Certain Chest/Belly Veins Seem Suddenly Dark Blue... Is This Normal?

[orange_mommy]

I don't have my anatomy textbook on hand so forgive me if I'm using the wrong term, veins or arteries.  I'm going to call them veins for now. ;) I am 26 weeks pregnant.  Anyways, I got out of the bath just now and looking in the mirror I notice an extremely dark blue vein that has "branches" up above my breasts and off to the left a little, and then one line from it runs down my left breast to the left aerola.  It looks fairly wide.  I know the veins get darker and more visible because they have lots of work to do, and lots of work to prepare for in the near future, but I haven't noticed then being THIS dark blue before!  The veins in my belly also seem darker than usual.  This is a slight overexaggeration, but my way of describing it is that it looks like I have a vein map tattooed onto the front of my body (from below neck to below belly.)  Anyone noticed this before?  Did it come on gradually or one day seem to sneak up on you?  Is it normal or could it be some sign of problems with my cardiovascular system and heart?  I'm wondering if having a fairly warm bath accentuated the veins by chance and that's why they look so dramatic right now?

[DanielleT]

oh the road map...yes it is normal; i remember with my last baby that's how i knew i was pregnant...I got out of the shower and couldn't believe how dark blue they were; this time i didnt' notice it so quickly but yup they're there...

[lillymonster]

With my first, I remember it being pretty pronounced, especially since I had very pale skin. And I got linea negra too. This time it hasn't happened as much

[Lady Lilya]

When I got pregnant the first time, MIL told DH to warn me about that, because she was concerned that I would be freaked out by it.  I guess she had been freaked out by it when she was pregnant.  

[gummibears]

It's because of the increased blood volume during pregnancy. Mine sometimes pop out on breasts during a shower it's maddening.

[ashleybrook]

mine go over my breasts, my chest and even up slightly into my arms!  i don't have them so much on my belly, but my linea negra is above and below the belly button, which i didn't know could happen! 

very much like a map!

ashley