<P> A pregnant woman will also become hypercoagulable, leading to increased risk for developing blood clots and embolisms, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism . Women are 4 - 5 times more likely to develop a clot during pregnancy and in the postpartum period than when they are not pregnant . Hypercoagulability in pregnancy likely evolved to protect women from hemorrhage at the time of miscarriage or childbirth . In third world countries, the leading cause of maternal death is still hemorrhage . In the United States 2011 - 2013, hemorrhage made up of 11.4% and pulmonary embolisms made up of 9.2% of all pregnancy - related deaths . </P> <P> The increase risk of clots can be attributed to several things . Plasma levels of pro-coagulantion factors increased markedly in pregnancy, including: von Willebrand Factor, fibrinogen, factor VII, factor VIII, and factor X . Both the production of prostacyclin (an inhibitor of platelet aggregation) and thromboxane (an inducer of platelet aggregation and a vasoconstrictor) are increased, but overall there is an increase in platelet reactivity which can lead to a predisposition to clots . There is also increased blood stasis due to the compression of the vena cava by the enlargening uterus . Many factors have been shown to increase the risk of clots in pregnancy, including baseline thrombophillia, cesarean section, preeclampsia, etc . Clots usually develop in the left leg or the left iliac / femoral venous system . Recently, there have been several case reports of May - Thurner Syndrome in pregnancy, where the right common iliac artery compresses the below left common iliac vein . </P> <P> Edema, or swelling, of the feet is common during pregnancy, partly because the enlarging uterus compresses veins and lymphatic drainage from the legs . </P> <P> During pregnancy, both protein metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism are affected . One kilogram of extra protein is deposited, with half going to the fetus and placenta, and another half going to uterine contractile proteins, breast glandular tissue, plasma protein, and haemoglobin . </P>

Where does edema tend to occur in the pregnant woman’s body