One early pregnancy symptom is varicose veins; another is hemorrhoids. When you are pregnant you experience a lot of pressure on the large veins that are behind your uterus. This pressure slows the flood of blood from your legs to your heart.



This can result in legs that develop varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are actually varicose veins in the anal or vaginal regions. These veins look swollen and rise above your skin's surface. They are usually blue or deep purple and can twist and bulge. Usually you find this early pregnancy symptom in the back of your calves or the inside of your legs somewhere between your ankle and your groin.

There are ways to avoiding this early pregnancy symptom, however. You should keep away from garters or knee high stockings or socks. You should keep your feet and legs elevated when you can. If you're at work and at your desk your feet can be propped on a chair, a footstool, or even books or boxes. At home you can lie down on the couch and prop some pillows under your feet.

Leg cramps are another common early pregnancy symptom. Your body metabolizes calcium differently when you are carrying a child, and you use more calcium. Making sure you get plenty of calcium in your diet can help prevent leg cramps. You can also gently stretch your leg muscles to prevent the cramps. If, however, you do have a leg cramp try flexing your foot back towards your body. What you should avoid doing is pointing your toes. A heating pad or moist and warm towel can help relieve the muscle as well.

Other early pregnancy symptoms include a stuffed up or bleeding nose, or gums that bleed. Hormones are the cause for all these symptoms. None of these pregnancy problems are serious, and can usually be relieved with moisture in the area. Bleeding gums can be alleviated with a toothbrush whose bristles are softer and by daily flossing.

There are two nutrients whose losses are early symptoms of pregnancy and which are vital to your baby's health as well as yours. There are folic acid and iron. Your obstetrician will generally prescribe extra vitamins that include hefty doses of both. There is nothing more vital to a pregnant woman's good health than folic acid. Without the right amount of folic acid a newborn can experience spine or brain defect, cleft lips or even congenital heart disease.

Iron helps deliver oxygen to the baby's tissues so that they grow and have energy. Iron is also vital to the fetus' teeth and bone growth. Without the vital hemoglobin found in this iron the baby can be born anemic. The mother can suffer from it as well.