So which type of support stocking should you choose if you are pregnant? There are many different types to choose from - from support stockings with a short shaft to support tights for pregnant women that have room for the growing belly. What suits you best therefore depends, among other things, on how far along you are and how severe your problems are or if you have no problems at all. Below you will find more information about the best support socks for pregnant women during different parts of pregnancy.
First trimester
At the beginning of a pregnancy, the stomach has not started to grow much and the body has not yet had time to accumulate such large amounts of fluid. This means that no noticeable extra weight has started to strain your legs yet. However, if you do not already use support stockings daily, it is a good opportunity to start doing so now before the weight gain becomes too great. In this way, you prepare your legs by preventing pain and swollen legs beforehand, which makes it easier later when the load becomes heavier.
So what do we recommend for support stockings during the first trimester?
Knee high support socks with mild compression or class 1 support socks are both very good options. The difference is that the latter have a slightly higher pressure between 15-21 mmHg, while the former are between 11-14 mmHg. Both types are excellent for everyday use. However, compression class 1 is equally suitable throughout pregnancy, while the milder variant is usually too weak during trimesters two and three.
Second and third trimesters
Every body is unique and it is therefore different from woman to woman how much and how fast the body changes, but generally we recommend support stockings class 1 unless you have been advised otherwise by a doctor. If you have problems with severe swelling or already suffer from varicose veins, even higher compression may be required such as support stockings class 2, also called compression stockings. However, these should always only be used on the advice of a doctor.
