Swollen labia :(

[Glass_Butterfly]

Hi.. this is very embarrassing but I'm quite distraught at my swollen labia - about three times thicker than usual and quite different looking. I went to dr yesterday who said it looked like an allergy, but I went to antenatal clinic today and the midwife said it was all complettely normal and would get worse during/after labour... that it was just due to increased blood flow and that she couldn't feel any varicose veins there. She also warned me my genitals would likely never look the same again........

I feel so ugly..though obviously I'm glad it's not something 'abnormal'. I'm almost 38 weeks and it's been a really easy pregnancy so far... I should be grateful.

Guess I want to hear from others who've been there and done that.... did t happen to you? Did you go back?

RK xx

[loopylou23]

hi glass_butterfly,

i can totally sympathise with you. mine ended up the same after the 36th week of my first pregnancy. i was distraught, thinking there was something seriously wrong with me, but there wasn't. it's just something that can happen during pregnancy - rare, but not unheard of. my labia are still 'swollen' and i have accepted that this is the way that they will always be. during my second and third pregnancies i found that they got swollen further, but did decrease each time a few months after giving birth.

i would estimate that they are about 2-3 times their normal size, i.e. the way they once were, and i gotta say my husband loves them like this!

i'm sure your partner will love your new swollen look too!

[limpet45]

Hello - I'm also suffering from this - I'm 27 weeks pregnant with my third baby and suffered the same thing with my last - this time it is worse - I feel like I'm carrying lead weights in my undies! Isn't there something that you can put in your bath to reduce swelling? I've looked on various websites but they all go on about swollen ankles and feet or genital diseases! I'm sure its sea salt or something similarly simple....I'll keep looking....

[MandyBananas]

Hi Glass_Butterfly,

Even though your doctor wasn't able to "see" any varicose veins, that doesnt mean that they arent there.

During my pregancy, I experienced a similar swelling in my legs. I didnt think much of it, until it started keeping me up at nights. At my husband's urging, I went and saw a vein specialist (http://www.veinclinics.com wonderful ) and they informed me that I had problems with the valves in my veins.

The pregancy and also the fact that I am standing all day (I work as a nurse) also contributed to the problem. I dont know if you have a similar job, but I would definitely go and at least see a specialist.

Supposedly, it can get much worse and results in ulcers.

Hope that helps!

Mandy