TMI but v. uncomfortable :(

[bettybat]

Chafing. In a delicate area. Not quite lady garden area but very close on the outer/under area near the top of legs. I think it's my underwear and a leaking of sorts, or at least - an increase in moistness (God that word is SO onomatopoeic!). I'm finding underwear really difficult - I used to wear lace and thongs and stuff but clearly that is no good anymore. But I just cannot seem to find cotton underwear that looks comfortable :(

Any ideas for remedying the delicate skin? A friend told me to use E45 cream but I'm not sure. It's very sore :(

I'm so sorry if it's TMI We need some kind of Pregnancy Embarrassing Bodies thread, where it's totally A OK to divulge way TMI.

hmm, not had it myself but from dealing with a different unpleasant undercarriage experience, don't use soap/ shower gel when you wash, use aqueous cream instead (you can get this on prescription if necessary or just buy a big tub from boots). Get some big cotton knickers that don't have tight elastic round the legs/ where the chafing is and look into buying some unbleached (if possible) panty liner type things. Oh and do some pelvic floor exercises when you remember. HTH?

Obviously, it depends on where it is exactly, but if it's nearer the groin, I find that putting talc on the area will get rid of moisture and stop it 'sticking' and rubbing more. Perhaps boy-short underwear (without a lace trim)? M&S do seem-free ones which are quite soft.
HTH and it clears up soon.
XxX

Don't runners use Vaseline for this? I heard that somewhere, may be worth a try

No knickers is the answer!

definitely calendula cream - you can get it from boots or holland and barret. wouldn't put vaseline there it is petroleum based yucky.

Might be fungal (sorry tmi!) Witch hazel water can be soothing and I do find (though expensive) that Elizabeth arden 8 hour cream good. Had similar after a spell in the tropics also under arms and the 8 hour cream soothed it but doc eventually said it was a fungal infection and prescribed something but you may be able to use a little mild canesten if the pharmacist days its ok - then again they can be dragons to let you use anything!

Sounds like you need a bit of a barrier cream. Vaseline or sudocrem. Very thin layer of Vaseline worth a try. I don't see what's yucky about it.... so its made from petroleum, the stuff is used everywhere in the modern world, including all the plastic based products we use daily like a lot of your make-up (lipstick etc). Don't worry its not the same as putting car petrol on your nethers! Vaseline is so very simple and perfumed, never heard of anyone reacting badly to it. Your mum probably used it on your bum when u were a baby.

Sorry just a rant as I am very skeptical about claims that "natural" herbal etc remedies are always best, as they are just as likely to cause problems or harm. It's like when people talk about "chemicals" as something terrible, forgetting that water is one, and plants are full of incredibly complex chemicals. Saying that - odds are calendula is probs ok and might work a treat. But I'd recommend something that provides a barrier between skin and moisture.

Sorry for being a pedantic arse.

I've suffered from eczema on and off for years. If it feels dry and rough then you need some kind of moisture; aqueous cream or any of the other suggestions will do. If it's the moist, sore kind of rash (which it sounds like from your OP), then I find creams make it worse and you are better off using talc to dry it out.

i had this in my last pregnancy the only thing that worked was cool baths a morning and night and then putting bepanthan on it (nappy rash cream) - was a miracle cream!

Ah, you need some of this!!

It is awesome

Body glide. I use it in the heat when I'm pregnant as I'm rather (ahem) moist at the upper thigh area then. No more chaffing/sore bit.

I have the same thing, just along where the elastic from my knickers runs along the underneath. Mixture of knickers being tighter, me being fatter, general increased moistness/puffiness down there... I've broken into the baby's supply of Sudocrem! Def the most unpleasant of my pregnancy side effects. I must be the only person glad of the cooler/rainy weather this summer and that heat just aggravates it.

An equal tmi on top of all these tips might be too get as much air to the area as possible - have your bath, air dry the area, wear loose dress, nightie or dressing gown as soon as you have chance each evening.
You might have an infection in the chaffed bit so don't self treat too much more if you feel it's no better....
Ooh int being pregnant greeeaaaat!

Sudocrem and no knickers

Thanks ladies! Input very much appreciated!

I'm thinking that as it already feels too...moist (god!) down there, adding things like vaseline or not wearing knickers might just acerbate that? Though Sudocrem is a great idea!

It is definitely something to do with too tight knickers in combination with increased puffiness/moistness, as flipflops describes it so well! I was wearing these so-called seamless shorts but I think there's too much spandex-type material there...time to get to Mark's for big cotton knickers!