Hoskins says, especially if you have varicose veins on your thighs.

Knee-high compression socks and pantyhose compression stockings are most effective, Dr.

Style: Some compression socks are shorter, like a sport sock that you would wear with sneakers to exercise, while others go all the way up to your knee.

Fit: In order for compression socks to do their job, you need a tight - but not uncomfortably tight - fit, Dr.

To find the best maternity compression socks for you, keep the following factors in mind: Choosing the best compression socks for pregnancy If you're considered high risk for developing DVT, your doctor may recommend that you wear compression hose. The condition is more common in moms-to-be than in other women of the same age and can cause life-threatening complications if left untreated. This increased blood flow, combined with the pressure of your expanding uterus on the pelvic veins and your vena cava (the large vein on the right side of your body that returns blood from your lower limbs to the heart), fluid can accumulate in your tissues.Īnother factor: “The increase in progesterone from pregnancy can cause relaxation of the walls of veins, so the blood pools in the lower body due to gravity,” explains Iffath Hoskins, M.D., an OB-GYN at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “Compression stockings help massage the muscles and result in blood being forced to move upwards towards the rest of the body.” This boosts circulation and helps to relieve swelling, she adds.ĭeep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is another concern during pregnancy. Why you might need compression socks during pregnancyīoth edema and varicose veins are caused by the increased bodily fluids you’re carrying around to nurture baby. One way to help ease both symptoms (or at least stop them from becoming worse) is to slip on a pair of maternity compression socks at the start of the day.

And on top of that, you might also notice varicose veins, which affect up to 35 percent of pregnant women. The bad news? Swelling probably won’t go away completely until after baby’s arrival. For many, swollen feet and ankles may start around week 27 - or month 7 - of pregnancy. The good news? In most cases, mild swelling during pregnancy, also known as edema, is normal (although you should always tell your doctor about severe swelling that doesn't go away).Ībout 75 percent of moms-to-be develop this symptom at some point during their pregnancies.

Compression socks for swollen ankles