Ahem, feminine itching!

[MrsHY1]

Hello ladies
I'm 38 weeks pregnant tomorrow and on and off since week 20 or so have been suffering from 'intimate itching' of the vulva (I HATE that word!) but it's definitely been worse over the last few days. It seems to be exacerbated when I wear a panty liner but I'm reluctant to stop wearing these as I occasionally experience very light bladder control issues (the glamour of this pregnancy is amazing.. and I haven't even mentioned my fungal toe nail yet. Seriously - I bet Kate Middleton had none of these problems).
So, did anyone else experience itchy bits and how did you resolve it? I've tried applying Sudocrem which has helped a little bit and am 'airing' my downstairs at night but don't know what else to try really. I went to try and buy some Vagisil from the chemist but it's a no-go for pregnancy apparently.
The midwife is coming round tomorrow so I'll see if she has any words of wisdom too... x

[JanieLovesLuckySocks]

hey mrs, i feel your pain. i've suffered a bit from this throughout pg as well (now 39+3). i tried sudocreme, elizabeth arden 8 hour cream, even napy rash cream.

for me i decided it was a mixture of stubble rash (i used to use an electric lady shaver down below and the growback itched like hell), extra sweaty claminess from extra discharge, or thrush. i started getting a brazilian wax to get rid of the extra stubbly bits. pads didn't help terribly well as i found they irritated the itch even more, so a change of pants in the handbag was the option for me. i rang an out of hours gp one weekend as it got so bad one saturday - i had had some yellowy discharge as well as the itch and he prescribed canestan cream and pessary - the pharmacist wouldn't sell it to me due to being pg - low and behold it cleared up and i haven't had any problems since! i really wanted it sorted before the birth and fx i'm sorted now.
hope yours gets sorted as i sympathise, it's nasty :(

[Mogz]

Could very well be thrush, your GP can prescribe you a pregnancy safe treatment.

[minimuffy]

It's probably thrush. I got pessary and cream from gp, sorted it right out. Lady town has went from being a big swollen itchy dischargey mess to back to normal!

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

Natural yoghurt works for thrush (though not as well as canestan). If you can't use Canestan in pregnancy, try the yoghurt trick.

[cakeandcustard]

I suffered terribly with DS1, have you tried going commando as much as possible? You'll be amazed at the difference it makes, it keeps everything dry and fresh and completely got rid of the itching - honest!

[MrsHY1]

Thanks so much everyone! Saw the midwife this morning and she recommended I see the GP to rule out thrush or any other kind of infection which we would want to get sorted out before birth, lest I should tear
In the meantime I'm trying to 'air my nethers' without the neighbours seeing me!

[MrsHY1]

Hello all
Update from me and my lady garden (as no doubt you'll have been hanging off the edge of your seats - I know I have - boom boom!) but minimuffy and mogz I think you got it in one - after using the Canestan pessary last night and the cream yesterday and this morning everything is clearing up nicely! Phew!

[Mogz]

Hurrah for you and your bits! glad it's clearing up quickly, thrush is so bloody annoying.

[carolinesas]

It's possible that a fungal nail infection could have spread up to your lady area. I think I saw it on embarrassing bodies once. Apparently it's best to put on socks before knickers to stop this happening.

[TeaAddict235]

caroline huh? that sounds creepy.

mogz, i found that a lot of caffeine exacerbates the whole thrush thing, so maybe cut back a bit?

(toes and ladyforests do not mix!)