ok - this is a weird /embarassing/private type question!

[bumbly]

Right - I am now 26 weeks preg and have noticed say for the last 3-4 weeks that I feel kinda "tight"..."down there"!

The only way I can describe this feeling is: well when I go to sit on the loo for a wee - it feels tight after I wee...not like a UTI - very odd. Maybe more of a muscular thing...

Sometimes I feel as if my uterus/vagina/bowels are pushing down (and they probably are with all the baby weight growing above!)...and I guess the embarassing bit is that my outer labia/genital areas are sore underneath...tender to touch. They feel rather larger/swollen/engorged particularly at end of day...most odd!

I am doing pelvic floor exercises but the discomfort doesn't seem to be in the exact same place I exercise....the discomfort seems to be more concentrated lower down at my genital entrance

sorry if this is too much detail...but is not something I can find info about very easily...

anyone experience something similar?

do you think you might have thrush, your labia can get swollen and sore to the touch? phone your midwife she will know

no discharge or smells - so don't think so!

but will ask.....

i had a couple of weeks of this with ds at about 30 weeks but it eased up again, i think it might just have been a wierd angle he was at.

sounds normal to me but check re: thrush

remember you have a lot of new nerve endings and little viens down there and increased blood circulation - totally unscientific explanation but i mean theres just mre happening down there right now tissue-wise...
tiredness and being on your feet alot can make your bits feel engorged too

Hmmmm

I used to get alot of heavyness down below when I stood for too long and it was baby.

Not sure about the swollen parts though.

it is as if the baby is trying to push/come out already now.....

that is one way of describing the feeling am getting

I don't notice it during day unless I sit on loo and it feels my insides are pushing downwards

most odd...not painful...just uncomfortable

;)

swollen bits may be vulval varicose veins - I had them in 2 pregnancies. What you're describing sounds exactly like my experience.

Not unusual but not much you can do about it until the baby comes out! However, I did try with some success wearing a fairly thick sanitary towel (seemed to "hold it all in" a bit more IYSWIM!) and also some aloe vera gel which I kept in the fridge - put a bit of that on the towel.

Also, those gel filled pads you can get in Mothercare or Boots that are reccommended for use after birth for relief of stitches etc are quite good. Or just stitting on a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel

Needless to say, sitting down as much as possible with your feet up will also help relieve the pressure.

Good luck - I have every sympathy for you!

Sounds like you might have some slight varocisities, that's basically swollen veins around the vagina and labia. I had these with both pg's and they go away after the birth. They would account for the heavy/swollen feelings. Not much you can do about them I'm afraid, other than resting and gentle exercise like swimming. Do you sit down all day i.e at a desk job? If so you might find that getting up every now and again for a walk can help with circulation. And like other people have said, it's pretty normal to feel like everything is heavy/swollen at the moment.

Thanks Tommy!

I had a look down and apart from a more purple colouring which my books say is normal for our bits down there during pregnancy..I couldn't find evidence of varicose veins - but I do think that my bits are tending to get bigger as the day progresses and getting slightly engorged...

and those gel pads sound like heaven - so think I may just take your advice and pop to boots today!!!

ps: what is IYSWIM?

ps Tommy: but then there is the tightness just after I wee...you felt that too?

It does sound rather like vulval varicose veins - I had them at about 26-28 wks.. Found that it made a real difference if I slept on my left - something to do with blood flow. Oddly they are better now (I am 36+4). Apparently you shouldn't sit on the loo for too long with them because that tends to put pressure on them.

oh -what a relief to find I am not the only one! I have chronic VV in legs and bottom, and was just wondering earlier if labour will make them worse?
I had a huge babe ist time round and am quite scared of veins bursting or something - I know it sounds crazy.

Bumbly - try pebble.co.uk if it gets any worse - they sell (expensive) maternity support tights - and although I sweat for england, they make a big difference. I can really feel if I haven't been wearing them. My bottom feels like its about to drop to the floor.

Plenty of prune juice too... limit any erm.. straining IYSWIM (which means If You See What I Mean)

I have this too...well I did have but it has eased up this week(I'm now 34 weeks).

Just thought that with a heavy baby hanging around down there it was normal.As long as you are doing your pelvic floors.

I know what you mean about it feeling like the baby is coming out..wishful thinking that it would be so easy!When I first had this sensation I had a nightmare that a little hand popped out...groo!