Vulval varicosity

[firsttimepregnanthelp]

What fresh hell is this??? 31w, was uncomfortable sitting down yesterday and thought it was because I'd been sitting on a hard chair for too long but when I was washing myself yesterday I noticed a lump coming out of my vagina which I think is a vulval varicosity. It's painful to sit down and can't have sex although would like to before baby arrives as won't be able to afterwards. Is there anything I can do about this?!

I had one of these pop up in late pregnancy too, I spoke to the maternal assessment unit and they weren't too fussed, said one if those things and it would probably go away eventually after the baby was born (my baby is 12 days old and the varicose vein is greatly reduced). Mine wasn't painful but I believe you can use ice packs, painkillers etc but do get advice from your midwife in case there is more they can do to help

They are indeed a what fresh hell. I had a few without really noticing with my first child. A midwife came round when I was on the ward recovering after a c-section and helped to clean me up. Her comment — very unusual… looks like you’ve already had three kids.

Started at 25 weeks with DC2. By the time I was due to give birth it felt as if I was walking round with a bunch of grapes hanging out of me — NOT pleasant. I had another c-section and will say that an hour afterwards they’d completely vanished.

TMI, but I did carry on having sex and it wasn’t particularly painful. The worst thing was standing up without moving around for long periods of time. Zero problems after birth, though I sometimes have the sensation of them slightly when my period starts.

That you for the solidarity, I got such a shock when I first saw it!