Fit is very important, so washing your compression stockings properly is also an important step to having them wear comfortably on your leg.

Pregnancy and Vein Health

Veins are responsible of transporting deoxygenated blood back to the heart and other organs so it can be cleaned and replenished with oxygen. With all the changes in the body during pregnancy, the veins and the leg muscles must work extra hard in order to successfully transport the blood back to the heart and vital organs.

When blood is not transported back up the leg, it can pool in the veins. Varicose veins may develop and legs may feel heavy, tired and achy. Pregnant mothers can also experience problems of tiredness, restlessness, heaviness, tension in the legs, tingling sensation, muscle cramps, and swollen feet.

Of women who gave birth, approximately 30% of first time pregnancies and 55% of women with previous pregnancies develop varicose veins. (Swiss Medical Weekly 2001: 131: 659-662).

Blood that pools in veins has a risk of becoming blood clots, and if these blood clots break off, it can have severe health consequences. Other conditions that can emerge include dizziness, palpitation or even a breakdown of the venous valves.

Many factors can contribute to the veins to become unhealthy during pregnancy such as:

1. History of venous disease in your family
2. Existing venous condition previous to your pregnancy
3. Multiple pregnancies
4. Long hours standing or sitting

Tips for Healthier Veins during Pregnancy

Elevate the legs above the level of your heart while you rest. This will also give your veins a rest as gravity will assist the return of the blood to the heart.

1. Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. Take breaks and do some Healthy Leg Exercises.
2. Tight-fitting undergarments should be avoided as it can impede the flow of the blood in the body.
3. Avoid exposure to hot temperatures (hot baths, saunas, sunbathing).
4. Refresh your legs with a cooling shower.
5. Pregnant Mothers should wear Compression Stockings.

Compression stockings provide gradient compression therapy that can alleviate some of the venous pressure from your legs. The increased circulation will help prevent blood from pooling in the veins.

Benefit of Compression Stockings during Pregnancy

Compression stockings (also known as support hose) are specially designed socks and stockings to assist the veins in your legs to transport the blood back to the heart.

Wearing maternity compression socks and stockings is an easy way to promote leg health. More women are discovering the benefits of wearing compression socks during pregnancy. Many people are making compression socks and stockings a part of their daily life and wearing them to work, for sports and travel. No more tired, heavy, achy legs and swollen feet. Compression socks and stockings come in lots of different styles, materials and colors, so it looks like you’re wearing a regular sock. They match your entire wardrobe and they make your legs and feet feel better.

If you have any questions about your health, please consult your doctor.

Have questions? Email us at support@legsmart.com.

First, the shoe might be too tight. So when you’re wearing an open toe with or without a sock over it and you put your foot into a tight shoe, the toe band rolls up. A solution would be to wear a shoe that has more room in the front. Or avoid wearing socks that are too thick over your open toe compression stocking.

Second, the open toe compression rolls when it gets worn out. Make sure you’re washing your compression stockings properly after wearing them and that they are replaced every 4-6 months depending on how often you wear them.

It Stays roll-on skin adhesive is good for keeping your compression stockings in their right place. You can roll a bit of It Stays on the top and bottom of your foot and stick the open toe band to keep it from moving throughout the day. Wash off with warm water and gentle soap.

(From left to right, 860 Series for Women, Men and Open toe.)

Features

The Select Comfort 860 Series features double covered yarns that make the material softer and smoother, so it’s easier to put on and take off. Sigvaris says that their knit construction is easier to put on, so it’s ideal for patients with arthritis of a limited range of motion. The Select Comfort comes in the full range of styles and colors and is available in the 20-30 mmHg and 30-40 mmHg levels of compression. Knee high and thigh high models are available for both Men and Women. For women, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose are also available. This opaque material covers up blemishes on the skin for a smooth and even look. For men, two dressy ribbed colors are available. Men’s black and men’s khaki have thin ribbing for a professional dress sock look. The Select Comfort 860 Series is also conveniently available in both open toe and closed toe variants. Sigvaris utilizes their Precise Fitting System (PFS) so Select Comfort models come in 16 different sizes for knee high compression stockings and 12 sizes for thigh, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose compression stockings.

