Pregnant women are at an increased risk for varicose veins,
which become swollen from the pooling of excess blood. There are
several factors at work that may explain a relationship between
pregnancy and varicose veins. For one, a woman's blood volume
increases during pregnancy, putting additional strain on blood
vessels. In addition, greater amounts of the hormone estrogen
are produced, and estrogen is believed to relax the blood
vessels. It's also been suggested that the expanding uterus may
contribute to varicose veins because it puts additional pressure
on veins in the pelvis, leading to the progressive rupture of
valves further down. Pregnancy may also result in temporary
changes in the calf muscles that help pump blood back to the
heart. Still, doctors aren't sure if pregnancy actually causes
varicose veins or simply makes them worse in women who are
susceptible. In either case, most women's veins will improve
within three months after delivery. For this reason, doctors
advise delaying any treatment and