Stockings for childbirth: a description of how to choose and why they are needed

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The period of pregnancy and childbirth is difficult even for a strong body. Therefore, he alth problems that were not there before may appear. If the legs swell, then this is varicose veins. But even if there is no such problem, doctors advise taking special stockings for childbirth to the maternity hospital. Are they really needed? The benefits of the products are described in the article.

What is this?

Compression hosiery is called medical underwear that puts pressure on a person's limbs in a special way. Due to this, swelling decreases, blood circulation in the veins is restored.

Create products from natural and synthetic fibers, including:

• cotton;
• kapron;
• elastoden.

Linen is thicker and stronger than regular nylon. Depending on the manifestation of the disease and the recommendations of the doctor, it may be necessary to use stockings, tights, bandages, golfs, leggings, socks and sleeves. What do maternity stockings look like? In appearance theysimilar to standard products, only made of special knitwear and do not have embellishments.

Features of stockings

To create compression underwear, an elastic dense material is used, including lycra, natural cotton and rubber threads, as well as microfiber. The product fits the body, preventing blood stagnation, edema, and the appearance of blood clots. Stocking features include:

• great stretch;
• excellent moisture and air passage;
• easy restoration of original shape and size.

Stockings are safe for the body. They are non-toxic, hypoallergenic and non-irritating. The properties of linen are preserved for about 6 months with daily wear. After that, the linen needs to be changed.

Stocking functions

Even if vein problems have never appeared, obstetricians, gynecologists recommend purchasing a couple of products. Why do you need stockings for childbirth? They are required to prevent the occurrence of thrombosis. When a baby is born, a lot of pressure is created in the womb. A huge load falls on the legs and pelvic organs. Therefore, blood stasis can occur in the veins. This leads to the formation of blood clots, which cause serious consequences, such as varicose veins of the legs, vagina, pelvic organs, unattractive appearance of the legs, covered with a mesh of blue vessels.

Thrombosis can be life threatening. Compression stockings for childbirth minimize the negative consequences, contribute to an even distribution of pressure inlimbs and protection against blood clots.

Products are recommended not only for natural childbirth, but also for caesarean section. In both situations, women are in a horizontal position for a long time, on their backs. Intra-abdominal pressure also appears with artificial delivery. In addition to the medical function underwear reduces fatigue during childbirth. Putting on clothes is not easy. It is advisable to do this in advance, at home. Doctors advise some women to wear compression stockings even after childbirth, which serves as a prevention of vascular diseases.

Required?

Whether stockings are necessary for childbirth, only a doctor can determine. Not all obstetricians classify this attribute as mandatory. Especially if there are no vascular pathologies in the woman in labor. But for the prevention of the product is still prescribed before childbirth. Only they include simple medical stockings with a minimum of compression. They can be replaced with elastic bandages. But when it comes to varicose veins and other vascular diseases, special stockings for childbirth are required.

Usually, doctors prescribe products to wear during pregnancy when swelling and "asterisks" are found on the legs. Compression stockings are also required during childbirth and during recovery. For caesarean section, knitwear and bandages should be removed after the woman in labor can get up and move around the ward. With varicose veins, women usually wear products for 2 weeks after giving birth.

Action

During pregnancy, the veins become weak and blood volume increases. The main function of compression stockings for childbirthis to exert external pressure on the vessels. With the weakening of the walls of the veins, poor opening and closing of the valves, the blood flows down into the legs. There it stagnates.

Stockings are able to tighten the limbs, tightly compress the veins. So the walls and valves will be supported. The blood flow speed is restored, the risk of blood stagnation is minimal. Medical underwear is able to exert uneven pressure on all parts of the leg. At the ankle, compression reaches 100%, and to the groin it decreases to 20%. This feature of the underwear allows you to provide the desired speed of blood flow. If you constantly wear such underwear, then you can not worry about the condition of your veins.

Choice

Compression knitwear stretches beautifully, quickly restoring its original shape. In addition, it quickly passes air. How to choose stockings for childbirth? Products come in 3 types:

• prophylactic;
• healing;
• anti-embolic.

The main difference between the first 2 products is the degree of compression. It is measured in millimeters of mercury. For a prophylactic product, the compression effect is not more than 12 mm Hg. Art. Anti-embolic stockings are rarely used for childbirth, only in the presence of thrombosis.

