A : I had contractions for 3 of my pregnancies. It may take mins, hours, days or maybe weeks for the the contractions to really get intense. So do monitor and head down to the hospital if it comes too frequent > 5-10 mins.
C : It's called 'spider veins' and it can be painful. Normally appears to those who stands for too long. Get yourself a compression stockings after birth to help.
Hida Ali