The large, swollen blood vessels found predominantly in the legs, but that can show up almost anywhere in the lower half of your body – even your rectum or vulva.
The extra volume of blood you produce during pregnancy is essential to support two growing bodies. It does, however, put extra pressure on your blood vessels – especially the veins in your legs, which have to work against gravity to push all that extra blood back up to your heart.
Add to that the pressure your burgeoning uterus puts on your pelvic blood vessels, and the vessel-relaxing effects of the extra progesterone your body is producing, and you have the perfect recipe for varicose veins by around week 29 of pregnancy.
Dr. Hawkins answers the question, "What causes varicose veins in pregnancy?". Watch this free educational video to find out more about pregnancy and why it is a precursor to venous disease in many women.
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