Childbirth with a hidradenitis suppurativa flare up

[Smiling89]

So over the last 3 weeks I started to develop boil after boil in my groin area. Literally no reprieve from them - the moment one bursts another forms and I now have 3 on the go at once.

Went to the GP who has diagnosed Hidradenitis Suppurativa and prescribed antibiotics to try and help clear it before I give birth (I'm 38 weeks today).

I'm worried it's still going to be there when I go into labour. Does anyone know or have experience of this? Would it have to be a C section due to the boils (ie risk of infection)? I've got a scan Tuesday for growth and a consultant appointment the next day (telephone call) so will ask then, but getting antsy about it and it's so painful when the boils get big.

Hi, I have hidradentis - I feel your pain!
I gave birth to my daughter naturally, if I'm honest it was the last thing on my mind during labour. I didn't feel any pain with them as labour pain took over and the midwives didn't mention it.
The only time I struggled was after the birth, wearing maternity pads was a nightmare because it was rubbing and making my flares sore.
If you're concerned you should mention it, however I've found that no one has any awareness of it so don't be surprised if they don't know.

That's good to know!

I'm not worried about the pain so much as I imagine childbirth pain would distract you. I was just concerned about any potential affect on the baby. I have a boil near were a c section incision would be which I imagine could be tricky for healing afterwards. At the same time I was worried the ones lower down could infect the baby if a natural childbirth and one of the boils is open .

I plan on sitting with a hot water bottle on my crotch for the next 2 weeks to hopefully bring them all out before the big day. Plus got the antibiotics, hibiscrub body wash and Epsom salts (when the boils are closed). Fingers crossed it's settled down a bit before everything kicks off.

At least from experiencing this I'm no longer worried about an episiotomy , if I can handle the last boil which was bigger than a golf ball, I can handle a tear.

Hi, hope you don't mind me joining this thread?
I'm currently 30 weeks pregnant and have had HS for years and years.
I've currently got numerous flares in my groin and I'm a bit concerned about the whole labour thing and having my legs/scars/boils on display for the whole room to see! Any advice? My midwife said that they've seen it all before but I'm not sure if that makes me feel much better to be honest. It's like a horror show down there. Also, I suffer really badly under my boobs and the though of breastfeeding and having any sort of pulling/tugging on the area fills me with dread. Has anyone else been though similar?

I can't comment on the breast feeding as mines all groin region.

Had my little boy just before Christmas. Some of the midwives hadn't heard of it and I just said I've got this condition and there's loads of boils down there before they looked. They really weren't phased and it wasn't a big deal at all. Consultants had heard of it and weren't concerned about it at all in regards to birth.

I ended up having 2 inductions as my waters broke but labour never started. Eventually had a c section as my contractions just never started and I was 0cm dilated even after induction.

Amazingly all my boils disappeared over night following the oxytocin drip (must be a definite hormonal link in my case) and the consultant lanced the last one during the c section. Must have had about 5 before going in. It came back 3-4 weeks post partum but settled again (I started taking zinc supplements as I'm not breast feeding now, not sure if that is the reason it's settled). Have only had a mild flare up when my period returned which has now settled again. I'm going to talk to my gp about the contraceptive pill to help at my 8 week check.

How did you deal with the 'hair' situation down there? Currently have a lot of flares and I'm due in a few weeks. Aside from the fact I can't see because of the bump, the flares are preventing me from doing any maintenance, as it were. So the midwives will have a few hours of staring at my incredibly scarred, and now very hairy lady bits. I'm very anxious about that to be honest, more so than the pain of labour. I'd like to have a water birth but the thought of not having a sheet to cover me up worries me.

I do no maintenance at all anyway, due to the hidradenitis (other than occasionally trimming hairs). I'm quite lucky in that I'm not particularly hairy, just unlucky that they get ingrown and voila!

poor you, it sounds very uncomfortable