Pregnancy

Certain life stages can increase your risk for blood clots and varicose veins pregnancy is one of them

Pregnancy & Leg Health

Women often experience leg problems during pregnancy such as swelling, achy legs, and varicose or spider veins. According to the CDC, women are five times more likely to experience a dangerous blood clot, also called a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), when they are pregnant. Furthermore, if a portion of the clot breaks loose, it can lodge in the lungs, causing a life threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). Unfortunately, this is a leading cause of death amongst pregnant women in the U.S. Thus, attention to leg health when pregnant is very important.

50% of women develop varicose veins during their second pregnancy

Improve Your Leg Health While You’re Expecting

Wearing medical compression stockings while pregnant and after the baby is born is highly recommended. Studies show that expecting moms are much less likely to develop a DVT when wearing compression. Compression garments are also proven to have a positive impact on blood circulation, preventing and reducing leg swelling and discomfort. And don’t worry, we have maternity options that both look and feel good!

Pregnancy & DVT

Blood clots occur when there are changes to normal blood flow and blood thickens and clumps together, forming a clot. DVTs most commonly form in the deep veins of the legs behind the knee, in the thigh, or in the pelvis.

Pregnant women are at an especially high risk for developing blood clots. Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins in the pelvis and legs. Decreased blood flow, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, increases the risk of DVT and hormonal changes can affect the consistency of the blood, making it more prone to clotting. This risk continues through delivery and for roughly three months after, which is why the use of compression garments during this time is so important.

Product Recommendations

Learn more about all our pregnancy compression socks and pantyhose

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Citations

  • Bourjeily G, Paidas M, Khalil H, Rosene-Montella K, Rodger M. Pulmonary embolism in pregnancy. The Lancet. 2010 Feb 6;375(9713):500-12.
  • https://www.cdc.gov/
  • Clarke M, Hopewell S, Juszczak E, et al. Compression stockings for preventing deep vein thrombosis in airline passengers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; 2:CD004002.
  • Rabe E, Partsch H, Hafner J, Lattimer C, Mosti G, Neumann M, Urbanek T, Huebner M, Gaillard S, Carpentier P. Indications for medical compression stockings in venous and lymphatic disorders: An evidence-based consensus statement. Phlebology. 2018 Apr;33(3):163-84.
  • Thaler E. Compression stockings prophylaxis of emergent varicose veins in pregnancy: a prospective randomised controlled study. Swiss medical weekly. 2001 Nov 17;131(4546).

Benefits of compression stockings while pregnant