Help! I'm so embarrassed and don't know what to do. Possible TMI

[Allstoppedup]

Hello,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant with my first baby and for the past 5 days have been suffering from severe constipation. I've already developed two haemorrhoids and that was bad enough. I'm using lactulose and eating plenty of fruit/ fibre, I've cut out all caffeine too and am drinking my weight in water despite the constant weeing.

I was diagnosed as having low iron but have stopped taking my supplements because i just needed to go!

Anyway, today I was trying to go and really was straining quite hard,TMI, sorry. I assumed a squatting position as was told this can help. I managed to go but when i stood up felt an uncomfortable 'fullness' in my vagina, i used a mirror to have a look and there is now a thick ring, I suppose, of light pinkish/ white muscle/skin around the outside of my vaginal opening. It looks horrible and It is quite tender to the touch at the moment and it feels uncomfortable to have my legs together and i can feel it rubbing when I walk. Does any one know what it could be? I had a look at prolapses online but it doesn't quite look the same but i don't know. The treatment for that seems extreme (surgery) with complications afterwards. i.e painful sex etc..

I'm mortified and have been at here crying. I know I probably need a medical opinion but would like some reassurance that its nothing too serious first.

TIA

Hi,

To be honest i would be contacting your GP/MW to get checked...it sounds like a prolapse... if you are that constipated you need something stronger than lactulose (didnt work for me either when i was preg) and no more straining!

Hope you are ok though!

I would certainly contact the hospital or doctors and get checked out.
Hope all is ok x

echo the other posters - get medical attention. They have seen it all before so do try not to worry too much.

I would also say to take medical advice on the constipation as too much laxatives can help labour along when you are near to term (thats how the cod liver oil approach works). Lactulose just softens it, its the ones that make you need to go that can help along labour, apparently.

Take care and try not to worry too much

It does sound like a prolapse, I am pretty sure I have one (going to mention it to my MW at next appointment) and I have exactly the same when I strain to go to the toilet (I am ridiculously constipated as well). I think I had the prolapse before I fell pregnant but I was too embarrassed to go to the GP, wish I had now because it is really stressing me out. Cannot wait for my MW appointment in 2 weeks.

I have done a lot of Googling though and apparently it doesn't affect pregnancy. Please let me know if you see someone about it I would be really interested to hear what they say! x

def get medical advice.
They've seen it all before

I had a prolapse repair in march and it does certainly sound like one. See your surgery nurse or gp who will prob refer you. They may use a ring pessary whilst youre still pregnant and then reassess after the birth. You definitly need to sort the constipation though, try movicol with fibregel and if worst comes to worst i use dulcolax to prevent straining and recurrance of prolapse. Try not to worry though as i carried dc2 to full term with the prolapse and he was almost ten pounds.

How stressful and worrying for you. I've been heavily constipated and developed internal piles. I cannot advocate enough the use of prune juice. If you dilute it with water and heat it a little it tastes better and works like a miracle. Two glasses a day. Good luck

Definitely go to the doctor ASAP!

Have you tried black (decaf) coffee or apple juice for the constipation? Apple juice always works for me.