what is happening to my, ahem, downstairs?

[squinker45]

Anyone had unexpected changes to their ladyparts during pregnancy? Am expecting dc2 (37wks) and my bits have sort of, grown. I think I might have a varicose vein or something down there. What I want to know is, will it go back? weeps.....

[lollystix]

Ah fanjo piles - yes they go after birth... And I haven't suffered with them this time round strangely - I thought they'd be worse so there is hope for the future.

[MixedBerries]

Hmmmm. Yes. And it's not just me who thinks so. Was watching tele a few weeks ago with OH- it was a wildlife documentary following the lives of a group of chimps. A female in heat came on screen (you know the ones- when their whole arse changes colour to a great big blue/purple/red wrinkly swollen mass) and he said "Oh, that look just like your fanny!" It DID make me laugh.
It's not THAT bad really. Just quite swollen compared to usual. I don't think I have varicose veins but apparently that's common too. The good news is that apparently it all goes back to normal. I'm 40 weeks on Thursday by the way.

[Squiglettsmummy2bx]

Laughing as I reply as I had this conversation with a good friend recently. My bits are also swollen, no veins or anything just kinda of puffy & my bf has commented that it is tighter when we are getting down to business All normal & due to the extra blood flow apparently

[HappyAsIAm]

I had 2 boils on the outer lips, sort of in the crease between my legs after I had DS. It just went in time. most perturbing it was though.

[Velvetcu]

haha yay glad I'm not the only one. Mine was never small and neat in the first place but is even bigger now. There is also a lot more of it on show at the front than there ever was before (like it's been pulled up IYSWIM).

I love the things we are able to discuss on here :)

[FannibalLecter]

Yes my downstairs area does seem to be a bit........different as well, glad I'm not the only one! Puffy is right, and, well, more (cough) moist and harder to keep clean. I've just done a Femfresh stock-up in Sainsburys!

[nello]

yes, mine seemed like a varicose vein or something. was really worried, was pretty horrid to be honest and had fears that it could 'pop' during child birth , but nothing of the sort and it really did just disappear immediately, as soon as dd was born. i was really panicked about it, and did lots of research. you don't need to worry at all, it will all be back to normal soon !

[squinker45]

Wow thanks ladies! I was hoping there would be others out there, and especially hoping it wasn't permanent. That monkeys bum thing really made me chuckle... mine has just sort of gone all long on one side, very odd and looks like a vein all along the edge. not pretty. Looking forward to it going back all neatly (har har after a massive baby has stretched it all out of proportion even more). Here's hoping anyway!

[goodnightmoon]

i have giant veins there and one side is clearly a lot worse than the other. had it a much lesser extent with my first pregnancy and it completely went away after birth, so i'm hopeful that will be the case again! Unfortunately it really hurts, as if I'm always bruised and sore.

[squinker45]

Aw that sounds awful goodnightmoon, mine are just unsightly but not painful. Hope it gets better.

[IreneHeron]

Downstairs is definitely different when pg. Mine's gone all soft and puffy too. Why have my armpits turned brown though?

[NorthernChinchilla]

My DP, on our romantic European getaway a few weeks ago, after one too many beers announced (as I stood naked before him) that my bits had 'gone south' .

When I was speaking to him again, he explained that what he was trying to say through the fug of many strong lagers was that things appears to have gotten bigger and moved, owing to increasing belly size, blood flow, etc...and it's true, it looks completely different down there.

I did let him off, he has a habit of once a year coming out with something that, innocently meant, just stops you in your tracks at the lack of brain-engagement. The above comment was made in a totally random, observational manner.

No idea on the armpits though IreneHeron, that is novel.

[imip]

I get vulval varicose veins in pregnancy (in the last two of five). They disappear after birth and I was a little horrified to find they had come back to visit for this pregnancy, damn them...