Will pain/soreness down there during pregnancy make childbirth worse?

[SoonToBeThreee]

I'm almost 35 weeks, and since around 10ish weeks I've been very sore down there. Sex has been impossible for months and I dread internal examinations due to the pain. I had an examination a week ago due to suspected pre term labour (false alarm) and it caused me to bleed for 3 days after. The pain was awful during it as well.
I talked to the midwife around 16 weeks about the soreness but she just said it's a common thing in pregnancy and not to worry.
Problem is now, the reality of having to push a baby out of there when a speculum was extremely painful is really worrying me. I'm so excited to meet my baby but fear has really set in now and it putting a dampener on it :/
Has anyone else experienced this?? I've got another midwife appointment this week so will speak to her but just hoping for some reassuring stories that it will be alright!

Not experienced what you have, however I do have severe SPD and had it in my previous two pregnancies. Trust me, when labour starts and it comes to giving birth no other pain gets a look in.

However I would speak to your midwife and if she doesn't take it seriously either ask to speak to a consultant or raise your concerns with a doctor - the more worried you are the more stressed you'll be and that is the last thing you need when in labour

I suffer with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis and also find sex painful. Like you, OP, I was worried that the pain of labour would be made even worse by the burning and irritating sensation I often feel down below.

As it happened, when I was in labour, I didn't even give it a second though! I was off my face on gas and air, and the pain experienced during labour just exceeded anything else I might have felt. I trust you don't need anyone else to tell you that labour is painful.

By all means, discuss your concerns with your midwife - I did. But you'll be fine, I'm sure.

NoMoreDecorating thanks for the advice, I'm definitely gonna explain my concerns to her, think you're right about the stress, probably is making it worse!

turquoise did you feel like you needed more pain relief because of the extra pain? It's making me strongly considering an epidural instead of asking for a water birth which I'd originally wanted...

turquoise did you feel like you needed more pain relief because of the extra pain? It's making me strongly considering an epidural instead of asking for a water birth which I'd originally wanted...

I asked for an epidural because of the labour pain anyway. I didn't feel any 'extra' pain iyswim. I didn't have one, as it happened, because DD came too quickly.

I had a lot of pelvic pain during pregnancy. Couldn't open my legs so was really worried about giving birth!

But it totally vanished during labour- I think it was the hormones and adrenaline as I didn't have pain relief till later on, none with DS2.

Thanks for the replies, it's reassuring to know it likely won't make birth worse... hopefully the adrenaline/excitement to meet baby will make me forget my worries during it :)

Hey how did you get on OP??