffeine. Caffeine can make the symptoms of RLS worse. You can also talk to your OB-GYN about using supplements to control your symptoms. 

You should never dismiss any symptoms that you are experiencing as just part of being pregnant. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options to help your pregnancy go smoother. To learn more, visit a website like http://veinvarices.com.