As the pregnancy progresses and the uterus continues to expand, increased pressure on the intestines can make bowel movements more difficult often resulting in constipation. Toward the end of the second trimester and into the third, the expectant mother may experience edema, varicose veins or breathlessness.

Increased weight gain can cause more pressure on the legs, which may result in varicose veins. Not every pregnant woman experiences these problems but there is a possibility that they could arise. You may not be able to prevent varicose veins but you may be able to lessen the chance by trying to avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. If necessary, wear support hose. It is also important to wear proper fitting, comfortable shoes.

Shortness of breath can occur as the uterus pushes up against the diaphragm. This may tend to increase in the third trimester and as the pregnant woman gets closer to delivery time. Edema is water retention in the tissues. It is normal for some swelling to occur during pregnancy especially in the hands and feet. It may be best to remove rings from fingers if swelling is making them tight. If swelling seems excessive to the point of concern, express those concerns to your physician. Normally your doctor will note such changes during regular office visits but it doesn’t hurt to ask questions or voice your concerns. Your physician can then help allay any unnecessary fears and suggest ways in which you can alleviate any undue discomfort.

Each trimester of pregnancy brings increasing changes that can affect mood and comfort level. Sleeping can become more difficult and finding a comfortable position can sometimes be a daunting task in itself. As hormonal changes take place expect moodiness to occur. Fatigue can also add to irritability. Along with weight gain, increased appetite and a tendency to crave odd combinations of food, cravings are probably the most well known aspect of pregnancy. Heartburn can become a great source of discomfort for some expectant women although others don’t seem to be bothered by it. If heartburn is causing you discomfort be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe something to alleviate it. Avoiding spicy food may also help to lessen the aggravation of persistent heartburn.

But as any new mom knows, any discomfort during pregnancy is well worth it once you have your new baby in your arms.

Related posts:

1. Pregnancy and Your Body
2. The Second Month of Pregnancy
3. Types of Bleeding During Pregnancy

Spider veins tend to appear mainly on the legs, although technically, they could occur on any part of the body. They look like a fine web of dark red, purple or even blue lines under the skin and are not as pronounced as varicose veins. However, they still can cause considerable discomfort. Some women complain that they are extremely painful.

Keeping up great circulation in your legs is the first step to being able to prevent spider veins. You can do this by not using tight clothing on your legs, which might cut off the circulation and encouraging blood flow to the legs. This might be in the form of a daily leg massage or exercise. Simply walking or jogging a little each day reduces your risk of developing these unsightly veins.

Your mother may have told you that crossing your legs would cause varicose veins. She was right. Cutting off the circulation to your lower leg and foot is the perfect way to create a varicose vein problem, since both spider and varicose veins are caused by lack of blood flow. Increasing the blood flow to the areas most at risk will help prevent problems later on. This is good advice to follow even if you are very young, as it can prevent spider veins once you get older.

Maintaining your weight at a healthy level is also very important since extra weight puts extra pressure on your legs and may result in spider veins. This is particularly true during pregnancy when you would gain anyway. Keeping the weight gain to the recommended amount during pregnancy ensures that you are spider vein free after the baby is born.

Avoiding salt in your diet can keep swelling and hypertension to a minimum as well. These conditions often go hand in hand with spider veins and varicose veins. Adding more Vitamin C and E is also a great natural way to reduce swelling in the legs and may work to prevent vein disorders.

If you do end up with spider veins, despite all your attempts to keep your circulation high and eat well, there are still alternatives. Surgery is the most invasive, where the veins are actually removed. This is usually reserved for problem veins that don’t respond to other treatments.

Another treatment is to inject the offending veins with a special liquid that causes the veins to scar up and close. This forces the blood to be redirected and leaves the area clear. The procedure is painless, but may need to be repeated several times. Also, laser surgery may prove effective and is the least invasive of all treatments for spider veins.

If you wish to prevent or treat spider veins, try the tips above before heading to your doctor. While the preventions given are usually quite effective, it really depends on you and your lifestyle as well as your genetic makeup.

Related posts:

1. Understanding Varicose Veins: Basics, Symptoms, Treatment, & Prevention
2. Foam Sclerotherapy in Treatment of Varicose Veins: Results From Europe
3. Body Changes During Pregnancy