Advice needed! TMI problem - pressure/swelling down below?!

[Worriedpreggo]

I am 21 weeks pregnant - have name changed for this as it is rather embarrassing and TMI. I picked my toddler up earlier and noticed my vulva/vagina area felt odd - loads of pressure/pain there. I have looked there with a mirror and it all looks very swollen and odd. When I am standing I feel a lot of pressure there and some pain/discomfort.

Does anyone know what this might be - am I worrying too much? Worth trying to get an emergency GP appointment this afternoon? The MW won't be available until tomorrow morning.

I think its quite common to get varicose veins down there - it could be this?

Hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along soon - I'm only an 11 weeks newbie

Thanks - does anyone know if you need to go to the docs for that? Am probably just freaking out unnecessarily but am keen to get seen before the weekend if necessary. Probably isn't though...?

Hi hun if I remember rightly around 18wk onwards that area swells due to the amount of blood building up in your system and the area gets sore an tender as your body is producing a hormone which relaxes your tendons and muscles ready for the baby to relax in the head down position which makes your pelvic loosen ready for labour at full term I remember feelin like I'd been kicked in the privates with it, it's just the weight of everything pushing on your pelvic area but if your worried I would ring the dr and ask if they can ring you bk.
That's what iv read anyway

Could well be vulval varicose veins. I had that and was quite worried until I figured out what it was and did some research. I didn't bother going to the GP/MW just about that but did mention it to the midwife next time I saw her. She didn't want to examine them or anything. Mine were only uncomfortable when I stood up after being lying/sitting for a long time and now 12 weeks post birth they are gone!!( and have been for some time). From reading on here I think they can be more uncomfortable than I found though.

Thanks for the replies - I am torn between thinking it's normal/something minor and being quite worried that something very odd is going on. My whole 'area' feels very sore, and there's pressure there. My cervix feels like it's quite low down and I have a kind of crampy feeling. I will definitely call the MW just in case.

Sounds to me like vulval varicose veins - I've got it and it's VERY painful I first noticed it at around 23 weeks but it took me 7 weeks to actually look at the area and see my vag was VERY swollen and had actually gone purple. No wonder it'd been hurting for weeks. Midwife said unfortunately there's nothing they can do, it's just something that happens to those unlucky few but should get better after the baby's born. Try not to worry

Thanks again. Spoke to the midwife and she said to go in for a check today as could be prolapse of some kind- maybe of the womb?! :(
Does anyone know about this? Sounds v scary.

Don't know about that sorry. Hope everything is ok.

Sorry if tmi but does pressure feel like you need to do a poo but can't? If so then yes you need checking out very much ASAP. If it is 'just' a heavy feeling then I'd think more likely it is one of issues mentioned above, especially given the swelling. I'm not a doctor, just have personal experience!

I am off for a check for similar feelings next week. It sounds like it could be vulvsl varicose veins or a prolapse. Fingers crossed for the former. Think a prolapse I'd more difficult to sort out. Do update on what the drs say to you.

Thanks again all. Went into hosp day unit today and was checked by a doctor. She said it was probably varicose veins although it actually looked ok at that point. Tonight it is very swollen and painful again- think in my case is combo of SPD and varicose veins- nice!
Does anyone have any tips for how to self treat the vein problem?
Hope your check goes ok justle.