During pregnancy you may feel that your feet and ankles are aching, especially during hot weather. In the 9 months the risk of venous insufficiency is 50%. Many expectant mothers, in fact suffer from leg problems, swelling of the ankles, and feeling of heaviness and tension.

These symptoms are usually the first sign of venous stasis, that is the slowing of blood flow from the periphery of the body to the lungs and heart. Veins in the legs in fact, push the blood from the bottom up, against the gravity force. When the veins lose their elasticity and tone, blood stagnates in the capillaries and it is hard to trace. So the greater the venous stasis is, the more the veins weaken and dilate.

What can be done?

Wear graduated compression socks!

Their use is recommended both during pregnancy and immediately after birth, to improve your leg health. Consistency is the key! It is important to wear them every day from the moment you wake up.

What are graduated compression socks? How do they work?

Graduated compression stockings improve blood circulation. Recent studies have shown that these socks greatly reduce the presence of visible capillaries and spider veins on the legs, because they exert a downward compression from ankle to thigh, doing a massage. It is also true, however, that during the summer it becomes difficult to "endure", therefore going to the sea or lake could be a good solution, taking walks with the legs immersed in water.

Do some physical activity The movement improves blood circulation and helps to deflate the legs. Physical activity, in fact, stimulates the muscle pump by encouraging the return of blood from the bottom up. The most suitable activities for the health of your legs during pregnancy are swimming, cycling and walking. The important thing is that the movement becomes a daily habit devoting at least half an hour a day.

Sleep with your feet up From the first months of pregnancy is advisable to sleep with your legs up: just put a pillow under the mattress at foot level or raise the bottom of the floor of the bed about 15 cm. The rest, however, must always be comfortable. During the day you can put chairs with legs raised, resting on a soft surface and low.

Cold baths and creams For an immediate feeling of lightness and freshness, you can use creams, gels or sprays, which reduce the discomfort in the legs. Calendula based cream is great, you can put it one hour before the use in the refrigerator. You should apply these products through a gentle massage, or you can simply dip the legs in cold water. Proper prevention is therefore recommended both to those who already carries a venous disease, and those who still do not complain problems, but have a familial predisposition.