Why do pregnant women get blue veins on their breasts

[DuelingFanjo]

I know it's something which happens but I just wondered why? Is there a biological reason for it?

The milk ducts are filling up which pushed the veins towards the surface so they are more visible. (??)

I mean in early pregnancy really. Would milk ducts be filling up that soon?

I wondered if it's something to do with hormones and if so which hormones?

It would be the hormone that produces milk probably (don't ask me which one this is though).

Increased blood in the body and dilating vessels to cope? I thought that was why varicose veins were common. Or what Belle said!

I'm not absolutely sure but I would imagine that it's due to increased blood supply needed in the breast to support the changes that start taking place from fairly early on in pregnancy.

Mine are really prominent, I have lily white skin so they are really easy to see. I look stripy

The hormone is prolactin. And yes it is partly to do with increased bloody supply and the fact that the skin on breasts is usually very pale...

Yes, increased blood supply I thought. That is why you can see more veins everywhere.

The blue veins on my boobs makes them look like a map of the Victoria Line :D (36+2)

Increased blood supply in general. It is why I have varicose/thread veins that look like a road map of London and the surrounding area, and why the rest of me is covered in blue lines, including one right down the middle of my vast white belly that looks like the M1.