Reassurance needed from midwife/doula or anyone else whose had this!

[myermay]

Message withdrawn

Sorry I have no advice for you myermay, but am bumping this up for you.

Sorry no advice, just wanted to say you'll be ok. I'm sure if it was going to be a problem your midwife would have said something.
Good luck for the birth

myermay - varicose veins can be really painful down there but please be reassured it will not burst and will go away after delivery. Since you did not have stitches last time it is unlikely that you would need them this time. The pressure of the head will flatten the veins. If it did look like you were going to tear the midwife could do an episiotomy away from the vein. However, IME that has not been necessary. HTH.

A friend of mine had this, with her third pregnancy. It certainly didn't burst, she had a really fast 15-minute natural labour, and all was well. I don't know what happened with it afterwards, I assume it's sorted itself out ... somehow I don't feel comfortable, asking her in the nursery room, "so, how's that vulval varicose vein?".

Hi myermay, I knew it would be one of us!
I have had this before, used to suffer alot from it. I had 3rd degree episiotomy with ds, over an hour of stitching afterwards after an emergency ventouse delivery. Funny thing is that I have never suffered from/with it since for some reason. I have no idea why, maybe it was cut and disappeared i dont know, but although sorry for tmi HTH a little bit? Oh, and it didnt affect labour or delivery atall.

Message withdrawn

I had these with my 3rd pregnancy. They didn't affect the birth at all and completely disappeared afterwards never to return again. I seem to remember that i was advised to wear a thick sanitary towel to give some pressure to relieve the pain. Not sure if i followed that advice - it was a long time ago. HTH