Why Are My Veins More Visible?

## Hormones and Blood-flow

The hormones progesterone and oestrogen can cause your blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow, which rises by up to 45% to help support you and your growing baby [1,2]. Now the veins are transporting more blood and have dilated to cope with this, your veins may become more prominent and visible, typically in the legs and breasts [3].

## Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that predominantly occur on the legs and feet [4]. They may be blue, or dark purple in colour, and are often lumpy, bulging, or twisted in appearance. There are other symptoms involved which include:

- Aching, heavy, and uncomfortable legs.

- Swollen feet and ankles.

- Burning or throbbing in your legs.

- Muscle cramps in your legs, particularly at night.

- Dry, itchy, and thin skin over the affected vein.

Varicose veins during pregnancy result from the extensive blood volume now circulating your body alongside the additional weight of carrying your baby [5]. The legs are more vulnerable to this due to this added weight being placed onto them as well as the saphenous veins in the legs being sensitive to changes in progesterone. For some women, after giving birth, these will go away, but this is not the case for everyone. Additionally, with each subsequent pregnancy there is less chance that varicose veins will disappear after giving birth.

## Body Image

Visible veins, and varicose veins in particular, have been given the label of an ‘undesirable body change’ in interviews with pregnant women [6]. This is potentially due to the visible changes they cause to the body, as well as the physical discomfort they can cause.

To reduce physical discomfort from varicose veins you can try [4]:

- Using compression stockings (please see a doctor before using these to check they are suitable for you)

- Exercising regularly

- Avoiding standing up or sitting down for extended periods of time

- Elevating the affected area when discomfort starts

To try and help with body image issues you could try the fiver finger exercise to boost self-esteem. This exercise is from the book, “The Self-Esteem Companion: Simple Exercises to Help You Challenge Your Inner Critic and Celebrate Your Personal Strengths”. It’s a simple exercise to help elevate your mood when you’re feeling bad about yourself.

Follow these steps [7]:

1. Take a few deep breaths.

2. Allow yourself to feel relaxed and calm.

3. Touch your thumb to you index finger, then think of a time when you felt loved and cared for.

4. Touch your thumb to your middle finger and think back to a time when you felt successful. This could be anything where you felt you did well, such as grades in school or a promotion or accommodation at work.

5. Touch your thumb to your ring finger and remember a time when you did something important for someone else, such as giving to charity or looking after a relative when they aren’t feeling very well.

6. Touch your thumb to your pinkie finger and think of a memory of really loving someone else. A family member, friend, or romantic partner.

Practice this exercise whenever you need a quick reminder of how to feel good about yourself.