Compression classes

Compression stockings for childbirth by compression come in 4 classes:

1. Up to 23 mmHg Art. Used for varicose veins, spider veins, fatigue and swelling in the legs.
2. Up to 32 mm. Products are able to eliminate signs of varicose veins and thrombosis.
3. Up to 46 mm. They are used for mediumand severe vascular lesions.
4. From 50 mm. Underwear is suitable for severe violations of the lymph flow.

Size

When choosing compression underwear, you need to pay attention to other points. It is better to purchase products made from organic cotton with a small addition of synthetics. If the size of stockings or tights is indicated in DEN, but they do not apply to medical underwear. On the package indicate the size and compression class. Linen should not have seams.

To choose the right size stockings for childbirth, you need to know your parameters. Measure with a tape measure:

1. Thigh circumference above 25 cm from knee.
2. Shin circumference at widest point.
3. Ankle circumference is slightly higher than the bone.

According to these parameters, the store will help you choose the right product. It is advisable to choose stockings for childbirth in a pharmacy. You can use the dimensional grid, which will allow you to determine the desired type of stockings yourself.

Size	1 (S)	2 (M)	3 (L)	4 (XL)
Ankle circumference (cm)	19-22	22-25	25-28	29-32
Shin circumference (cm)	29-37	34-42	38-46	41-51
Thigh circumference (cm)	44-52	50-58	56-64	60-72

Based on this table, it will be possible to determine the appropriate size of stockings. In this case, the product willdo a great job.

Use and care

In the process of fighting varicose veins, everyone has a question - how much and how to wear such underwear? The average duration of use is six months. It is required to put on stockings in the morning, on dry skin. The legs should be slightly raised, the stockings should be gathered into an accordion for easy putting on.

The rules of care are as follows:

• must be washed by hand, using soap, every day;
• should not be twisted after washing, it is necessary to dry on a rope;
• cannot be ironed;
• do not stretch underwear, otherwise the healing properties will be lost;
• if the product is torn, it is advisable to choose a new one, as this may affect its function;
• preferably buy stockings 3-6 months.

According to reviews, stockings for childbirth do an excellent job with their functions. But still, they should be used on the recommendation of a doctor.

How to wear stockings?

Since some manufacturers make stockings with a high degree of wear resistance, you can wear the same knitwear that was worn during pregnancy in the delivery room. The main condition for successful childbirth is sterility. Therefore, the clothes on the woman in labor should be clean, including stockings.

Wear the product in the morning. It will be easier to do this before swelling appears. If there is a cutout for the fingers, it is advisable to first put on a nylon sock, so it will be easier to put on knitwear. When the product is distributed, the sock can be removed. Standardstockings are first assembled into an accordion, and then inserted inside the foot.

Contraindications

The use of compression stockings is useful for venous insufficiency. But there are diseases when such stockings must be used carefully. This applies to:

• chronic diseases of the arteries of the legs, when there is a reduced systolic pressure with a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels;
• congestive dermatitis, eczema, open wounds;
• cardiopulmonary failure if circulation is interrupted during rest.

In these situations, you need a mandatory consultation with a specialist so as not to harm your he alth.

Cost

You can choose compression underwear for prevention in almost every pharmacy. And stockings for childbirth with different compression classes are sold only in orthopedic stores and pharmacies. Often items are ordered online.

It's not worth saving on medical stockings. If their price is less than 1000 rubles, then you can wear them for up to 2 months. It is advisable to choose stockings from 1500 rubles. In this case, the quality will not disappoint. Now there are many manufacturers, which makes it difficult to navigate the selection of suitable products.

Known brands of stockings include:

1. OPTO. This is medical underwear from Spain at a price of 950-2500 rubles. Wear is fast. If worn every day, it will last 4 months.
2. MEDI. Linen of excellent German quality. It is difficult to tear the products, they are dense in structure. If astockings above class 2 are required, then you need to purchase a special device for putting on, since it will be difficult to do it yourself. The price of products is from 3200 rubles.
3. VENOTEKS® Therapy. Goods from the USA have an average wear resistance. The cost is in the range of 1000-3500 rubles. Service period is 6 months.
4. "Intex". This is Russian underwear that meets the RAL-GZ 387 standard. The quality of the goods is no worse than foreign products. You can wear them for at least six months. The cost is 1200-3500 rubles.

Sometimes it is much better to spend money on medical underwear than to buy medicines later. Compression stockings are worn not only during childbirth, but also during pregnancy. By purchasing them, you can be sure of protection against varicose veins and thrombosis.