Is It Safe To Wear Compression Stockings When Pregnant?

Compression stockings are a useful way to improve the blood circulation in your legs. These special stockings will gently squeeze them, allowing blood to move freely up your limbs.

But pregnant women often wonder whether it’s safe to wear compression stockings during pregnancy. Many of them worry that wearing such tight clothing is unhealthy during pregnancy. Luckily this is an unnecessary concern, according to doctors who have researched the subject.

There are several benefits to wearing compression stockings, making it easy to see why so many women wear them daily. These stockings help with:

• Preventing blood clots, especially after surgery or if you’ve been bedridden for weeks
• Swelling, aching and heaviness in the legs
• Chronic pain resulting from long hours of standing or sports-related injuries

Compression stockings come in a variety of lengths and pressures. It’s important to consult with your doctor or physiotherapist to find a fit that’s right for you. Pressure can range from light to very strong, depending on the condition you are trying to treat.

Stockings can also be knee-high in length, or extend all the way up to your thighs. For women looking to wear them with maternity skirts and dresses, they even come in a variety of colours ranging from beige to black.

If you’re pregnant, doctors say there is absolutely no harm in wearing compression stockings. In fact, medical experts actually recommend wearing them during pregnancy to prevent the development of varicose veins.

Doctors say 20-30 mmHg strength for the first to second trimester is a healthy place to start, and women can increase their hose to 30-40 mmHg at the end of the second to third trimesters.

Putting on Your Compression Stockings

It’s advised to put on your stockings as soon as you get out of bed. This is because your legs are the least swollen during this time of day. Hold the top of your stocking and roll it down to the heel. Then slip your foot in and unroll it over your leg. Be sure to smooth out any wrinkles. And don’t forget that knee-length stockings should always come two fingers below the knee bend.

Whether you’re currently pregnant or you simply have additional questions about wearing compression stockings, contact the team at Dynamic Physiotherapy today! We’ll be able to answer any questions you might have, and help you find the stockings that are right for you!