Anyone ever felt a lot of pressure down below?

[UnicornPee]

This 3rd pregnancy seems to be the most embarresing one in that all the symptoms I'm getting are the crappy ones.

My question is has anyone got experienced this-
I'm 28 weeks and my whole 'lady area' has a lot of pressure there as though there is a large melon sitting right there ready to come out.

Surely can't be baby as it will be higher up and not as big or heavy as this feels.
Even looking at my V it looks swollen etc.
It is contributing to me lack of poo problem as I can't push as it hurts too much and feels like the baby could explode out if I dare push hard.
Next midwife app isn't until Thursday :-(

[mowglik]

Yes! I've actually had that since 6 weeks - had no idea what it was til I stumbled across a description of vaginal varicose veins . You are further along so I don't know if that's the case for you but maybe ask your midwife to have a look?

I'm not sure if there's anything to be done for it - I occasionally get days where the pressure is immense and I pour cold water on my bits which seems to help.

This is my second pregnancy didn't have anything like this in my first.

[Sierra259]

It could be a prolapse. I only got symptoms when I was pregnant with DC2. Is it worse after standing/walking or by the end of the day? The weight of the baby doesn't help. Try some pelvic floor exercises and mention it to your midwife.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Yes to this - varicose veins and just a hell of a lot of extra blood flowing round there I think. Sometimes it is fine and sometimes it feels very 'heavy' and very uncomfortable.

[chloechloe]

I had this towards the end with DD2 where everything was quite swollen down there. It did get better when I went on mat leave and wasn't running around as much. Can you try and take it a bit easier? Probably not with 2 kids!?

[OnTheUp13]

Yep we called it balloon fango. Whenever that advert for chafing gel would come on we'd laugh.

[UnicornPee]

Wow I'm not the only one!
It's literally like my area is a full balloon about to burst.
I think it probably is slightly worse as the day goes on yes.
I will ask my midwife. Hope I don't end up with lasting damage (i.e. A large vagina lol) don't want to have to become a Tena lady x

[Jane077]

Hi Unicorn. I could have written your post myself. I'm also 28 weeks and third baby, and exactly same problem. Can't work out if it's a bit of post Xmas constipation that's making matters worse or whether I'm avoiding doing a poo because of the pressure and feeling that something's going to burst. I actually ended up in a&he having things checked out a few days ago as I felt something was really wrong with my vagina - looked so swollen and a bit almost black. Sorry if tmi. The midwife was really helpful and checked me for varicose veins, prolapse etc but didn't find anything major. She said I should do my pelvic floor exercises like mad and try to put my feet up a bit more to relieve pressure (not easy at Christmas with two kids to run around after). I can't believe I've got another 12 weeks to go. Until then my plan is to get back to some healthier eating habits and hope that staying free of constipation keeps the pressure at bay. Good luck and let me know what works for you.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I had it with my first as well and everything returned to normal afterwards

[OnTheUp13]

Don't worry DH has reassured me it's no different now.



He must have a bloody good memory

[UnicornPee]

Thank you all, and Jane my symptom twin!
It's just horrible! And my OH gets away with it all. Wish it was the men who had to do all this!
In fact my OH just brags that he poops twice a day with ease. Grrr

[Jane077]

Oh the other tip the midwife gave me was to put a wad of loo roll against V and apply gentle pressure while doing poo to literally hold up the pressure. I've found that quite helpful. X

[UnicornPee]

Thank you Jane.
Did the midwife say if it is a case that the baby is very low down? Or is it parts of my insides? Maybe it's my bladder!
12 weeks to go hey?!!!

[Jane077]

In my case, it definitely wasn't the baby and the baby wasn't even lying particularly low which in many ways I was relieved about because my main worry was that baby would make sudden and early arrival. But the baby will be pushing everything down hence the bulging feeling, especially when you are trying to do a poo. It's also loads of extra blood in your vagina, apparently. Lucky us

[Jane077]

I've been really crap at doing my pelvic floor exercises this pregnancy too but now I'm terrified of some kind of prolapse so am squeezing away. Might be worth getting checked out as at first my midwife thought it might be collapsing of my vaginal wall (nice) but turned out wasn't that bad. I did have a nasty third degree tear with my second baby and I think it might be to do with that.

[clumsyduck]

Haha yes I used to get this felt like he would just fall out ! Oh the joys !!

[AyeAmarok]

Yes I had this at some point in the third trimester, might have been a few weeks later than you but it was awful. Felt so swollen that it actually hurt to walk at times. Felt like pressure inside was pushing everything out, and suddenly my fanjo looked like it had turned inside out looked like an elephant's

I posted about it at the time and was told it was probably a varicose vein in my labia majora, lovely.

I had a really hot bath and that seemed to help, and a few days later it had subsided a good bit.

[Bjazzle]

This happened to me around 34 weeks, similar pressure (although not as intense) as when you're ready to push. Ds came within 2 hours from first niggle at 36 weeks. He was my first though.