Durability

Select Comfort 860 Series compression stockings have good durability and lifespan. The material is not too thick and not too thin. So while you don’t have a sheer fabric, the opaque material covers up blemishes on the skin and spider veins and contains protruding varicose veins. The opaque material is better at containing swelling than fashion compression stockings. With the Select Comfort 860 Series, you’re not as likely to see holes or snags as sheer compression stockings. However, because the material is a soft material, you can still tear a hole or snag the material if you pull to hard. Sharp toe nails can wear a hole in the toes and rough heels or shoes can rub small holes in the heel. The Select Comfort 860 Series is not indestructible, but for what it’s used for, the durability is better than most. Always use proper technique when putting on compression stockings. Also, using Donning Gloves by Sigvaris will protect the compression stocking while making it easier for you to put on.

Wearability

Soft and smooth, the Select Comfort is easy to wear for long periods of time. Because of its durable construction and soft materials, the 860 Series compression stockings are ideal for wear during post surgery, travel or pregnancy. The Select Comfort used for many applications, which makes it comfortable for most people with different skin types and sizes of legs. The most appealing aspect of the Select Comfort is its daily wearability. Many people rely on this model for a variety of uses and thus it’s worn everyday and for long periods of time by many people. There is no latex in the Select Comfort 860 Series so it is safe for individuals with latex/rubber allergies.

The Verdict

4.5 Stars – Great!

Versatile – The Select Comfort 860 Series comes in many different styles, colors and sizes and is used for many different applications.

Durable – The moderate, opaque material make this model easy to put on and take off.

Comfortable – Soft and smooth on the skin, the Select Comfort is appropriate for most leg sizes and skin types.

If you have any questions or concerns that were not addresses here please feel free to email us at support@legsmart.com.

Please do not wear compression stockings to bed, unless your doctor instructs you to do so.

Compression socks and stockings provide gentle external pressure to the legs in a specific way to help reduce the venous pressure. Venous pressure is the amount of stress that your veins have to deal with because gravity is pulling your blood and other fluids in your down towards the ground. When you stand or sit for long periods of time without movement in your legs, ankles and feet, they start to feel heavy and achy. That’s the venous pressure. When you move your calf muscles, your body naturally squeezes up against your veins to help return blood back to your heart and lungs. Compression socks and stockings also help this natural process.  But just squeezing your legs is not enough to help boost your circulation. What’s special about these compression stockings is that the pressure they apply is “graduated”, meaning that the amount of pressure at the ankle is the greatest and it gets lighter as it move towards the top of the stocking.

Like all things, your veins eventually wear out and they have a harder time trying to get blood to flow back up your leg and to your vital organs. So compression stockings help restore the blood flow to normal by preventing the decrease in blood flow. In addition to boosting circulation, compression garments also helps get the swelling out of feet, ankles and legs.

You don’t have to have a problem with your veins or legs to wear compression socks and stockings. There are lots of different people, both young and old, healthy and active wearing compression stockings. A lot of new fangled technology now allows these cool socks to be made in any color and style. You can get a sport sock that has graduated compression in it for jogging or playing sports. Isn’t that awesome?

Questions? Comments? Drop us a line: support@legsmart.com.

Anti-embolism stockings, or TED hose, are intended for non-ambulatory patients. This means that the individual is not mobile, lying flat on a bed. TED hose are virtually ineffective for an individual who is walking, standing and sitting. Compression stockings are made especially for individuals who are mobile and are much more effective than TED hose.

Compression stockings put graduated pressure on the legs to help increase circulation and venous return. The compression socks and stockings are graduated in compression, which means that the amount of pressure applied by the stocking to your leg at your ankles is the greatest, and then becomes lighter as you move up the leg. Compression stockings usually apply 100% of their strength at the ankle, about 70% of their strength at the calf, and 30% of their strength at the thigh. These strengths and percentages vary depending on the level of compression and manufacturer.

Compression stockings come in different levels of compression (15-20 mmHg, 20-30 mmHg, 30-40 mmHg, etc). The stocking will support your legs more or less depending on the level of compression. The various levels of compression are used for different symptoms and leg health issues.