Compression Stockings in Pregnancy: Do They Help Varicose Veins?

Pregnancy is often described as one of life’s most beautiful seasons, yet many women find themselves dealing with challenges they never expected. Among the most common — and often frustrating — are varicose veins. These swollen, rope-like veins usually appear on the legs and can cause aching, heaviness, and swelling. For some women, they feel like just another discomfort of pregnancy, while for others, they spark real concern: Are these dangerous? Will they go away? Can I do anything about them now?

One of the simplest and most widely recommended approaches is wearing compression stockings. But do they really help? And how effective are they during pregnancy?

At Charm Vascular Clinic in Seoul, we meet many expectant mothers facing this exact concern. Let’s explore why varicose veins appear during pregnancy, what compression stockings actually do, and what you should realistically expect from them.

Why Varicose Veins Appear During Pregnancy

Your veins are like highways carrying blood back to the heart. Tiny one-way valves inside these vessels normally prevent blood from pooling in your legs. During pregnancy, however, this balance shifts dramatically.

Several changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy combine to increase the likelihood of varicose veins:

• Hormonal influences
  Progesterone, a key pregnancy hormone, relaxes smooth muscles throughout the body. This is important for supporting the uterus, but it also relaxes vein walls. As the walls loosen, veins can stretch, making the valves less effective at keeping blood flowing upward.

• Increased blood volume
  By the third trimester, a pregnant woman’s blood volume can increase by as much as 40–50%. While this is essential for nourishing the baby and placenta, the veins — especially in the legs — must work much harder to carry that extra blood back toward the heart.

• Uterine pressure
  As the uterus grows, it exerts pressure on the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava (a large vein in the abdomen that collects blood from the lower body). This slows blood return from the legs, increasing venous pressure.

• Genetics and lifestyle factors
  If your mother or grandmother had varicose veins during pregnancy, your risk is significantly higher. Long hours of standing — common for teachers, healthcare workers, and retail staff in Korea — or prolonged sitting can also make veins more vulnerable.

The result? Veins that become visibly enlarged, twisted, and uncomfortable. While varicose veins are usually not dangerous in pregnancy, they can cause discomfort, swelling, and — in some cases — complications like superficial clots or skin irritation.

What Compression Stockings Actually Do

Compression stockings may look like snug tights or knee-high socks, but they are carefully engineered medical garments. They apply graduated pressure — firmest at the ankles and gradually lighter toward the thighs. This pressure gradient helps veins push blood upward, against gravity, toward the heart.

Here’s how they help during pregnancy:

1. Improve blood circulation
   The stockings act as an external support system, narrowing the diameter of dilated veins and assisting weak valves. This helps prevent blood from pooling in the legs.

2. Reduce swelling and fluid retention
   Many expectant mothers notice swollen ankles by evening. Compression stockings help keep excess fluid from leaking into tissues, limiting edema (swelling).

3. Relieve discomfort
   Leg heaviness, throbbing, and fatigue often improve once stockings are worn consistently. Women who wear them daily frequently report they feel more comfortable standing, walking, or commuting.

4. Lower risk of complications
   While stockings cannot cure varicose veins, studies suggest they may reduce the risk of superficial thrombophlebitis — a painful condition where blood clots form in surface veins.

At our clinic, we often explain it this way: compression stockings are braces for your veins. Just as a back brace supports posture or a knee brace stabilizes a joint, stockings provide external support that makes the veins function more effectively under stress.

Do Compression Stockings Prevent Varicose Veins Altogether?

Here’s the honest truth: compression stockings are supportive, not curative.

• They do not erase varicose veins that already exist.

• They may reduce the severity of new ones developing during pregnancy.

• They control symptoms — particularly swelling, heaviness, and discomfort — which is often the main priority during these nine months.

Think of them as holding the line. They won’t repair damaged vein valves, but they minimize daily strain and may prevent veins from worsening.

Clinical research supports this perspective. A review published in the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia noted that compression stockings significantly reduced leg swelling and discomfort in pregnant women, but they were less effective in completely preventing new varicose veins.

So, while stockings are not a miracle fix, they remain one of the safest, most effective conservative tools available for expectant mothers.

Practical Tips for Wearing Compression Stockings in Pregnancy

Many women hesitate at the thought of stockings, imagining them as bulky or uncomfortable. But modern designs are more breathable, discreet, and even stylish than older versions. Still, the key is using them correctly.

Here are practical recommendations we often give at Charm Vascular Clinic:

• Choose the right compression level
  For pregnancy, 15–20 mmHg (mild to moderate compression) is usually recommended. Higher strengths, like 20–30 mmHg, may be prescribed if varicose veins are severe or if there’s a history of blood clots — but only under medical guidance.

• Put them on in the morning
  Legs are least swollen after a night of rest. Slip them on before you stand up to lock in that benefit.

• Wear them consistently
  Occasional use won’t provide much relief. Aim to wear them daily, especially on long workdays, during travel, or when you know you’ll be standing for extended periods.

• Pair with lifestyle adjustments
  Stockings work best alongside simple habits:

  • Elevating your legs when resting

  • Avoiding long hours of standing still

  • Staying active with walking or light prenatal exercises

  • Sleeping on your left side to relieve pressure on the vena cava

• Prioritize comfort
  Compression stockings should feel snug, not painful. If you notice numbness, tingling, or skin irritation, they may be too tight or the wrong size. A proper fitting — ideally at a vascular clinic or medical supply shop — makes all the difference.

What Happens After Pregnancy?

One of the most common questions we hear is: Will these veins disappear after childbirth?

The answer varies:

• For some women, varicose veins improve dramatically within a few months postpartum as hormones normalize and uterine pressure is relieved.

• For others, especially those with strong genetic predisposition or multiple pregnancies, varicose veins remain visible or even worsen over time.

If veins persist and cause discomfort, modern medicine offers excellent solutions. At Charm Vascular Clinic, we specialize in minimally invasive treatments such as:

• Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) – A thin fiber delivers laser energy inside the vein, sealing it closed.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) – Uses gentle heat to collapse and close diseased veins.

• VenaSeal™ Closure – A medical adhesive seals the vein without the need for heat or anesthesia.

These procedures are safe, quick (often under 30 minutes), and allow women to return to daily life immediately — no stitches, no long recovery. We typically recommend waiting until breastfeeding is complete before considering such treatments.

The Charm Vascular Clinic Perspective

What we’ve learned from years of caring for expectant mothers is this: Compression stockings make a meaningful difference in comfort and quality of life during pregnancy. They won’t eliminate varicose veins, but they can significantly reduce the symptoms that affect daily activities.

Pregnancy is a unique season where the focus is on safety — both for the mother and the baby. Stockings represent one of the few safe, non-invasive interventions that can be used freely during these months. They allow women to stay active, reduce discomfort, and protect vein health until more definitive treatments become an option after delivery.

Final Takeaway

So, does wearing compression stockings during pregnancy help varicose veins? Yes — in important ways. They won’t cure the condition, but they:

• Improve blood flow

• Reduce swelling and leg heaviness

• Provide daily comfort

• Slow progression of vein disease

If you’re pregnant and struggling with tired, swollen legs or visible varicose veins, stockings are a safe and effective first step. And if your veins don’t improve after childbirth, a consultation at a specialized vascular center like Charm Vascular Clinic in Gwanak-gu, Seoul can help you explore modern, minimally invasive treatments tailored to your condition.