Most mothers are extremely excited about their growing baby bump. And when they feel the baby kicking for the first time, their anticipation grows even more. During this time, however, the body undergoes many changes which make everyday activities increasingly difficult. After all, common accompanying symptoms are swollen legs and feet. Find out in this article what can be done about that.
Actively combat tired, heavy legs: these pregnancy tips will help
The following generally applies: the changes in your body always serve an important purpose – to make sure your child has everything it needs to develop. Nature has set up a sophisticated and extremely complex system to ensure this happens. Unfortunately, some of the changes that the body is undergoing sometimes also have inconvenient side effects. This may include shortness of breath or back pain caused by increased body weight. During pregnancy, hormonal changes place increased strain on the venous system, too. On the one hand, blood volume is increased and, on the other hand, the venous walls become more flexible, resulting in the veins expanding. As a consequence, blood may accumulate in the veins, causing symptoms such as heavy, tired legs, water retention and varicose veins.
But the good news is that you can do a lot to ensure a healthy, symptom-free time until birth. You can also effectively prevent heavy legs during pregnancy.
How to combat heavy legs during pregnancy
In order to relieve your legs during pregnancy, you should avoid long periods of standing or sitting. If you do have to sit down for long periods – perhaps for work – you can provide your legs with relief by regularly elevating them several times a day. Sitting positions in which the flow of blood is impeded, when you cross your legs, for example, should be avoided. During pregnancy, you should also refrain from wearing high heels. At night in particular, your legs can be supported with a pillow, for example.
You should also pay attention to a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy – not only for the benefit of your child, but also for your legs – because too much weight gain puts additional strain on the veins. Staying hydrated is just as crucial – water, tea or low-calorie drinks are an ideal choice – because fluid is important for circulation and the metabolism.
Exercise during pregnancy: actively supporting circulation
In order to stimulate circulation, one thing is particularly important: get your legs going! Sufficient exercise strengthens the calf muscles and promotes blood flow. However, listen to your body and don’t overdo it. Activities such as walking, swimming or special gymnastic exercises are ideal during pregnancy. They stimulate circulation without exerting too much strain on the tendons and muscles. Alternating hot and cold showers and calf poultices also stimulate blood flow and provide heavy legs with beneficial relief. In order to support the veins in the long term, physicians recommend the use of medical compression stockings from the twelfth week of pregnancy.
Compression stockings – the perfect support for your veins
In contrast to support stockings, only medical compression stockings are proven to be medically effective. They relieve the venous system and support venous activity by applying a defined pressure gradient. The targeted pressure promotes blood transport, thus helping to improve blood return in the veins and preventing the accumulation of blood. In particular women who suffered from heavy legs before their pregnancy or who have a genetic predisposition should wear compression stockings as a preventive measure. Typical symptoms such as swollen legs, spider veins or varicose veins are thus counteracted, noticeably increasing your well-being during pregnancy.
Good to know: in Germany, medical compression stockings are available on prescription during pregnancy, for example. Just ask your physician about this during your next appointment.
VenoTrain® compression stockings: your reliable companion during pregnancy
Bauerfeind compression pantyhose feature a special expansion zone for the growing belly and have been specifically designed for the particular requirements during pregnancy. All our products meet the highest standards in terms of effectiveness, wearing comfort and quality made in Germany. Our VenoTrain micro is the most popular compression stocking in our portfolio. Thanks to its microfiber content of more than 50 percent, it is particularly soft and pleasant on the skin. Its comfort foot sole and the particularly large color selection are additional highlights.
