Question:
I'm having trouble with varicose veins this pregnancy. Does anyone have any advice on how to control them? Exercise and putting my feet up... but this doesn't seem to help much, and they are really starting to hurt. I have one pair of ugly white medical stockings that pull up to the thigh, and they help a bit, but are awful hot (and did I mention ugly?) I'm in a small town, they don't have much to offer, so I'm going to "the city" to find something, but don't know what I'm looking for. Anyone used anything else that helped without being so hot? Are there knee high stockings or anklets that help? (I've got the swollen veins practically to my head ;-0, but the ones that hurt hurt hurt are in my ankles)

Answer: -I'd say talk to your doctor. During my first pregnancy, my doctor noticed that my veins could use some support (they weren't bulging but were more visible), and wrote me a prescription for medical pantyhose. Here in Germany, that pantyhose comes in all kinds of colours, so it's not terribly ugly. (I chose black.) Yes, it's hard to put on (basically, I end up lying on my back like some beetle out of Kafka), and it's expensive (mine cost about $100 a pair, but this being Germany, my insurance paid for it). I guess it's kind of warm, too (this being Germany, the weather doesn't really get too hot this time of year). But the benefits are really noticable -- I'm week 33, and I just started wearing it again, and felt more energetic immediately (I always have really low blood pressure when I'm pregnant), and the legs look good. Since you're not due until January, you seem to have even more of a problem, so maybe this is for you. My doctor also recommended hot-and-cold showers (legs only) but see what your doctor thinks. -Wear good support shoes (good tennis/walking/running shoes) and support stockings. Just My Size makes plus sized support stockings that I was able to wear when pregnant...no binding and they felt great on my legs. Plus, they're cheap...give them a try.